Genesis 16:15 kjv

And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

Genesis 16:15 nkjv

So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

Genesis 16:15 niv

So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne.

Genesis 16:15 esv

And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

Genesis 16:15 nlt

So Hagar gave Abram a son, and Abram named him Ishmael.

Genesis 16 verses

Genesis 16 15 Meaning

Genesis 16:15 records the direct outcome of Abram and Sarai's decision to pursue a child through human means: Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram, acknowledging both his paternity and the divine revelation, named him Ishmael, meaning "God hears." This verse marks the physical manifestation of Hagar's conception and the formal recognition of Ishmael as Abram's son, yet also foreshadows the complexities that arise from a child born outside of God's perfect timing and method for the covenant line.

Genesis 16 15 Context

Genesis 16 details a pivotal moment in Abram and Sarai’s journey regarding the fulfillment of God’s promise of offspring. Facing prolonged barrenness, Sarai initiates a culturally accepted but faithless solution: for Abram to have a child with her servant, Hagar. This chapter follows directly after God's covenant promise to Abram in Genesis 15 that an heir would come from his "own body" and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Sarai’s plan, though culturally permissible in the Ancient Near East for a barren wife to provide a surrogate, lacked trust in God's specific way and timing.

When Hagar conceived, she "despised" Sarai, leading to Sarai’s harsh treatment of Hagar. Hagar fled into the wilderness, where she encountered the Angel of the Lord. The Angel instructed her to return and submit to Sarai, revealing a divine plan for her unborn child. He gave her a direct command to name the son "Ishmael" because God "has heard your misery." This naming instruction, prior to the birth, sets the stage for verse 15. The verse, therefore, marks the completion of the Angel’s prophecy and Hagar’s obedience, as Abram subsequently names the child according to the divine directive she received.

Historically, the practice of a wife providing a handmaid for an heir was documented in Mesopotamian law codes and social customs, such as the Code of Hammurabi and Nuzi texts. This contextual understanding underscores that Sarai's solution, while a lack of faith from a divine perspective, was not considered scandalous within their society. However, the subsequent relational strife highlights the human and spiritual cost of acting outside of God’s perfect plan. The name "Ishmael" itself serves as a profound statement against the apparent silence or indifference of God in human suffering, asserting instead that the Lord hears and sees even in difficult circumstances.

Genesis 16 15 Word analysis

• And (וַתֵּלֶד - va-tteled): Connects the action to the preceding narrative, showing a direct outcome of Hagar's return and the angelic instruction. The "And" is part of the "waw consecutive" which signifies a sequence of events.
• Hagar (הָגָר - Hagar): Proper noun. The Egyptian slave, Sarai’s servant. Her name, potentially meaning "flight" or "stranger," prophetically aligns with her journey. She represents those whom God hears, even from unexpected places.
• bare (וַתֵּלֶד - va-tteled): From the Hebrew root יָלַד (yalad), "to bear," "to give birth." Simple verb indicating the act of delivery, emphasizing a concrete event after the preceding period of pregnancy.
• Abram (לְאַבְרָם - l'Avram): "To Abram." Indicates Abram as the father. His name "Exalted Father" (אב-רם - av-ram) still signifies his potential fatherhood before being renamed Abraham ("Father of a Multitude") in Gen 17, when the promise of numerous descendants becomes absolute.
• a son (בֵּן - ben): Common Hebrew word for "son." Plainly states the gender of the child.
• and Abram (וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָם - vayyikra Avram): "And Abram called." This clause confirms Abram's role in the naming. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the father's prerogative to name his child was significant, affirming paternity and often imparting meaning or prophetic hope. It demonstrates Abram's acceptance of Hagar’s report from the Angel.
• called (וַיִּקְרָא - vayyikra): From the Hebrew root קָרָא (qara), "to call," "to name." A common verb used for giving names throughout Genesis.
• his son’s name (שֶׁם בְּנוֹ - shem b'no): Literally "name of his son." Standard biblical phrase for naming.
• Ishmael (יִשְׁמָעֵאל - Yishma'el): Hebrew proper noun, meaning "God hears."
  • Significance: This name is profoundly theological. It's not a name chosen by Hagar out of emotion or by Abram from preference, but was specifically commanded by the Angel of the Lord in Gen 16:11.
  • Contextual Link: Directly links to the phrase ki shama Yahweh el-onyech ("for the LORD has heard your affliction") spoken by the Angel to Hagar in Gen 16:11.
  • Divine Revelation: Confirms Hagar’s experience with God and emphasizes God’s compassionate attribute of "hearing." This hearing refers not just to an auditory perception but to an attentive and active response to suffering or a cry for help.
  • Polemic (indirect): The name Ishmael contrasts with human actions and societal norms that might lead to marginalization (like Hagar's flight). It highlights God's active involvement and compassion for the afflicted, cutting through human-imposed status distinctions or suffering. Even in circumstances born of human error (Sarai's plan), God demonstrates grace and attentiveness.

Words-group analysis:

• "And Hagar bare Abram a son": This phrase succinctly captures the physical outcome of Sarai's initiative and Abram's participation. It emphasizes that despite the unorthodox nature, a direct male heir for Abram was produced, temporarily alleviating the anxiety about a successor. It sets the stage for distinguishing this son from the promised son through Sarai.
• "and Abram called his son's name, Ishmael": This emphasizes Abram's public acceptance of paternity and his obedience to the divine directive (communicated via Hagar). The naming itself validates Hagar's extraordinary encounter in the wilderness. It underlines the sovereignty of God, whose will prevails and whose nature (the one who "hears") is revealed through even complex and imperfect human situations.

Genesis 16 15 Bonus section

• Linguistic Foresight: The naming of "Ishmael" meaning "God hears" foreshadows God hearing Hagar’s cries again in the wilderness in Gen 21:17 after they are cast out, reinforcing God's consistent attentiveness to the downtrodden.
• Anticipation of Conflict: The birth of Ishmael immediately introduces an heir who is not the one God intended for the covenant line, setting up a complex familial dynamic that culminates in tension, "mocking," and ultimately Hagar and Ishmael's expulsion, mirroring the spiritual conflict between law and grace or the children of the flesh versus the children of the promise (Galatians 4).
• Divine Intervention Amidst Human Error: The narrative underscores that God is not absent or silent even when His people operate outside His perfect will. His divine voice reaches Hagar and, through her, Abram, demonstrating His ability to weave His sovereign plan through human complexities and mistakes, consistently manifesting His character as the God who hears.
• A Paternal Act of Legitimacy: By naming the son, Abram formally acknowledges Ishmael as his legitimate firstborn, which held significant rights in ancient culture, even though the covenant promise would ultimately pass through a younger son. This is crucial for understanding the future blessings bestowed upon Ishmael (Gen 17:20, 21:13).

Genesis 16 15 Commentary

Genesis 16:15 is deceptively simple, yet packed with profound theological and historical implications. It records the birth of Ishmael, a child born not of God's miraculous promise through Sarah, but through human strategizing and impatience. Abram's act of naming him Ishmael ("God hears") is significant on several levels: it validates Hagar's encounter with the Angel of the Lord, showing that Abram accepted her incredible account. This suggests that Abram, though involved in Sarai's unfaithful plan, acknowledged God's active presence even in their complex family dynamics.

The name "Ishmael" fundamentally highlights God's character as "El Shama," the God who hears. This isn't just about passive hearing, but active attention and compassionate response to suffering—specifically Hagar's "misery" as revealed in the prior verses. This attribute of God is a comfort even amidst human failures. While Ishmael's birth does not align with the pure promise given to Abraham and Sarah for the covenant line (Isaac), God nevertheless exercises His benevolent care over him and promises to make him a great nation (Gen 17:20, 21:13). This sets the trajectory for two distinct yet related lineages—that of Isaac (the child of promise, through whom the covenant runs) and Ishmael (the child born of human will, also blessed by God).

This verse thus marks a critical inflection point: the immediate answer to Abram's yearning for an heir, yet one achieved through a path that will bring much tension. It foregrounds themes of human responsibility, divine sovereignty, God's boundless compassion even beyond His direct covenant partners, and the ongoing tension between "flesh" (human effort) and "spirit" (divine promise) that reverberates through biblical history, particularly as explored in Paul's allegorical use of Ishmael and Isaac in Galatians.