Genesis 16:8 kjv

And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

Genesis 16:8 nkjv

And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai."

Genesis 16:8 niv

And he said, "Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress Sarai," she answered.

Genesis 16:8 esv

And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai."

Genesis 16:8 nlt

The angel said to her, "Hagar, Sarai's servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress, Sarai," she replied.

Genesis 16 verses

Genesis 16 8 Meaning

Genesis 16:8 details the compassionate, yet direct, encounter between the Angel of the Lord and Hagar in the wilderness. The angel, recognizing her identity and plight, asks two profound questions: "Hagar, Sarai's servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?" This interrogation is not due to a lack of divine knowledge but serves as a prelude to divine intervention, inviting Hagar to confront her circumstances, her flight, and her uncertain future, setting the stage for God's provision and revelation concerning her unborn child, Ishmael. It signifies God's personal attention to the distressed and marginalized.

Genesis 16 8 Context

Genesis chapter 16 unfolds against the backdrop of Sarai's barrenness and Abram's increasing age, amidst God's promise of countless descendants. Impatient with divine timing, Sarai attempts to fulfill the promise through human means by giving her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abram as a concubine. Upon conceiving, Hagar despises Sarai, leading to Sarai's harsh treatment and Hagar's desperate flight into the wilderness. The preceding verse (Gen 16:7) describes the Angel of the Lord finding Hagar by a spring on the way to Shur. Verse 8 marks the initiation of the Angel's direct, personal address to Hagar, representing the first time the divine engages specifically with an Egyptian individual, and a vulnerable woman outside the immediate Abrahamic covenant line. It establishes God's omnipresence and His profound concern for individuals, even when they are marginalized or in the throes of despair due to human failings.

Genesis 16 8 Word analysis

• And he said: The Hebrew vayyomer (וַיֹּאמֶר) commonly introduces direct speech. Here, "he" refers to the Angel of the Lord. In the context of the Hebrew Bible, divine communication, even through an "angel," often carries profound authority and reveals deep intention. It's more than a casual inquiry; it is a momentous, life-altering address.
• "Hagar,": (הָגָר - Hagar) Her name is transliterated directly. The root meaning of "Hagar" in Hebrew is debated but possibly relates to "flight" or "stranger," which becomes ironically fitting given her current predicament. The Angel addressing her by name highlights God's personal knowledge and recognition of her individual identity, not merely her status.
• "Sarai's servant,": (שִׁפְחַת שָׂרַי - shifchat Sarai) Shifchah denotes a female slave, maidservant, or bondwoman. This phrase identifies Hagar's socio-legal status, highlighting her vulnerability and lack of autonomy in the ancient Near Eastern household. Despite her marginalized position, the divine encounters her directly, underscoring God's attention to the humble and oppressed.
• "where have you come from,": (אֵי מִזֶּה בָאת - ei mizzeh baat) This inquiry about her past location and origin functions both as a literal question about her flight and a probing question meant to elicit her story and reflection on her current state of desperation. It is a compassionate prompt, not an information gathering query for an omniscient God.
• "and where are you going?": (וְאָן תֵּלֵכִי - v'an teilekhi) This question about her destination signifies Hagar's aimless wandering and profound helplessness. It brings to the forefront her lack of purpose or secure future, creating a vacuum that God is about to fill with specific divine instructions and a promise for her and her unborn child.

Words-group analysis

• "Hagar, Sarai's servant,": This grouping identifies Hagar both personally and socially. It affirms God's comprehensive understanding of her as an individual soul (Hagar) and her circumstantial reality (Sarai's servant). This acknowledgement validates her identity and distress.
• "where have you come from, and where are you going?": This profound two-part question, delivered by a divine messenger, is a staple in divine-human encounters throughout Scripture. It prompts introspection, repentance, and a realization of human limitation. For Hagar, it exposes her plight: her flight from intolerable conditions ("where have you come from") and her current state of aimlessness and hopelessness ("where are you going"). It serves as the compassionate opening for God to redirect her path and inject divine purpose into her life.

Genesis 16 8 Bonus section

• Theology of the Angel of the Lord: Many theological traditions and scholars view the "Angel of the Lord" (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה) in Old Testament appearances, such as this one, as a Christophany – a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ. This interpretation lends deeper significance to the encounter, suggesting a direct divine interaction, rather than simply a created angelic being. This personal divine engagement with a vulnerable woman, an outsider, speaks volumes about God's universal love.
• Divine Compassion in Contrast: The tender yet direct questioning of the Angel stands in stark contrast to the human interactions Hagar had just experienced. Sarai had dealt harshly with her, and Hagar had shown contempt for Sarai. The divine encounter offers a profound counter-example of empathy and a desire for reconciliation and order.
• Existential Questions: The questions "where have you come from, and where are you going?" are fundamental existential inquiries. They compel not just Hagar, but any person, to reflect on their past choices and their life's purpose and direction. This narrative thread continues to speak to individuals seeking meaning and guidance in their own spiritual journeys.
• God's Sovereignty Over Human Failure: This episode underscores God's sovereignty. Despite Abram and Sarai's impatience leading to the Hagar dilemma, and Hagar's subsequent contempt and flight, God does not abandon His ultimate purpose or those involved. Instead, He actively intervenes in the mess created by human frailty to ensure His plans unfold, even bringing blessing to Ishmael.

Genesis 16 8 Commentary

Genesis 16:8 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, as it is the first recorded instance of the "Angel of the Lord" appearing to an individual. The compassionate, personal inquiry directed to Hagar reveals a key aspect of God's character: His proactive engagement with those who are marginalized, vulnerable, and in distress. The questions "where have you come from, and where are you going?" are not born of divine ignorance, for God knows all things. Instead, they serve as a pastoral intervention, inviting Hagar to voice her suffering, acknowledge her flight, and face the reality of her lack of purpose. This divine encounter establishes God as "El Roi," the God who sees and cares, not just for the covenant lineage, but for all His creation, particularly those in desperation. It highlights that even in moments of human failure and strained relationships (like those between Sarai and Hagar), God's grace extends to provide guidance, comfort, and a future. This verse beautifully sets the stage for the revelation of God's specific plan for Ishmael, affirming that God's providence operates even when human plans falter.