Devine Scripture

Genesis 16:2

What does Genesis 16:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 16:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 16:2 means

Sarai directly attributes her barrenness to Jehovah, acknowledging His sovereign control over life and fertility. She then proposes a cultural custom, offering her handmaid Hagar to Abram, hoping to "obtain children" through her. Abram's quick agreement to Sarai's suggestion highlights a moment where even a man of faith faltered, choosing a human solution over continued trust in God's miraculous provision. This decision initiates a cascade of future family conflict.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Sarai said to Abram, See, the Lord has not let me have children; go in to my servant, for I may get a family through her. And Abram did as Sarai said.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and Sarai saith unto Abram, `Lo, I pray thee, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing, go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; perhaps I am built up from her;' and Abram hearkeneth to the voice of Sarai.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

She said to her husband: Behold, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: go in unto my handmaid, it may be I may have children of her at least. And when he agreed to her request,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, Jehovah has shut me up, that I do not bear. Go in, I pray thee, to my maidservant: it may be that I shall be built up by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Context

Building directly on Sarai's barrenness in verse 1, this verse details her proposed solution to the lack of an heir. Her suggestion to Abram and his agreement immediately set in motion the central conflict of the chapter. This decision, though culturally acceptable at the time, represents a departure from waiting on God's unique plan and will lead to significant consequences for all involved, especially Hagar.

v.1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

v.2This passage

v.3And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 20:18

    For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

  • Genesis 3:1

    Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?

  • Ruth 4:11

    And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:

  • Exodus 21:4

    If his master give him a wife and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.

  • Genesis 3:17

    And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

  • Genesis 18:10

    And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.

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