Genesis 16:4

He went in to Hagar [Flight], and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. + 16:4 Context: Hagar is the second wife but she was and is first Sarah’s maid. The elevated status of second wife brings both blessing and frustration. Sarah speaks to Hagar as she had before the marriage, this is a source of contention combined with one woman having a child and the other woman barren.

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In The King James Version

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

In Context

3Sarai [Mockery], Avram [Exalted father]’s wife, took Hagar [Flight] the Egyptian [person from Abode of slavery], her servant, after Avram [Exalted father] had lived ten years in the land of Canaan [Humbled], and gave her to Avram [Exalted father] her husband to be his wife.

5Sarai [Mockery] said to Avram [Exalted father], “You have brought this wrong on me! I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Adonai judge between me and you.”

Read all of Genesis 16

Cross References

Proverbs 30:20“So is the way of an adulterous woman: 2 she eats and wipes her mouth, 2 and says, ‘I have done no vain striving of iniquity.’ 1

Matthew Henry on Genesis 16:2-4

Abram, Sarai, and Hagar. ( b. c. 1911.) 1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. We… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 16:4