Genesis 16:14

Beer-lahai-roi The R.V. marg. the well of the living one who seeth meis an impossible translation of the text. Another rendering is, "Well of the Seeing alive," i.e. "Where one sees God and remains alive." The popular belief was, that he who saw God would die. See previous note.

Probably the name Beer-lahai-roiwas explained by a popular etymology which connected its pronunciation with the sound of the Hebrew words ḥai= "living" and roi= "vision." A well, or spring, in a desert was generally deemed by the early nomad peoples to be frequented by a Divine presence.

between Kadesh and Bered For Kadesh, see note on Genesis 14:7. Bered has not been identified. Hagar's well is commonly supposed to be the same as Ain Muweileh, a spot where there are springs, S. of Beersheba, and on the caravan road to Egypt.