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Genesis 16 ESV Audio Bible
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Read Genesis 16 in modern English — World English Bible (16 verses)
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1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3 Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you.”
6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
7 Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.
8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”
9 Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”
10 Yahweh’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be numbered for multitude.”
11 Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.
12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers.”
13 She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”
14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Study tools for Genesis 16
Cross-references, Hebrew word study, and what the Early Church wrote about Genesis 16. Tap any section to expand — or right-click any verse for the full interactive study panel.
Genesis 16 study resources: word-by-word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers, 30 cross-references.
Cross-references in Genesis 16 (30)
- v.13 Psalms 139:1-12
- v.13 Genesis 32:30
- v.13 Proverbs 5:21
- v.13 Proverbs 15:3
- v.11 Exodus 2:23-24
- v.11 Exodus 3:7
- v.11 Isaiah 7:14
- v.13 Genesis 31:42
- v.1 Galatians 4:24
- v.11 Genesis 17:19
- v.11 1 Samuel 1:20
- v.11 Genesis 41:51-52
- v.13 Genesis 16:7
- v.11 Job 38:41
- v.11 Exodus 3:9
- v.11 Luke 1:63
- v.11 Matthew 1:21-23
- v.8 Genesis 3:9
- v.10 Genesis 17:20
- v.11 Psalms 22:24
- v.11 Genesis 29:32-35
- v.11 Luke 1:31
- v.11 Luke 1:13
- v.12 Genesis 21:20
- v.12 Genesis 25:18
- v.13 Genesis 22:14
- v.1 Genesis 12:16
- v.1 Genesis 15:2-3
- v.7 Genesis 21:17
- v.12 Job 39:5-8
Hebrew interlinear — Genesis 16:1–16 (223 words)
- וְ/שָׂרַי֙ve./sa.Raiand/ SaraiH8297
- אֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802
- אַבְרָ֔ם'av.RamAbramH87
- לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
- יָלְדָ֖הYal.dahshe had borne childrenH3205
- ל֑/וֹl/oto <the>/ himH9033
- וְ/לָ֛/הּve./La/hand/ [belonged] to <the>/ herH9034
- שִׁפְחָ֥הshif.Chaha maidservantH8198
- מִצְרִ֖יתmitz.RitEgyptianH4713
- וּ/שְׁמָ֥/הּu./she.Ma/hand/ name/ herH8034
- הָגָֽר\׃ha.GarH1904
- וַ/תֹּ֨אמֶרva./To.merand/ she saidH559
- שָׂרַ֜יsa.RaiSaraiH8297
- אֶל\־'el-toH413
- אַבְרָ֗ם'av.RamAbramH87
- הִנֵּה\־hi.neh-here!H2009
- נָ֞אna'pleaseH4994
- עֲצָרַ֤/נִי'a.tza.Ra./nihe has restrained/ meH6113
- יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahwehH3068
- מִ/לֶּ֔דֶתmi./Le.detfrom/ bearing childrenH3205
- בֹּא\־bo'-goH935
- נָא֙na'pleaseH4994
- אֶל\־'el-intoH413
- שִׁפְחָתִ֔/יshif.cha.T/imaidservant/ myH8198
- אוּלַ֥י'u.LaiperhapsH194
- אִבָּנֶ֖ה'i.ba.NehI will be built upH1129
- מִמֵּ֑/נָּהmi.Me./nahfrom/ herH4480
- וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֥עva/i.yish.Ma'and/ he listenedH8085
- אַבְרָ֖ם'av.RamAbramH87
- לְ/ק֥וֹלle./Kolto/ [the] voice ofH6963
- שָׂרָֽי\׃sa.RaiSaraiH8297
- וַ/תִּקַּ֞חva./ti.Kachand/ she tookH3947
- שָׂרַ֣יsa.RaiSaraiH8297
- אֵֽשֶׁת\־'e.shet-H802
- אַבְרָ֗ם'av.RamAbramH87
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- הָגָ֤רha.GarHagarH1904
- הַ/מִּצְרִית֙ha./mitz.Ritthe/ EgyptianH4713
- שִׁפְחָתָ֔/הּshif.cha.Ta/hmaidservant/ herH8198
- מִ/קֵּץ֙mi./Ketzfrom/ [the] end ofH7093
- עֶ֣שֶׂר'E.sertenH6235
- שָׁנִ֔יםsha.NimyearsH8141
- לְ/שֶׁ֥בֶתle./She.vetof/ [the] dwelling ofH3427
- אַבְרָ֖ם'av.RamAbramH87
- בְּ/אֶ֣רֶץbe./'E.retzin/ [the] land ofH776
- כְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anCanaanH3667
- וַ/תִּתֵּ֥ןva./ti.Tenand/ she gaveH5414
- אֹתָ֛/הּ'o.Ta/h<obj.>/ herH853
- לְ/אַבְרָ֥םle./'av.Ramto/ AbramH87
- אִישָׁ֖/הּ'i.Sha/hhusband/ herH376
- ל֥/וֹl/oof/ himH9033
- לְ/אִשָּֽׁה\׃le./'i.Shahto/ a wifeH802
- וַ/יָּבֹ֥אva/i.ya.Vo'and/ he wentH935
- אֶל\־'el-intoH413
- הָגָ֖רha.GarHagarH1904
- וַ/תַּ֑הַרva./Ta.harand/ she conceivedH2029
- וַ/תֵּ֙רֶא֙va./Te.re'and/ she sawH7200
- כִּ֣יkithatH3588
- הָרָ֔תָהha.Ra.tahshe had conceivedH2029
- וַ/תֵּקַ֥לva./te.Kaland/ she became insignificantH7043
- גְּבִרְתָּ֖/הּge.vir.Ta/hmistress/ herH1404
- בְּ/עֵינֶֽי/הָ\׃be./'ei.Nei./hain/ view/ herH5869
- וַ/תֹּ֨אמֶרva./To.merand/ she saidH559
- שָׂרַ֣יsa.RaiSaraiH8297
- אֶל\־'el-toH413
- אַבְרָם֮'av.RamAbramH87
- חֲמָסִ֣/יcha.ma.S/iinjustice/ myH2555
- עָלֶי/ךָ֒'a.lei./KhaH5921
- אָנֹכִ֗י'a.no.KhiIH595
- נָתַ֤תִּיna.Ta.tiI putH5414
- שִׁפְחָתִ/י֙shif.cha.T/imaidservant/ myH8198
- בְּ/חֵיקֶ֔/ךָbe./chei.Ke./chain/ bosom/ yourH2436
- וַ/תֵּ֙רֶא֙va./Te.re'and/ she has seenH7200
- כִּ֣יkithatH3588
- הָרָ֔תָהha.Ra.tahshe had conceivedH2029
- וָ/אֵקַ֖לva./'e.Kaland/ I have become insignificantH7043
- בְּ/עֵינֶ֑י/הָbe./'ei.Nei./hain/ view/ herH5869
- יִשְׁפֹּ֥טyish.Potmay he judgeH8199
- יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
- בֵּינִ֥/יbei./Nibetween/ meH996
- וּ/בֵינֶֽיׄ/ךָ\׃u./vei.Nei./khaand/ between/ youH996
- וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he saidH559
- אַבְרָ֜ם'av.RamAbramH87
- אֶל\־'el-toH413
- שָׂרַ֗יsa.RaiSaraiH8297
- הִנֵּ֤הhi.Nehthere!H2009
- שִׁפְחָתֵ/ךְ֙shif.cha.te/Khmaidservant/ yourH8198
- בְּ/יָדֵ֔/ךְbe./ya.De/khH3027
- עֲשִׂי\־'a.si-doH6213
- לָ֖/הּla/hto <the>/ herH9034
- הַ/טּ֣וֹבha./Tovthe/ goodH2896
- בְּ/עֵינָ֑יִ/ךְbe./'ei.Na.yi/khin/ view/ yourH5869
- וַ/תְּעַנֶּ֣/הָva./te.'a.Ne./haand/ she afflicted/ herH6031
- שָׂרַ֔יsa.RaiSaraiH8297
- וַ/תִּבְרַ֖חva./tiv.Rachand/ she fledH1272
- מִ/פָּנֶֽי/הָ\׃mi./pa.Nei./hafrom/ before/ herH6440
- וַֽ/יִּמְצָאָ֞/הּva/i.yim.tza.'A/hand/ he found/ herH4672
- מַלְאַ֧ךְmal.'AkhH4397
- יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahwehH3068
- עַל\־'al-atH5921
- עֵ֥ין'einH5869
- הַ/מַּ֖יִםha./Ma.yim<the>/ waterH4325
- בַּ/מִּדְבָּ֑רba./mid.Barin the/ wildernessH4057
- עַל\־'al-atH5921
- הָ/עַ֖יִןha./'A.yinthe/ springH5869
- בְּ/דֶ֥רֶךְbe./De.rekhon/ [the] way ofH1870
- שֽׁוּר\׃ShurShurH7793
- וַ/יֹּאמַ֗רva/i.yo.Marand/ he saidH559
- הָגָ֞רha.GarO HagarH1904
- שִׁפְחַ֥תshif.ChatH8198
- שָׂרַ֛יsa.RaiSaraiH8297
- אֵֽי\־'ei-where?H335
- מִ/זֶּ֥הmi./Zehfrom/ thisH2088
- בָ֖אתvathave you comeH935
- וְ/אָ֣נָהve./'A.nahand/ where?H575
- תֵלֵ֑כִיte.Le.khiare you goingH1980
- וַ/תֹּ֕אמֶרva./To.merand/ she saidH559
- מִ/פְּנֵי֙mi./pe.Neifrom/ beforeH6440
- שָׂרַ֣יsa.RaiSaraiH8297
- גְּבִרְתִּ֔/יge.vir.T/imistress/ myH1404
- אָנֹכִ֖י'a.no.KhiIH595
- בֹּרַֽחַת\׃bo.Ra.chatH1272
- וַ/יֹּ֤אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he saidH559
- לָ/הּ֙la/hto <the>/ herH9034
- מַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'AkhH4397
- יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
- שׁ֖וּבִיShu.vireturnH7725
- אֶל\־'el-toH413
- גְּבִרְתֵּ֑/ךְge.vir.Te/khmistress/ yourH1404
- וְ/הִתְעַנִּ֖יve./hit.'a.Niand/ humble yourselfH6031
- תַּ֥חַתTa.chatunderH8478
- יָדֶֽי/הָ\׃ya.Dei./hahands/ herH3027
- וַ/יֹּ֤אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he saidH559
- לָ/הּ֙la/hto <the>/ herH9034
- מַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'AkhH4397
- יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
- הַרְבָּ֥הhar.Bahcertainly <to increase>H7235
- אַרְבֶּ֖ה'ar.BehI will increaseH7235
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- זַרְעֵ֑/ךְzar.'E/khoffspring/ yourH2233
- וְ/לֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ notH3808
- יִסָּפֵ֖רyi.sa.Ferit will be countedH5608
- מֵ/רֹֽב\׃me./Rofrom/ multitudeH7230
- וַ/יֹּ֤אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he saidH559
- לָ/הּ֙la/hto <the>/ herH9034
- מַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'AkhH4397
- יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
- הִנָּ֥/ךְhi.Na/khhere/ youH2009
- הָרָ֖הha.RahH2030
- וְ/יֹלַ֣דְתְּve./yo.Ladtand/ you will bearH3205
- בֵּ֑ןBena sonH1121
- וְ/קָרָ֤אתve./ka.Ratand/ you will callH7121
- שְׁמ/וֹ֙she.M/oname/ hisH8034
- יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אלyish.ma.'ElIshmaelH3458
- כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
- שָׁמַ֥עsha.Ma'he has listenedH8085
- יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
- אֶל\־'el-toH413
- עָנְיֵֽ/ךְ\׃'a.ne.Ye/khaffliction/ yourH6040
- וְ/ה֤וּאve./Hu'and/ heH1931
- יִהְיֶה֙yih.Yehhe will beH1961
- פֶּ֣רֶאPe.re'a wild donkey ofH6501
- אָדָ֔ם'a.Dama manH120
- יָד֣/וֹya.D/ohand/ hisH3027
- בַ/כֹּ֔לva./KolH3605
- וְ/יַ֥דve./Yadand/ [the] hand ofH3027
- כֹּ֖לkoleveryoneH3605
- בּ֑/וֹb/oH9033
- וְ/עַל\־ve./'al-and/ onH5921
- פְּנֵ֥יpe.NeiH6440
- כָל\־khol-allH3605
- אֶחָ֖י/ו'e.Cha/vbrothers/ hisH251
- יִשְׁכֹּֽן\׃yish.Konhe will dwellH7931
- וַ/תִּקְרָ֤אva./tik.Ra'and/ she calledH7121
- שֵׁם\־shem-H8034
- יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahwehH3068
- הַ/דֹּבֵ֣רha./do.Verwho/ spokeH1696
- אֵלֶ֔י/הָ'e.Lei./hato/ herH413
- אַתָּ֖ה'a.TahyouH859
- אֵ֣ל'elH410
- רֳאִ֑יro.'IseeingH7210
- כִּ֣יkiforH3588
- אָֽמְרָ֗ה'a.me.Rahshe saidH559
- הֲ/גַ֥םha./Gam¿/ alsoH1571
- הֲלֹ֛םha.LomhereH1988
- רָאִ֖יתִיra.'I.tihave I seenH7200
- אַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310
- רֹאִֽ/י\׃ro.'/IH7200
- וַ/תֵּ֧לֶדva./Te.ledand/ she boreH3205
- הָגָ֛רha.GarHagarH1904
- לְ/אַבְרָ֖םle./'av.Ramto/ AbramH87
- בֵּ֑ןBena sonH1121
- וַ/יִּקְרָ֨אva/i.yik.Ra'and/ he calledH7121
- אַבְרָ֧ם'av.RamAbramH87
- שֶׁם\־shem-H8034
- בְּנ֛/וֹbe.N/oson/ hisH1121
- אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whomH834
- יָלְדָ֥הYal.dahshe had borneH3205
- הָגָ֖רha.GarHagarH1904
- יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל\׃yish.ma.'ElIshmaelH3458
- וְ/אַבְרָ֕םve./'av.Ramand/ AbramH87
- בֶּן\־ben-H1121
- שְׁמֹנִ֥יםshe.mo.NimeightyH8084
- שָׁנָ֖הsha.Nahyear[s]H8141
- וְ/שֵׁ֣שׁve./Sheshand/ sixH8337
- שָׁנִ֑יםsha.NimyearsH8141
- בְּ/לֶֽדֶת\־be./le.det-when/ boreH3205
- הָגָ֥רha.GarHagarH1904
- אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
- יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אלyish.ma.'ElIshmaelH3458
- לְ/אַבְרָֽם\׃\ \סle./'av.Ramto/ AbramH87
Strong's words in Genesis 16 (6)
- Strong's H87 — אַבְרָ֔ם ('av.Ram)
- Abram. Appears 12 times in Genesis 16.
- Strong's H559 — וַ/תֹּ֨אמֶר (va./To.mer)
- and/ she said. Appears 9 times in Genesis 16.
- Strong's H8297 — וְ/שָׂרַי֙ (ve./sa.Rai)
- and/ Sarai. Appears 9 times in Genesis 16.
- Strong's H3068 — יְהוָה֙ (Yah.weh)
- Yahweh. Appears 8 times in Genesis 16.
- Strong's H1904 — הָגָֽר\׃ (ha.Gar)
- [was] Hagar. Appears 7 times in Genesis 16.
- Strong's H3205 — יָלְדָ֖ה (Yal.dah)
- she had borne children. Appears 6 times in Genesis 16.