Genesis 16:5

Sarai [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.”

One Unity Resource Bible

In The King James Version

And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

In Context

4He 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.

6But Avram [Exalted father] said to Sarai [Mockery], “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai [Mockery] dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.

Read all of Genesis 16

Cross References

Genesis 31:53The God of Abraham [Father of a multitude], and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob [Supplanter] swore by the fear of his father, Isaac [Laughter].

Psalms 35:23Wake up! Rise up to my mishpat ·justice· me, my God! 2 My Lord, contend for me! 1

Luke 10:40But Martha [Lady mistress, Strong bitterness] was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.”

Matthew Henry on Genesis 16:5-7

4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee. 6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. We have here the immediate bad… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 16:5