Genesis 16:12

as a wild-ass among men Lit. "a wild-ass of a man." This description of Ishmael vividly portrays the characteristics of his descendants. The wild ass, for which see Job 39:5-8; Hosea 8:9, is the typically untameable, strong, free, roaming, suspicious, and untrustworthy animal, living wild in the desert, far from the haunts of men.

in the presence of all his brethren R.V. marg. over against. Cf. Genesis 25:18. "Brethren": see notes on Genesis 13:8; Genesis 14:14. While "in the presence," or "in the face of" all his brethren, might legitimately be rendered "to the east of" the Israelites, the east was scarcely the quarter in which the Ishmaelites were chiefly found. A better explanation gives to the words the meaning of a foe, dwelling close at hand and "over against" his brethren, ever ready to attack and raid their territory.