Genesis 16:4 kjv

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Genesis 16:4 nkjv

So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.

Genesis 16:4 niv

He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

Genesis 16:4 esv

And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

Genesis 16:4 nlt

So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.

Genesis 16 verses

Genesis 16 4 Meaning

Genesis 16:4 describes the immediate consequences of Abraham's union with Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian servant. Hagar conceived a child, and upon realizing her pregnancy, her attitude towards her mistress, Sarah, changed drastically to one of contempt. This verse marks the inception of significant familial conflict within Abraham's household, highlighting the perils of human initiative in fulfilling divine promises.

Genesis 16 4 Context

Genesis chapter 16 unfolds immediately after God's covenant promise to Abraham in chapter 15, where Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness, and God promised him an innumerable offspring. Despite this, a decade had passed, and Abraham and Sarah remained childless. Chapter 16 opens with Sarah's frustration and her culturally permissible, yet divinely un-ordained, solution: to give her Egyptian slave, Hagar, to Abraham to bear a child for them, hoping to build a family through her. This practice, though permitted in some ancient Near Eastern societies (like in Nuzi tablets where a barren wife could provide a slave as a concubine), was never God's ordained path for Abraham's heir. Verse 4 details the direct consequence of this plan: Hagar's pregnancy and her subsequent arrogant attitude towards Sarah, which directly ignited severe household strife and the introduction of envy and bitterness.

Genesis 16 4 Word analysis

• So he went in: Va-yavo (וַיָּבֹא). The verb bo (בוא) means "to come," "to go in," or "to enter." In this context, it is a euphemism for sexual intercourse, signifying the direct act of intimacy between Abram and Hagar. This implies a straightforward, immediate consequence of Sarah's proposal.
• to Hagar: el-Hagar (אֶל-הָגָר). Hagar, an Egyptian slave (shifkhah, שִׁפְחָה), was culturally distinct and held a low social status as property. Her name itself (possibly from root meaning "flight" or "stranger") could prefigure her later journey and outsider status.
• and she conceived: va-tahar (וַתַּהַר). From the root hara (הרה), "to conceive" or "become pregnant." This confirms the immediate physical outcome of their union, fulfilling the human part of Sarah's scheme, yet setting the stage for future problems. The swift conception indicates physical capability, which highlights Sarah's continued barrenness as a direct divine design for her specific child.
• And when she saw: Va-tērè (וַתֵּרֶא). From the root ra'ah (ראה), "to see" or "perceive." This emphasizes Hagar's observation and recognition of her pregnancy, marking it as a critical moment of awareness that immediately alters her self-perception and conduct.
• that she had conceived: kī hārah (כִּי הָרָה). Reinforces the specific catalyst for Hagar's change in demeanor. Her new physical state empowers her psychologically.
• she looked with contempt: tiqqāl (וַתֵּקַל). From the root qalal (קלל), which means "to be light," "to be trifling," "to curse," "to treat lightly," or "to despise." Here, it specifically denotes Hagar's treating Sarah lightly or despising her. This implies a significant disrespect, a challenging of Sarah's authority, and possibly a sense of her own increased worth. It's the opposite of honoring (kāvad, כָּבַד, to be heavy, to honor).
• on her mistress: g'virtah (גְּבִרְתָּהּ). From the noun g'virah (גבירה), meaning "mistress," "lady," or "queen." This highlights Sarah's superior status that Hagar now defies. The term emphasizes the formal relationship and the impropriety of Hagar's actions.

Words-group analysis:

• "So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived.": This phrase describes a swift and successful biological outcome, contrasting sharply with Abraham and Sarah's years of waiting. It shows the immediacy of human action and its consequence, establishing the catalyst for the subsequent conflict.
• "And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.": This pivotal phrase reveals the turning point in Hagar's disposition. Her newly elevated status as the one capable of bearing Abraham's child immediately inflates her pride and prompts her to devalue Sarah. It shows how power dynamics shift and how human pride can arise from altered circumstances.

Genesis 16 4 Bonus section

• The term "contempt" (qalal) stands in stark opposition to the concept of "honor" (kabad), highlighting the severe reversal in Hagar's disposition towards Sarah. What was once honorific ("mistress") became a source of disdain for Hagar.
• This immediate change in Hagar's attitude underlines the danger of unchecked human pride, which can quickly emerge when an individual feels elevated or superior. Her sudden ascendancy through pregnancy, despite her prior subordinate status, led to a sense of worthlessness imputed to Sarah.
• The narrative here also serves as an indirect polemic against certain pagan cultural practices. While the use of handmaidens for surrogacy was accepted in some surrounding cultures, the Bible highlights the resulting relational brokenness and suffering that arise from such practices, especially when they circumvent God's direct promises or moral guidelines for marriage.
• Despite this human failure and discord, God's sovereignty is implicit; He allows this situation to unfold, yet also intervenes (Gen 16:7-14) and eventually brings His ultimate promise to fruition through Sarah, not Hagar, demonstrating His faithfulness even amidst human shortsightedness.

Genesis 16 4 Commentary

Genesis 16:4 is a succinct but crucial verse, demonstrating the immediate, adverse consequences of abandoning trust in God's specific timing and methods. Sarah's culturally-sanctioned, yet spiritually ill-advised, scheme for a surrogate son rapidly generates relational strife. Hagar's conception, initially perceived as a solution, immediately elevates her status in her own eyes, leading her to "look with contempt" upon Sarah. This word "contempt" (qalal) is powerful, signifying not just disdain but an active devaluation, the very opposite of honor. It highlights a common human failing: when a perceived need or weakness is overcome (Hagar now "achieved" what Sarah could not), pride easily supplants humility and gratitude, often manifesting as disrespect toward those formerly above them.

This act of contempt is not just a personal slight; it's a violation of social hierarchy and a direct challenge to Sarah's authority, setting the stage for domestic upheaval, bitterness, and future generational conflict (Ishmael and Isaac, Gal 4:21-31). The verse serves as a powerful cautionary tale against resorting to human shortcuts instead of waiting for divine fulfillment, demonstrating that even a seemingly good outcome (conception) outside of God's will can breed severe discord and lasting consequences. It immediately illustrates that attempting to "help" God often complicates rather than simplifies His plans, necessitating further divine intervention, as seen in subsequent verses (Gen 16:7-14).

• Example 1: A person impatient for promotion backbites colleagues; achieves promotion, but then disrespects former peers.
• Example 2: A couple desperate for a child pursues unethical methods, gaining a child but compromising their values and family peace.