Genesis 16:7 kjv
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
Genesis 16:7 nkjv
Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
Genesis 16:7 niv
The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur.
Genesis 16:7 esv
The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.
Genesis 16:7 nlt
The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur.
Genesis 16 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 16:13 | She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are El-Roi,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” | Hagar's direct experience of God as the "God Who Sees" echoes His specific appearance here. |
| Gen 21:17 | God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar?" | Angel of God's renewed intervention for Hagar and Ishmael in similar desert distress. |
| Gen 22:11 | But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” | Divine intervention by the Angel of the Lord to prevent Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. |
| Gen 22:15 | The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven… | A further appearance of the Angel of the Lord, affirming covenant promises. |
| Ex 3:2 | There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. | Angel of the Lord (God Himself) appearing to Moses at the burning bush. |
| Judg 6:11-12 | The angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak in Ophrah... When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said… | Angel of the Lord appearing to call and commission Gideon, indicating divine presence and authority. |
| Judg 13:3 | The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant…" | Angel of the Lord appearing to Samson's barren mother, giving prophetic instruction and comfort. |
| Zech 1:11-12 | "We have gone throughout the earth and saw that the whole earth is at peace and in repose.” Then the angel of the LORD said… | Angel of the Lord interceding for Jerusalem and Judah before the Lord. |
| Ps 34:18 | The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. | Reinforces God's nearness to the despairing and afflicted, mirroring Hagar's situation. |
| Ps 10:14 | But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. | God’s direct attention to the oppressed and suffering, similar to His act of finding Hagar. |
| Isa 41:17 | The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched from thirst. But I the LORD will answer them. | God's promise to provide water for the needy in desert places, aligning with the "fountain of water." |
| Jn 4:10 | Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." | Symbolic "living water" offered by Christ contrasts with mere physical water, reflecting ultimate divine provision. |
| Rev 21:6 | “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” | The ultimate promise of divine provision and eternal life, echoing the physical provision of water. |
| Jas 1:27 | Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress… | Emphasizes care for the vulnerable and marginalized, a divine characteristic exemplified by finding Hagar. |
| Ex 2:23-25 | The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help went up to God. God heard their groaning… | God hears the cries of His people in bondage, a universal attribute seen also with Hagar. |
| Ps 107:4-7 | Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city where they could settle… Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. | God's guidance and provision for wanderers in the wilderness. |
| Num 20:8 | “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water." | God’s miraculous provision of water in the wilderness for Israel through a rock, symbolizing sustenance. |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. | General assurance of God’s personal care and attention to individual burdens, applicable to Hagar’s distress. |
| Eph 2:12 | Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. | The pre-gospel state of the gentiles, highlighting how Hagar, an Egyptian, experienced God's direct outreach. |
| Acts 7:30 | After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. | Stephen's speech confirms the identity of the 'Angel' who appeared to Moses as God himself. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. | God’s sovereign work even amidst human error and suffering, turning challenging situations towards His purpose. |
Genesis 16 verses
Genesis 16 7 Meaning
Genesis 16:7 marks a pivotal moment where the Angel of the Lord directly intervenes in Hagar’s despair. After fleeing Sarai's harsh treatment, Hagar, an Egyptian slave, finds herself isolated and vulnerable in the desert. This verse signifies God’s compassionate gaze extending beyond His chosen lineage to acknowledge and minister to a desperate and marginalized individual, demonstrating His universal care and watchful providence, even when His people are embroiled in challenging human situations. It highlights divine initiative, showing that God seeks out the lost and provides comfort and direction in times of profound distress.
Genesis 16 7 Context
Genesis chapter 16 unfolds in the aftermath of God's covenant promise to Abram regarding an heir (Gen 15). Despite God’s explicit assurance, Sarai, fearing continued barrenness and driven by cultural pressures for progeny, proposes that Abram conceive a child through her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar. This was a common custom in the Ancient Near East for obtaining an heir when the wife was barren, often involving a legal proxy arrangement. However, it was not God’s intended path for His covenant promise. Once Hagar conceived, she became proud and began to despise Sarai, leading Sarai to treat her harshly. In her distress, Hagar flees, likely intending to return to her homeland, Egypt, along a recognized desert route. This verse, Gen 16:7, marks the unexpected and critical intervention of God’s divine messenger, demonstrating that God is intimately involved in the consequences of human choices and cares deeply for those who suffer, even outside the direct line of His chosen people. The "way to Shur" points towards her desperation to abandon her circumstances entirely and seek refuge in the familiar, alien to the promised land.
Genesis 16 7 Word analysis
- And (וַיִּמְצָא - va-yim’tza - "And he found"): The opening conjunction smoothly links this divine intervention to Hagar's flight in the preceding verses, signaling a continuation of the narrative, yet an abrupt change in action due to supernatural involvement.
- the angel of the Lord (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - mal’akh YHVH): A significant theological phrase often understood as a manifestation of God Himself (a theophany or Christophany), not merely a created messenger. The specificity of "the LORD" (YHWH, the covenant name of God) indicates the divine authority and presence behind this figure. This appearance denotes a personal, direct encounter with God.
- found her (מָצָא - matza): This verb implies actively seeking and discovering, rather than a coincidental meeting. It underscores God's initiative and His deliberate pursuit of Hagar in her distress, highlighting His watchful eye and compassion.
- by a fountain of water (עַל עַיִן הַמַּיִם - al ayin hamayim): Literally "by the eye of the water" or a spring. A crucial resource in the desert, representing life, refreshment, and provision. Its mention emphasizes God's timely meeting with Hagar at a place of vital sustenance for survival in her vulnerable state.
- in the wilderness (בַּמִּדְבָּר - bammidbar): A place of desolation, isolation, danger, and often testing in biblical narratives. It highlights Hagar’s extreme vulnerability and loneliness, and paradoxically, becomes the setting for divine revelation and comfort.
- by the fountain (עַל הָעַיִן - al ha'ayin): The repetition and use of the definite article ("the") suggest a specific, possibly well-known spring, adding geographical specificity and perhaps hinting at a landmark where travelers often rested. It reinforces the significance of this place for the divine encounter.
- on the way to Shur (בְּדֶרֶךְ שׁוּר - b’derekh Shur): Shur refers to a desert region stretching towards Egypt. Hagar was fleeing back to her native land, implying a complete abandonment of Abraham’s household and the Promised Land. The Lord intercepts her not as she nears Egypt, but still "on the way," preventing her total departure and setting a new course for her life and that of her unborn child.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the angel of the Lord found her": This opening phrase immediately establishes divine agency and initiative. It's not Hagar seeking God, but God seeking her, showcasing His proactive compassion for the suffering, irrespective of their social status or origin. This "finding" is a personal, purposeful intervention.
- "by a fountain of water in the wilderness": This depicts Hagar's dire circumstances, both her physical peril in a desolate land and her emotional anguish. The fountain signifies God's providence and life-sustaining grace amidst overwhelming despair, presenting an oasis of hope in the midst of her flight and perceived abandonment.
- "by the fountain on the way to Shur": This double mention of the fountain, coupled with her direction, emphasizes both her extreme state of flight and God’s precise knowledge of her whereabouts and intentions. It's a strategic interception, preventing her full retreat and ensuring that His divine will, even concerning the consequences of Abraham and Sarai's actions, would still be worked out.
Genesis 16 7 Bonus section
The meeting with Hagar is the first recorded instance of the "Angel of the Lord" appearing in the Bible. Its significance lies in this inaugural divine encounter taking place with a woman, a slave, and a non-Israelite, foreshadowing God's universal compassion and His plan that extends beyond a single lineage, ultimately embracing all peoples through the lineage of Abraham (fulfilled in Christ). This also subtly distinguishes the nature of the Abrahamic covenant; while specific to Abraham’s direct heir, God’s compassion for Ishmael and his mother demonstrates His broader providential care. This meeting ensures the survival and future of Ishmael, an individual who will also be the father of many, even though his line is separate from the covenant through Isaac.
Genesis 16 7 Commentary
Genesis 16:7 is a profound testament to God’s boundless mercy and sovereign oversight. The appearance of "the Angel of the Lord" — often understood as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ — signifies a direct, personal divine encounter, demonstrating that God is not confined to the patriarchs or the covenant people alone. He extends His watchful eye and compassionate care to Hagar, a distraught, pregnant, marginalized Egyptian maidservant who is fleeing injustice. This event counters the human assumption that God only interacts with the "chosen" or those in specific spiritual lineage. Hagar’s desert encounter highlights God’s profound understanding of human suffering, His readiness to intervene in personal crises, and His capacity to bring order and direction to the chaos born of human failings. It's a foundational example of God seeing the unseen and hearing the unheard, bringing sustenance and divine instruction where only desolation was expected.
For practical application, this verse reminds us that God sees our "wilderness moments" – times of desolation, despair, and flight from challenging circumstances. He often meets us precisely where we are most vulnerable, providing guidance and sustenance when we feel lost and abandoned. Just as Hagar was intercepted on her path of despair, God can intercept our self-destructive tendencies and offer a divine redirection, fulfilling His purposes even through our errors or others' injustices.