Genesis 16:14 kjv

Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

Genesis 16:14 nkjv

Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

Genesis 16:14 niv

That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

Genesis 16:14 esv

Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

Genesis 16:14 nlt

So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means "well of the Living One who sees me"). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.

Genesis 16 verses

Genesis 16 14 Meaning

Genesis 16:14 records the naming of a specific well by Hagar after her profound encounter with the Angel of the Lord in the wilderness. The name, "Beer-lahai-roi," meaning "Well of the Living One Who Sees Me," serves as a lasting testament to God's compassionate attentiveness and all-seeing nature. It signifies that even in a desolate place, amidst personal distress and abandonment, God saw Hagar, heard her, and intervened in her life. The verse also pinpoints its geographical location, marking this sacred encounter.

Genesis 16 14 Context

Genesis chapter 16 unfolds the escalating tension between Sarai and Hagar due to Sarai's barrenness and her decision to give Hagar to Abram to bear a child for them. Hagar conceives, but then despises Sarai, leading to Sarai's harsh treatment and Hagar's subsequent flight into the wilderness. Verses 7-12 describe the miraculous encounter of Hagar with the Angel of the Lord, who provides comfort, prophecy concerning Ishmael, and instructions to return to Sarai. Verse 13 depicts Hagar's awe-filled response, where she calls the Lord "El Roi" (God who sees me). Genesis 16:14 then serves as the culminating act of this encounter, formalizing the name of the place, connecting the divine encounter to a physical landmark that later became known to Abraham's descendants, specifically Isaac, as noted in Gen 24:62. Historically, wells were vital for survival in arid regions like the Negeb, making this named water source particularly significant.

Genesis 16 14 Word analysis

• Therefore (עַל־כֵּן, ‘al-ken): A linking particle, directly connecting the naming of the well to the events of the preceding verse where Hagar acknowledged God seeing her. It signals a consequence or conclusion derived from Hagar's profound spiritual realization.
• the well (בְּאֵר, be'er): A permanent, dug water source, distinguished from a spring (‘ayin) or temporary pool. Wells were essential for life, travel, and settlement in ancient Near Eastern arid lands, often serving as landmarks and places of assembly or conflict. This well became sacred due to God's revelation.
• was called (קָרָא, qara’): Used here in the niphal stem (passive voice), meaning "it was named" or "it received a name." It highlights that the naming was not merely Hagar's private thought but became an established public designation for the location.
• Beer-lahai-roi (בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי, Be’er Lachai Roi): A compound name laden with theological significance.
  • Beer (בְּאֵר): Well of.
  • lahai (לַחַי, lachai): A possessive phrase, "of the living" or "of Him who lives." This connects to God's attribute as the eternal, living God. It could also refer to the "one who lives," implying God.
  • roi (רֹאִי, roi): From the root ra’ah (רָאָה), meaning "to see." In this construct, it translates to "my seeing" or "the seeing of me" or "who sees me."
    • Thus, "Well of the Living One Who Sees Me," or "Well of Him Who Lives and Sees Me." This name encapsulates Hagar's personal experience of being seen and attended to by the ever-living God in her utter desolation, recognizing His intimate knowledge and compassion towards her.
• behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An emphatic interjection drawing attention to the location, indicating its existence and tangible presence.
• it is (הוּא, hu’): Simply stating its existence.
• between Kadesh and Bered (בֵּין־קָדֵשׁ וּבֵין בָּרֶד, ben-Qadesh uven Bared): Geographical markers used to fix the location of the well.
  • Kadesh (קָדֵשׁ): Most likely Kadesh-barnea, an important oasis and strategic point on the southern frontier of Canaan, associated later with the Israelite wandering in the wilderness (Num 13:26).
  • Bered (בָּרֶד): Its exact location is debated and less certain, possibly Khalasa (modern Halutza) further north or another locale within the Negeb desert region.
  • This specification provides geographical anchor, rooting the sacred story in actual topography, allowing future generations to identify and confirm the place where God interacted with Hagar. It situates the divine encounter not in a mythical realm but in a known, albeit harsh, physical reality.

Genesis 16 14 Bonus section

• Significance of Wells in the ANE: In the ancient Near East, wells were not merely sources of water but also hubs of social activity, political boundaries, and often sites of significant events. Naming a well after a divine encounter elevated its status from a mere resource to a sacred space, a place of memory and testimony to God's interaction with humanity.
• Hagar's Theological Contribution: Hagar, a pagan Egyptian slave, becomes the first recorded individual in the Bible to personally name an attribute of God ("El Roi"). This speaks volumes about the universality of God's revelation and the potential for even the disenfranchised to encounter and name Him in His manifest character. It's a striking example of a non-Israelite offering profound theological insight.
• A Place of Refuge and Remembrance: The well of Beer-lahai-roi became an established locale, even a dwelling place for Isaac later (Gen 24:62, 25:11). This suggests it was not just a passing waypoint but a recognized site that carried the spiritual significance of God's watchful eye and provision.

Genesis 16 14 Commentary

Genesis 16:14 provides a geographical and theological landmark for Hagar's transformative encounter with the Angel of the Lord. The naming of the well as "Beer-lahai-roi" crystallizes Hagar's profound spiritual insight that God is not just a distant deity, but "the Living One Who Sees Me"—an intimate, personal God who actively observes and cares for the marginalized and suffering. This revelation occurs in the barrenness of the desert, emphasizing God's presence and provision even in the most desolate and forgotten places. The naming serves not only as a personal testimony for Hagar but also as a permanent witness for all who would pass by this well, proclaiming God's attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, and unfailing compassion. The inclusion of its precise location grounds this supernatural event in historical reality, inviting reflection on the real-world impact of divine intervention. It subtly challenges the notion that only Abraham's direct descendants are under God's watchful eye, showing divine care extending to those seemingly outside the covenant promise, foreshadowing God's broader redemptive plan.