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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Genesis 16:6

Sarai dealt hardly with her. — The verb is translated afflicted in Exodus 1:11 and Isaiah 60:14; its more exact meaning is, Sarai humbled her, that is, reduced her to her original condition. It was quite right that as Hagar had abused her elevation, Abram should make her yield to Sarai all due respect and submission; but in making her resume her old position as a slave, Sarai was possibly dealing unkindly with her (but see on Genesis 16:9). In running away Hagar not only showed the untamable love of freedom which Ishmael inherited from her, but apparently was repeating the act from which she had her name.

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See also Genesis 16:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 16:6. _SARAH DEALT HARDLY WITH HER_] תאנה _teanneha, she_ _afflicted her_; the term implying _stripes_ and _hard usage_, to _bring down_ the _body_ and _humble_ the _mind_. If the slave...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Birth of Ishmael 1. הנר _hāgār_, Hagar, “flight.” Hejrah, the flight of Muhammed. 7. מלאך _mal'ak_ “messenger, angel.” A deputy commissioned to discharge a certain duty for the principal whom...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 16 ABRAHAM AND HAGAR _ 1. Sarai's suggestion (Genesis 16:1)_ 2. Abram's action (Genesis 16:4) 3. Sarai and Hagar (Genesis 16:5) 4. Hagar in the wilderness ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Sarah has no children, so she hits on a plan of which we have other examples (Genesis 30:3; Genesis 30:9). She hands over Hagar to Abraham, that the maid may compensate for the deficiency of her mistr...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    DEALT HARDLY. Hebrew afflicted her. The Code of Khammurabi (119) forbade her being sold. Sarah could only lay tasks on her. See App-15....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Hagar and her Flight into the Desert. (J, P.) 1. _handmaid_ or "maidservant," as in Genesis 12:16. The wife generally had a female slave, who was her own property, and not under the husband's control:...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _in thy hand_ Abram replies, with forbearance, that Hagar is under Sarai's authority. Whether this is a formal transference of Hagar back into the power of Sarai, after she had become, as a concubine,...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    ABRAM SAID, BEHOLD, THY MAID IS IN THY HAND— i.e.. in thy power, ch. Genesis 24:10. Genesis 39:4. REFLECTIONS.—We have here, 1. Hagar's insolence. No sooner with child, than she forgets her station,...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART TWENTY-NINE THE STORY OF ABRAHAM: THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN (Genesis 16:1-16) 1. _The Biblical Account._ 1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, who...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _BUT ABRAM SAID UNTO SARAI, BEHOLD, THY MAID IS IN THY HAND; DO TO HER AS IT PLEASETH THEE. AND WHEN SARAI DEALT HARDLY WITH HER, SHE FLED FROM HER FACE._ Abram said ... Behold, thy maid is in thy ha...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED WITH THE BIRTH OF ISHMAEL 1, 2. Abraham was now eighty-five years old, Sarah was seventy-five, and the promise of an heir seemed no nearer fulfilment. Despairing of offspr...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 16 SARAI AND HER MAID HAGAR V1 Sarai, who was Abram’s wife, had no children. She had an Egyptian maid, whose name was Hagar. V2 Sarai said to Abr...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Sarai was Abram’s wife and Hagar was only an extra wife. But Sarai had no child and Hagar was *pregnant. Hagar would soon produce a child for Abram. So Hagar thought that she was equal in rank to Sara...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל ־שָׂרַ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה שִׁ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    BIRTH OF ISHMAEL Genesis 16:1 IN this unpretending chapter we have laid bare to us the origin of one of the most striking facts in the history of religion: namely, that from the one person of Abram h...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ABRAM'S SON ISHMAEL Genesis 16:1 Poor Hagar! What contrasts met in her life! Bought in an Egyptian slave-mart, but destined to be the mother of a great people! She is not the last to suffer from the...

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

    The previous story makes it evident that the principle of faith is the true philosophy of life. It builds on God and is satisfied with Him. It thus becomes the source of all righteousness. Faith, ther...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    PLANNING FOR GOD Like so many after her, Sarai ran out of patience. She thought of a plan to achieve the end God had in mind. In the land of the Chaldees, a woman who could not bear children could gi...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Afflicted her, as she now resented even a moderate correction. (Haydock)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. I pause here to remark, that this is the first account we meet with in the Bible of th...

  • 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

    6._Behold, thy maid is in thy hand_. The greatness of Abram’s humanity and modesty appears from his answer. He does not quarrel with his wife; and though he has the best cause, yet he does not pertina...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Abram seeking, at Sarah's instigation, to anticipate the will of God and the accomplishment of the promise in its time, we have the covenant of the law in Hagar, the source of distress and disquietude...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT ABRAM SAID UNTO SARAI,.... In a meek, mild and gentle manner: BEHOLD, THY MAID [IS] IN THINE HAND; though Hagar was Abram's secondary wife he still considers her as Sarai's maid, and as subject t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid [is] in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. Ver. 6. _But Abram said to Sarai, Behold, &c...

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

    _Thy maid is in thy hand_ Though she was _his wife_, he would not countenance her in any thing disrespectful to Sarai. Those who would keep up peace and love must return soft answers to hard accusatio...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Sarai, being barren, giueth Hagar to Abram. 4 Hagar being afflicted for despising her mistresse, runneth away. 7 An Angel sendeth her backe to submit her selfe, 11 and telleth her of her child....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. This was not evading the responsibility, but insisting upon its remaining where it had been during the entire...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    HAGAR'S PRIDE AND FLIGHT...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FIFTH SECTION _Abram’s Concession to Sarai’s Impatience. Abram and Hagar. Hagar’s Flight. The Angel of the Lord. Hagar’s Return, and Ishmael’s Birth_ GENESIS 16:1-16 1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife [in the...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    HUMAN EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH GOD'S PROMISE Though Abram was a man of faith, Sarai his wife had not borne children, and she weakened his faith by making a mere fleshly suggestion that he should use Sarai...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    AS IT PLEASETH THEE: that which is good in thy eyes DEALT HARDLY WITH HER: afflicted her...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    4-6 Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this cas...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THY MAID IS IN THINE HAND, i.e. subject to thy power and authority, as the phrase is taken, GENESIS 24:10, GENESIS 39:4,6,8 NUM 31:49. For though she be my concubine, yet she is thy inferior; and ther...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    Here we find unbelief casting its dark shadow across the spirit of Abraham, and again turning him aside, for a season, from the path of simple, happy confidence in God. "And Sarai said unto Abram, Beh...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 16:6 Abram H87 said H559 (H8799) Sarai H8297 maid H8198 hand H3027 do H6213 (H8798) please...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your maid is in your hand. Do with her whatever is right in your eyes.” And Sarai treated her harshly and she fled from her face.' Abram passes his judgment. Sarai is...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Birth of Ishmael. CHARACTERS: Sarah, Abram, Hagar, Angel, Ishmael. CONCLUSION: The moment the believer takes his eyes away from God's promises he is ready for mean devices of unbelief whic...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 16:1. God had promised Abraham a son, but had not said that he should be born of Sarah. Hence his wife having no hope in herself, almost compelled him to receive Hagar to his bed, not consider...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyed_ THE EVILS OF ABOLISHING SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS I. THOSE WHO ARE SUDDENLY RAISED IN THE SOCIAL SCALE ARE TEMPTED TO PRIDE AND...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 16:5 Sarai initially directs her anger at Abram, and he allows her to deal HARSHLY with Hagar. The human solution to Sarai’s childlessness creates new problems....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 16:1 Sarai seeks to resolve the problem of her barrenness by having her maidservant, Hagar, bear a child on her behalf. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Genesis 16:4_ THE EVILS OF ABOLISHING SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS By the elevation of Hagar from the condition of a bond-servant to that of a wife, her relation to Abram’s...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 16:1 NOW SARAI ABRAM'S WIFE BARE HIM NO CHILDREN (literally, _bare not to him, _notwithstanding the promise; the barrenness of Sarai being introduced as the point of departure for...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Abram. Genesis 13:8 Genesis 13:9 Proverbs 14:29 Proverbs 15:1 Prov

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Thy maid is in thy hand — Though she was his wife, he would not countenance her in any thing disrespectful to Sarai. Those who would keep up peace and love, must return first answers to hard accusatio...

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