Genesis 16:5 kjv

And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Genesis 16:5 nkjv

Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me."

Genesis 16:5 niv

Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me."

Genesis 16:5 esv

And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!"

Genesis 16:5 nlt

Then Sarai said to Abram, "This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she's pregnant she treats me with contempt. The LORD will show who's wrong ? you or me!"

Genesis 16 verses

Genesis 16 5 Meaning

Genesis 16:5 records Sarai's vehement accusation against Abram and her maidservant, Hagar. Sarai expresses deep frustration and anger, declaring that the wrong done to her—Hagar's perceived contempt—is Abram's fault. She recounts her own initiative in providing Hagar to Abram for conception and notes Hagar's changed demeanor upon realizing her pregnancy. Overwhelmed by injustice, Sarai invokes divine judgment, asking the Lord to arbitrate and decide between herself and Abram, seeking vindication from the divine arbiter.

Genesis 16 5 Context

Genesis chapter 16 unfolds roughly ten years after Abram's arrival in Canaan and the Lord's reiteration of His promise to him. Despite God's explicit covenant regarding a countless lineage (Gen 15:5), Sarai remained barren (Gen 11:30). In a culturally acceptable, though ultimately misdirected, attempt to facilitate God's promise, Sarai proposes that Abram have a child through her Egyptian handmaid, Hagar. This was a common practice in the Ancient Near East for childless couples, often regulated by legal codes. Abram acquiesces to Sarai's suggestion (Gen 16:2). Hagar quickly conceives, which tragically shifts the household dynamics. Instead of fostering unity in pursuit of a common goal, Hagar begins to despise Sarai, and Sarai feels diminished and mistreated. This verse, Gen 16:5, marks the explosion of Sarai's pent-up frustration and blame. Her words highlight a core tension: reliance on human ingenuity rather than persistent faith in God's specific timing and method for fulfilling His divine promises. Abram's passive role in this moment, listening to Sarai and allowing her to take action with Hagar, also sets the stage for her accusations against him.

Genesis 16 5 Word analysis

• And Sarai said (וַתֹּאמֶר שָׂרַי wattō’mer Śāray): Sarai, whose name means "my princess," initiates the interaction and previously the plan to offer Hagar. Her words are direct and charged with strong emotion, reflecting her distress.
• to Abram (אֶל־אַבְרָם ʾel-ʾAḇrām): Abram, whose name means "exalted father," is the direct target of Sarai's blame. His apparent passivity or perceived inaction in dealing with Hagar's change of demeanor exacerbates Sarai's feelings of injustice.
• "May my wrong be on you!" (חֲמָסִי עָלֶיךָ ḥamasī ‘āleyḵā):
  • ḥamasī: This Hebrew term, ḥamas (חָמָס), implies "my violence," "my injustice," or "my wrongdoing." Sarai perceives herself as the victim of a grave injustice or moral violation. The word signifies an act of egregious wrong, going beyond simple disagreement to a deep sense of violated rights.
  • ‘āleyḵā: "upon you." This phrase unequivocally places the blame and the desired consequence of the perceived wrong directly onto Abram. It indicates that he is held accountable for her distress and Hagar's disrespect.
• I gave my servant (וְאָנֹכִי נָתַתִּי שִׁפְחָתִי wəʾānōḵī nātattī šip̄ḥātī):
  • wəʾānōḵī: "and I" (emphatic). Sarai highlights her own intentional and pivotal role in initiating the entire scheme. She reminds Abram that her own action led to the present painful outcome.
  • nātattī: "I gave/placed." This verb emphasizes her deliberate action of entrusting Hagar.
  • šip̄ḥātī: "my female servant/handmaid." Shiphḥah designates a bondswoman, a slave girl within the household, under Sarai's direct authority. This highlights Hagar's social position, making her subsequent contempt particularly galling to Sarai.
• into your embrace (בְּחֵיקֶךָ bəḥêqeḵā): This is a dignified euphemism for the act of sexual intimacy, specifically within the context of marital relations or for the purpose of procreation. It signifies the transfer of certain spousal rights to Hagar for childbearing.
• and when she saw that she had conceived (וַתֵּרֶא כִּי הָרָה wattēre’ kî hārâ): This marks the precise turning point in Hagar's behavior and the household dynamics. Her perception of her own status changed dramatically with her pregnancy.
• she looked on me with contempt (וַתֵּקַל גְּבִרְתָּהּ בְּעֵינֶיהָ wattēqal gəḇirtāh bə‘ênêhā):
  • wattēqal: "she made light of," "she despised," "she dishonored." The verb qalal (קָלַל) means to be light, swift, or (in its causative form here) to treat lightly, with scorn, or to curse. Hagar treated her mistress with blatant disregard and disrespect.
  • gəḇirtāh: "her mistress." Hagar overtly defied the established social and familial hierarchy by disrespecting the woman who was her owner and patron.
  • bə‘ênêhā: "in her eyes." This idiom signifies Hagar's internal attitude of disdain and a clear shift in her perception of Sarai's authority and worth, likely due to her own newfound fertility contrasted with Sarai's continued barrenness.
• May the Lord judge between you and me! (יִשְׁפֹּט יְהוָה בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ yišpōṭ Yahweh bênî ūḇênekā):
  • yišpōṭ: "may he judge." This is a fervent appeal to divine arbitration. Sarai, feeling personally affronted and unaddressed by Abram, turns to the ultimate, impartial judge for vindication.
  • Yahweh: The sacred covenant name of God. By invoking Yahweh, Sarai appeals to the faithful God who had made promises to Abram, believing He is a righteous judge who will act with justice.
  • bênî ūḇênekā: "between me and between you." This specifies the two parties in Sarai's core dispute. While Hagar initiated the contempt, Sarai places the ultimate burden and accountability on Abram for not resolving the situation or upholding her honor.

Genesis 16 5 Bonus section

• Abram's Silence and Complicity: Abram's initial passivity in addressing Hagar's insolence before Sarai's outburst is significant. His failure to actively mediate or restore Sarai's dignity is perceived by Sarai as complicity, contributing directly to her outburst and appeal to God's judgment. His response in the following verse, essentially yielding Hagar back to Sarai's power, indicates a willingness to step away from direct confrontation or authority in this familial dispute.
• Barrenness as a Catalyst for Crisis: Sarai's enduring barrenness (Gen 11:30), perceived in the ancient world as a form of disgrace or divine disfavor, deeply affected her identity and emotional well-being. This vulnerability became a catalyst for human-devised solutions and the ensuing family crisis.
• The Power of Shame: Hagar's act of looking at Sarai with contempt (wattēqal gəḇirtāh bə‘ênêhā) deeply shamed Sarai. Shame, particularly public or familial humiliation, was a potent social force in the Ancient Near East, driving desperate responses like Sarai's appeal to divine intervention.
• Theological Principle of Divine Justice: Sarai's appeal, "May the Lord judge between you and me," establishes Yahweh as the ultimate, impartial judge. This theme resonates throughout the Hebrew Bible, where people constantly appeal to God to adjudicate disputes and uphold justice, especially when human avenues of recourse fail or are deemed insufficient. It affirms God's active involvement in the affairs of His people and His commitment to righteousness.

Genesis 16 5 Commentary

Genesis 16:5 vividly illustrates the chaotic outcome of human intervention into divine promises. Sarai, exasperated by her barrenness and taking a culturally sanctioned, yet spiritually misdirected, path, offered Hagar to Abram. When Hagar conceived and subsequently showed contempt for her mistress, the very arrangement intended to bring forth blessing created discord and resentment. Sarai's bitter accusation, "May my wrong be on you!", reveals her deep emotional pain and desire to shift blame, refusing to accept responsibility for her initial choice or Abram's acquiescence. Her plea to the Lord for judgment underscores a fundamental truth: ultimately, God is the righteous arbiter who sees every action and intent. This moment reveals the tension between trusting God's timing and trying to force His hand, leading to a profound breakdown in family relationships and setting a pattern of conflict for future generations of Abram's descendants. It serves as a stark reminder that while God's promises are sure, they unfold according to His divine will, not human impatience.