Devine Scripture

Genesis 21:16

What does Genesis 21:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 21:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 21:16 means

Overwhelmed by the imminent death of her son, Hagar moved a distance away, indicating her inability to watch him die. Her heartbroken statement, 'Let me not look upon the death of the child,' reveals her profound maternal grief and despair. She then lifted her voice and wept aloud, an expression of profound sorrow and helplessness in the face of their desperate situation, appealing to God in her distress.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And she went some distance away, about an arrow flight, and seating herself on the earth, she gave way to bitter weeping, saying, Let me not see the death of my child.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And she goeth and sitteth by herself over-against, afar off, about a bow-shot, for she said, `Let me not look on the death of the lad;' and she sitteth over-against, and lifteth up her voice, and weepeth.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off, as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die: and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and she went and sat down over against [him], a bow-shot off; for she said, Let me not behold the death of the child. And she sat over against [him], and lifted up her voice and wept.

Context

This verse intensifies the crisis from verse 15, focusing on Hagar's emotional agony and sense of helplessness. Her act of moving away underscores the severity of their situation and her profound grief. This raw display of sorrow serves as a direct lead-in to God's compassionate response, as her cries and Ishmael's are heard in heaven.

v.15And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

v.16This passage

v.17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 29:11

    And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

  • Isaiah 49:15

    Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee.

  • Zechariah 12:10

    And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.

  • 1 Samuel 30:4

    Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

  • Judges 2:4

    And it came to pass, when the angel of Jehovah spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

  • Luke 15:20

    And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

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