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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 21:11

And the thing was very grievous Lit. "was very evil," or "ill." Abraham was displeased, because he loved his son. Sarah's suggestion, however, was in accord with the prevalent harsh treatment of slaves. Abraham raises no objection on the grounds of common humanity, honour, or reason, to the proposal to expel Ishmael and Hagar.

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See also Genesis 21:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Birth of Isaac 7. מלל _mı̂lēl_ “speak,” an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. 14. חמת _chêmet_ “bottle,” akin to חמה _chāmâh_, “surround, enclose,” and הוּם _chûm_ “black. באר

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 21 ISAAC AND ISHMAEL AND THE COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH _ 1. Isaac's birth (Genesis 22:1) 2. His circumcision (Genesis 22:4)_ 3. Ishmael mocking (Genesis 22:9) 4. Sarah's demand ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    SARAH FORCES ABRAHAM TO SEND HAGAR AND ISHMAEL AWAY. The narrative is from E. Note the use of Elohim, the revelation to Abraham by night, the voice of the angel from heaven, Abraham's residence in the...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THING. Hebrew. _word._...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    4. _The Expulsion of the Bondwoman and Her Son_ (Genesis 21:8-21) 8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Haga...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND THE THING WAS VERY GRIEVOUS IN ABRAHAM'S SIGHT BECAUSE OF HIS SON._ The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. The parental feelings must have been sadly harrowed by the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BIRTH OF ISAAC. DISMISSAL OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. COVENANT BETWEEN ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH 8. Weaned] in his second or third year, as is usual among Orientals....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 21 ISAAC IS BORN V1 The *Lord had promised that he would visit Sarah. He did what he had promised to her. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. A son was...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE THING WAS VERY GRIEVOUS IN ABRAHAM’S SIGHT. — Heb., _the word_ (or matter) _was evil exceedingly in Abraham’s eyes._ It was not merely painful to him because of his natural affection for Ishmael ...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֵּ֧רַע הַ דָּבָ֛ר מְאֹ֖ד בְּ עֵינֵ֣י

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    ISHMAEL AND ISAAC Genesis 21:1; Genesis 22:1 Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. Which things are an allegory.- Galatians 4:22. "Abraham stretched forth his hand,...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    HAGAR AND ISHMAEL CAST OUT Genesis 21:8 Poor Hagar! She thought that she had given Abraham his heir, but now she found herself and her boy outcasts on the desert waste. The water was soon spent, she...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    At last in God's 'Set time," and in spite of all natural difficulties, the long-promised son was born. Sarah who at an earlier point had laughed with the laughter of incredulity, now laughed with the...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    ISHMAEL WAS CAST OUT Sarah and Abraham had a great feast when Isaac was weaned. When Ishmael made fun of Isaac, Sarah demanded he and his mother be cast out. Though it was against the laws of that re...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _For his son. He does not express any concern for Agar. But we cannot doubt but he would feel to part with her also. It was prudent to let both go together: and the mother had perhaps encouraged Ismae...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. Probably, the pious Patriarch, made it a subject of prayer. Reader! may grace enable us, in all our trials to do the same....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    11._And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight_. Although Abraham had been already assured, by many oracles, that the blessed seed should proceed from Isaac only; yet, under the influence of p...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 20 AND 21. In Chapter s 20, 21 we have the question of the heir and of the path of faith in another point of view. Abraham denies his relationship with his wi...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THE THING WAS VERY GRIEVOUS IN ABRAHAM'S SIGHT,.... The motion that Sarah made to turn out of his house Hagar and Ishmael was not agreeable to him, but the reverse; it seemed an ill thing to him;...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son._ Ver. 11. _And the thing was very grievous, &c._] See, there is grief sometimes between the best couples as above said. Gen 16:...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    Gen. 21:10, 11, "Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bond-woman and her son; for the son of this bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac." The son of the bond-woman is men...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight_ Because of his affection to his son, and God's promise concerning him. He who, at God's command, which he was bound to obey, afterward so cheerfully ga...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Isaac is borne. 4 He is circumcised. 6 Sarahs ioy. 9 Hagar & Ishmael are cast forth. 15 Hagar in distresse. 17 The Angel comforteth her. 22 Abimelechs couenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba. 1 AN...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. His personal affection for his own flesh and blood, and the fact that God had given him special promises concerning Ishmael, Gene...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Hagar and Ishmael Cast Forth...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    NINTH SECTION _The birth of Isaac. Ishmael’s expulsion. The Covenant of peace with Abimelech at Beer-sheba_ GENESIS 21:1-34 1And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PROMISE FULFILLED IN ISAAC Now the grace of God bears its most important fruit in the history of Abraham. Sarah, at the unlikely age of 90 years, gives birth to Isaac, at the time God Himself had...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    9-13 Let us not overlook the manner in which this family matter instructs us not to rest in outward privileges, or in our own doings. And let us seek the blessings of the new covenant by faith in its...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Because of his tender affection to him, and God's promise concerning him. See GENESIS 17:18,20. He who cheerfully parted with Isaac, was hardly brought to part with Ishmael, because the former was don...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    And the Lord visited Sarah, as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken." Here we have accomplished promise the blessed fruit of patient waiting upon God. None ever waited in vain. Th...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 21:11 matter H1697 very H3966 displeasing H3415 (H8799) Abrahams H85 sight H5869 because H182 son H1121...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A SON IS BORN TO SARAH AND ANOTHER SON OF ABRAHAM IS CAST OUT (GENESIS 21:1). The account of Yahweh's fulfilment of His promise to Abraham in the giving of a son comes interestingly enough in the cove...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 21 In the story of Hagar and Ishmael, we notice: I. The outcast. As Abraham is the father of all the faithful, so the Arab Ishmael is the father of all our outcasts. He was an impudent boy, w...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Birth of Isaac. Bondwoman and her son cast out. Abraham at Beersheba. CHARACTERS: Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Hagar, Ishmael, Abimelech. CONCLUSION: Behind every promise of God is the purpose a...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 21:3. _Isaac;_ that is, laughter or holy joy. Luke 6:21. Sarah had once laughed through unbelief; now being ashamed of that, she could sing with Mary, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spi...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Cast out this bondwoman and her son_ THE ALLEGORY OF ISAAC AND ISHMAEL I. CONTRASTED AS TO THEIR ORIGIN. IN CONTRASTED AS TO THEIR POSITION IN THE HOUSEHOLD. 1. As to the liberty enjoyed. 2. As t...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 21:1 In fulfillment of God’s promise, Sarah bears Abraham a son, who is named Isaac. While Isaac takes priority over Ishmael, God does not abandon Hagar and her son....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 21:8. And the child grew, and was weaned.] The weaning was often delayed till three years, or more, after birth (2Ma. 7:27). Samuel was not weaned till he was old enough to be...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 21:9 AND SARAH SAW—at the feast already mentioned (Knobel, Keil); probably also on different occasions since the birth of Isaac—THE SON OF HAGAR THE EGYPTIAN, WHICH SHE HAD BORN UN...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now the LORD visited Sarah as he had said (Genesis 21:1), I like this. and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken (Genesis 21:1). I like that, "as He had said, and as He had spoken." I've got that...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    because. Genesis 17:18 Genesis 22:1 Genesis 22:2 2 Samuel 18:33 Matt

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE BIRTH OF ISAAC Genesis 21:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Genesis 20:1 is a chapter that is vital in many ways. 1. IT SHOWS US THAT EVEN GOD'S BEST MAY ERR THROUGH UNBELIEF. Abraham, in fear, passed off h...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight — it grieved him that Ishmael had given such provocation. And still more that Sarah insisted upon such a punishment....

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