Genesis 16:12 kjv
And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
Genesis 16:12 nkjv
He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."
Genesis 16:12 niv
He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."
Genesis 16:12 esv
He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen."
Genesis 16:12 nlt
This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives."
Genesis 16 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 16:15-16 | Hagar bore a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. | Naming and birth of Ishmael as context. |
| Gen 17:20 | As for Ishmael, I have heard you... I will make him into a great nation. | God's promise to bless Ishmael, despite his nature. |
| Gen 21:9 | Sarah saw the son of Hagar... Ishmael, laughing. | Foreshadowing of conflict and tension within the family. |
| Gen 25:12-18 | These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son... he settled over against all his kinsmen. | Fulfillment of the prophecy regarding Ishmael's dwelling place and opposition. |
| Job 39:5-8 | Who has let the wild donkey go free?... his dwelling the salt land. | Illustrates the nature of the wild donkey: untamed, free, dwelling in wild places. |
| Psa 59:6 | They return at evening, snarling like dogs... prowling about the city. | The imagery of wildness and hostility (though about enemies of David). |
| Hos 8:9 | Ephraim hired lovers; like a wild donkey wandering alone... | Depicts a wild ass as uncontrolled, self-willed, and stubborn. |
| Judg 14:15-18 | Samson’s anger was kindled... and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men. | Represents a spirit of relentless antagonism, much like Ishmael's character. |
| 1 Sam 25:21 | David said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has..." | Illustrates conflict stemming from another's untamed nature or ungratefulness. |
| Prov 28:15 | Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. | Reflects untamed and aggressive behavior, similar to Ishmael's predicted nature. |
| Matt 10:34-36 | Do not think that I have come to bring peace... but a sword. | Thematic connection to division and conflict, even within families, albeit for the sake of the Gospel. |
| Rom 8:7-8 | For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God... | Describes a mind inherently hostile, connecting to the root of human conflict. |
| Gal 4:22-29 | One was born from a slave woman... he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit. | The allegorical interpretation directly uses Ishmael to represent human efforts and opposition to God's spiritual promises. |
| Eph 2:14-16 | For he himself is our peace... broke down the dividing wall of hostility. | Christ's work counters the kind of pervasive hostility described for Ishmael. |
| James 3:16 | For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. | Explains the source of conflict and strife within human relations. |
| Gen 37:25-28 | Joseph’s brothers saw a caravan of Ishmaelites... sold Joseph. | Ishmaelites involved in contentious trade, consistent with independent and possibly ruthless character. |
| Isa 13:21 | Wild beasts of the desert will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures. | Mentions wild animals dwelling in desolate places, reminiscent of Ishmael's untamed habitat. |
| Num 24:18 | Edom shall be a possession... but Israel shall do valiantly. | Jacob (Israel) and Esau (ancestor of Edom) perpetual rivalry, akin to Ishmael and Isaac. |
| Ps 120:7 | I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. | Depicts one desiring peace against others bent on conflict, a common experience in the world reflecting Ishmael's predicted nature. |
| 1 John 3:12 | We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. | Highlights brotherly hostility and violent opposition as seen with Cain and Abel. |
Genesis 16 verses
Genesis 16 12 Meaning
Genesis 16:12 prophesies the character and destiny of Ishmael, Hagar and Abram's son. He is described as a wild and independent individual, whose life will be marked by constant conflict and antagonism with those around him, especially his own kinsmen. This portrays a perpetual state of hostility and a fierce, untamed nature.
Genesis 16 12 Context
Genesis 16:12 is a prophetic utterance from the Angel of the LORD to Hagar, who has fled Abram's household due to Sarai's harsh treatment. Sarai, in her impatience to bear Abram an heir, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to Abram as a concubine. When Hagar conceived, she despised Sarai, leading to Sarai's abuse. This verse thus emerges from a context of human frustration, disobedience to God's timing, and resultant relational strife within Abraham's household. The prophecy reveals the character and future of Ishmael, born of this strained situation, as a counterpoint to God's intended covenant lineage through Sarah and Isaac. It sets the stage for understanding future conflicts involving Ishmael's descendants. Historically and culturally, the description resonates with the image of nomadic, desert-dwelling tribes, often independent, fierce, and involved in raiding or defending their territories, existing in stark contrast to the settled, agrarian communities that Abraham's descendants would largely become.
Genesis 16 12 Word analysis
- He will be: Hebrew:
הוּא יִהְיֶה(Hu yihyeh).הוּא(Hu) is the pronoun "he," emphasizing the individual.יִהְיֶה(yihyeh) is the future tense of the verb "to be," indicating a definite prophecy of his future character and life, not merely a passing phase. - a wild donkey: Hebrew:
פֶּרֶא(pere). This is a crucial metaphor. Thepereis the wild ass, known for its untamed nature, independence, swiftness, hardiness, stubbornness, and dwelling in desolate places. It is contrasted with the domesticated donkey. This image signifies one who is ungovernable, self-sufficient, and not easily subdued, living by his own rules, often in the wilderness. - of a man: Hebrew:
אָדָם(adam). Used here to mean "man" or "human being." The phraseפֶּרֶא אָדָם(pere adam) means "a wild-donkey-man," or "a man like a wild ass." It does not mean half-animal, but rather fully human yet possessing the untamed characteristics of a wild ass. - his hand will be against everyone: Hebrew:
יָדוֹ בַכֹּל(yado bakol).יָדוֹ(yado) means "his hand" (indicating action, power, or aggression).בַכֹּל(bakol) means "in everything" or "against all/everyone." This depicts an aggressive stance, implying conflict, raids, and a life of contention. It highlights a proactive adversarial relationship. - and everyone's hand against him: Hebrew:
וְיַד כֹּל בּוֹ(veyad kol bo).וְיַד(veyad) means "and hand of."כֹּל(kol) means "all" or "everyone."בּוֹ(bo) means "in him" or "against him." This completes the picture of mutual antagonism and reciprocal hostility, a life lived in constant conflict, both offensively and defensively. - and he will live: Hebrew:
וְעַל פְּנֵי אֶחָיו יִשְׁכֹּן(ve'al p'nei ekhayv yishkon). The structure is somewhat inverted here.יִשְׁכֹּן(yishkon) means "he shall dwell" or "he shall settle." It can imply residing or pitching a tent, a nomadic sense of habitation. - in hostility toward all his brothers: Hebrew:
עַל פְּנֵי אֶחָיו(al p'nei ekhayv).עַל פְּנֵי(al p'nei) literally means "upon the face of" or "before the face of." However, in this context, it idiomatically implies "in front of," "in opposition to," or "in defiance of."אֶחָיו(ekhayv) means "his brothers," referring primarily to the descendants of Isaac and later Jacob, as well as other related Arabian tribes. This phrase signifies a persistent, antagonistic posture towards his kin, living in direct conflict rather than peace.
Genesis 16 12 Bonus section
The image of the "wild donkey of a man" suggests a unique resilience and survival instinct that allows Ishmael and his progeny to thrive in harsh, often unyielding environments. While the description focuses on conflict, it also implies an indomitable spirit. This prophecy is remarkably fulfilled not only in Gen 25:18, but also in the historical narratives concerning the Ishmaelites and other desert peoples, whose nomadic lifestyles and occasional conflicts with settled nations fit this description. The naming of Ishmael by God's Angel ("God hears") in Gen 16:11, coupled with this prophecy, demonstrates God's sovereignty over even human-initiated actions and the resulting outcomes, foreseeing and articulating the path of Ishmael even before his birth, assuring Hagar that her son, though not the promised heir, would also have a distinct future and heritage. This highlights that God has a plan for all, even those born from less than ideal circumstances.
Genesis 16 12 Commentary
Genesis 16:12 is a seminal prophetic statement defining the character and destiny of Ishmael and his descendants. The central metaphor of the "wild donkey of a man" (pere adam) encapsulates a life marked by untamed independence, a resistance to settled life and external control, and an inherent wildness. This doesn't necessarily denote moral depravity, but rather a characteristic way of life in the desert: fiercely self-reliant, always on guard, and prepared for confrontation. The phrases "his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him" further elaborate on this. It signifies not just an occasional skirmish, but a continuous state of active and reciprocal conflict. Ishmael's existence, and that of his descendants (the Ishmaelites), would be defined by this inherent antagonism. They would be raiders, warriors, and independent tribes perpetually clashing with neighboring peoples and even their "brothers" (the descendants of Isaac). The final phrase, "he will live in hostility toward all his brothers," powerfully solidifies this, portraying a perennial opposition to close relatives, illustrating the long-standing friction between Ishmael's lineage and that of Isaac and Jacob, a theme seen repeatedly in biblical and extra-biblical history. This prophecy foretells the struggles of tribalism and the consequence of actions outside God's direct timing and plan. It serves as a stark contrast to the blessing of peace and numerous offspring promised to Abraham through Isaac.