Genesis 21

Genesis 21 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Sarah's anger

After Sarah was able to have her own child, and he survived infancy, she began to get angry with Abraham's other son, Ishmael. He would have been a constant reminder of her own sin. God blessed Ishmael, but he was not able to inherit the promises given to Abraham. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#inherit and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless)

Abandoning Ishmael

According to the law at this time, Hagar was able to gain her freedom from slavery by abandoning any claim to receive an inheritance. This is why Hagar would have abandoned her son under the tree. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Treaty

The Gentile king, Abimelech, made a covenant or treaty with Abraham. It is possible that he did this because he recognized the power of Abraham's God, but his exact reasons are unknown. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant)

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Genesis 21:1

Yahweh paid attention to Sarah

Here the phrase "paid attention to" refers to Yahweh helping Sarah have a baby. Alternate translation: "Yahweh helped Sarah" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 21:2

bore a son to Abraham

"gave birth to Abraham's son"

in his old age

"when Abraham was very old"

at the set time of which God had spoken to him

"at the exact time that God had told him it would happen"

Genesis 21:3

Abraham named his son, the one who had been born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac

"Abraham named his newborn son, the one Sarah gave birth to, Isaac" or "Abraham named their newborn son Isaac"

Genesis 21:4

Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old

"When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him"

eight days

"8 days" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

had commanded him

"had commanded Abraham to do"

Genesis 21:5

one hundred

"100" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

Genesis 21:6

God has made me laugh

Sarah was laughing because she was surprised and happy. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "God has caused me to laugh joyfully" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

every one who hears

What people would hear can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "everyone who hears about what God has done for me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 21:7

Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children

This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "No one would have ever said to Abraham that Sarah will nurse children" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

nurse children

This is a polite way of referring to breast-feeding babies. Alternate translation: "feed a baby her own milk" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

Genesis 21:8

The child grew and ... Isaac was weaned

"Wean" here is a polite way of saying the child was finished with breast feeding. Alternate translation: "Isaac grew, and when he no longer needed his mother's milk, Abraham had a large feast" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

Genesis 21:9

the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham

The name of Hagar's son can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian and Abraham" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

mocking

It can be stated explicitly that he was jeering or laughing at Isaac. Alternate translation: "laughing at Isaac" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 21:10

she said to Abraham

"Sarah said to Abraham"

Drive out

"send away" or "get rid of"

this slave woman and her son

This refers to Hagar and Ishmael. Sarah probably did not refer to them by name because she was angry with them.

with my son, with Isaac

"with my son Isaac"

Genesis 21:11

This thing was very grievous to Abraham

"Abraham was very unhappy about what Sarah said"

because of his son

"because it was about his son." It is implied that this means his son, Ishmael. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 21:12

Do not be grieved because of the young man and because of your servant girl

"Do not be upset about the boy and your handmaid"

Listen to Sarah's words in all she says to you about this matter

"Do everything that Sarah says to you about them"

it is through Isaac that your descendants will be named

The phrase "will be named" means those born through Isaac are the ones God considers to be the descendants that he promised Abraham. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Isaac is the one who will be the forefather of the descendants I promised to give you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 21:13

I will also make the son of the servant woman into a nation

The word "nation" means God will give him many descendants so that they become a great nation of people. Alternate translation: "I will make the servant woman's son also become the father of a great nation" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 21:14

took bread

These words could refer to 1) food in general or 2) bread specifically. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

a skin of water

"a bag of water." The water container was made out of animal skin.

Genesis 21:15

When the water in the waterskin was gone

"When the water bag was empty" or "When they had drank all of the water"

Genesis 21:16

about the distance of a bowshot away

This refers to the distance that a person could shoot an arrow with a bow. This is about 100 meters.

Let me not look upon the death of the child

The abstract noun "death" can be stated as "die." Alternate translation: "I do not want to watch the boy die" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)

she lifted up her voice and wept

Here "voice" stands for the sound of her crying. To "life up her voice" means to cry loudly. Alternate translation: "she cried out loudly and wept" or "she wept loudly" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

Genesis 21:17

the voice of the young man

"the young man's voice." Here "voice" stands for the sound of the young man crying or speaking. Alternate translation: "the sound of Ishmael" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

the angel of God

"a messenger from God" or "God's messenger"

out of heaven

Here "heaven" means the place where God lives.

What troubles you

"What is wrong" or "Why are you crying"

the voice of the young man where he is

Here "voice" stands for the sound of the young man crying or speaking. Alternate translation: "the sound of the young man lying over there" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 21:18

raise up the young man

"help the young man stand up"

I will make him into a great nation

To make Ishmael into a great nation means God will give him many descendants who will become a great nation. Alternate translation: "I will make his descendants become a great nation" or "I will make him become the ancestor of a great nation" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 21:19

God opened her eyes, and she saw

God making Hagar aware of the well is spoken of as if he literally opened her eyes. Alternate translation: "God caused Hagar to see" or "God showed her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

the skin

"the container made of skin" or "the bag"

the young man

"the boy" or "Ishmael"

Genesis 21:20

God was with the young man

Here the phrase "was with" is an idiom that means God helped or blessed the young man. Alternate translation: "God guided the young man" or "God blessed the young man" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

became an archer

"became very skilled at using a bow and arrows"

Genesis 21:21

got a wife

"found a wife"

Genesis 21:22

It came about at that time

This phrase marks the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

Phicol

This is the name of a man. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

captain of his army

"commander of his army"

his army

The word "his" refers to Abimelech.

God is with you in all that you do

Here the phrase "is with you" is an idiom that means God helps or blesses Abraham. Alternate translation: "God blesses everything you do" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

Genesis 21:23

Now therefore

The word "Now" does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows. Alternate translation: "Therefore" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

swear to me here by God

This is an idiom meaning to make a solemn oath witnessed by a higher authority, in this instance, God. Alternate translation: "promise me with God as your witness" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

that you will not deal falsely with me

"that you will not lie to me"

will not deal falsely ... with my descendants

"will deal honestly with me and my descendants"

Show to me ... covenant faithfulness that I have shown to you

The two men had made a covenant with each other. The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be stated as "faithful" or "loyal." Alternate translation: "Be as faithful to me and to the land as I have been to you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)

to the land

Here "land" stands for the people. Alternate translation: "to the people of the land" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 21:24

I swear

This can be stated with the understood information. Alternate translation: "I swear to be as faithful to you and your people as you have been to me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-ellipsis)

Genesis 21:25

Abraham also complained to Abimelek

Possible meanings are 1) Abraham was complaining about what happened or 2) "Abraham also rebuked Abimelek"

concerning a well of water that Abimelek's servants had seized from him

"because Abimelek's servants had taken one of Abraham's wells"

seized from him

"taken from Abraham" or "had taken control of"

Genesis 21:26

I have not heard of it until today

"This is the first time I have heard about it"

Genesis 21:27

Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek

This is a sign of friendship and that Abraham agrees to make covenant with Abimelek. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)

Genesis 21:28

Abraham set seven female lambs of the flock by themselves

"Abraham separated seven female lambs from the flock"

Genesis 21:29

What is the meaning of these seven female lambs that you have set by themselves?

"Why have you separated these seven lambs from the flock?"

Genesis 21:30

you will receive

"you will take"

from my hand

Here "hand" stands for Abraham. Alternate translation: "from me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

it may be a witness

The word "it" refers to the gift of seven lambs.

so that it may be a witness for me

The abstract noun "witness" can be stated as "to prove." Alternate translation: "to prove to everyone" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)

Genesis 21:31

he called that place

"Abraham called that place"

Beersheba

Translators may add a footnote saying "Beersheba can mean either "well of the oath" or "well of seven."

they both

"Abraham and Abimelech"

Genesis 21:32

Phicol

This is the name of a man. See how you translated this name in Genesis 21:22.

Genesis 21:33

a tamarisk tree

This is an evergreen tree that can grow in the desert. It can be stated more generally. Alternate translation: "a tree" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-unknown)

the eternal God

"the God who lives forever"

Genesis 21:34

many days

"for a long time"