Genesis 21:10 kjv

Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

Genesis 21:10 nkjv

Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac."

Genesis 21:10 niv

and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac."

Genesis 21:10 esv

So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac."

Genesis 21:10 nlt

So she turned to Abraham and demanded, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won't have it!"

Genesis 21 verses

Genesis 21 10 Meaning

Genesis 21:10 records Sarah's decisive demand to Abraham: to banish Hagar, the slave woman, and her son Ishmael. Her unequivocal reason was to prevent Ishmael from sharing the inheritance with her son, Isaac. This verse marks a pivotal moment in the Abrahamic narrative, underscoring the necessity of a clear, unmixed lineage for the promised covenant son and highlighting the divine choice of Isaac as the sole heir to Abraham's inheritance and the promises of God.

Genesis 21 10 Context

Genesis 21:10 occurs immediately after the joyful event of Isaac's birth and weaning, a milestone symbolizing the fulfillment of God's long-standing promise to Abraham and Sarah. The celebration is marred by Ishmael, Abraham's older son by Hagar, being observed "playing" or "mocking" Isaac (Gen 21:9). This act, whatever its precise nature, deeply offended Sarah and triggered her demand for the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael. Historically and culturally, in the ancient Near East, the birth of a legitimate heir by a principal wife often nullified the legal standing of children born to slave women, especially if they were previously adopted as heirs. Sarah's concern was not mere jealousy but a pragmatic and profound fear for Isaac's divinely appointed inheritance, understanding that a rival claim from Ishmael could jeopardize the promised lineage and God's covenant. This situation forces Abraham to confront the consequences of his earlier attempt to produce an heir outside of God's precise plan.

Genesis 21 10 Word analysis

• "Therefore she said": This indicates Sarah's immediate and direct response to Ishmael's behavior. Her statement is decisive, implying conviction or even a spiritual understanding of what must occur.
• "Cast out": The Hebrew word is garash (גָּרַשׁ). It signifies a forceful, permanent expulsion, implying divorce, driving away, or outright banishment. This is not a temporary removal but a definitive separation from the household and any claim to inheritance. It emphasizes the absolute nature of the split necessary for the covenant line.
• "this slave woman with her son": Sarah uses the term "slave woman" (amah אָמָה), highlighting Hagar's status and consequently Ishmael's. Her phrasing emphasizes the indissoluble bond between mother and son and underscores that both represent a single problem from Sarah's perspective regarding the inheritance. This legalistic emphasis on status serves to delegitimize Ishmael's claim.
• "for": This conjunction introduces the explicit justification for Sarah's demand. It frames her emotional reaction within a logical, even legal, framework of inheritance rights.
• "the son of this slave woman": Repetition for emphasis on the disqualifying status of Ishmael. It underscores his birth outside of the true covenantal line.
• "shall not be heir": The Hebrew verb is yarash (יָרַשׁ), meaning "to inherit," "to possess," or "to dispossess." This is the core issue for Sarah. She seeks to secure Isaac’s sole and unthreatened right to all of Abraham's possessions and, crucially, to the divine promises and covenant. This inheritance transcends mere material wealth, encompassing spiritual blessings and the future of God's chosen people.
• "with my son Isaac": This phrase makes the demand's intent clear: the exclusivity of Isaac's inheritance. Isaac, whose name relates to "laughter," represents the promised son, born of God’s supernatural intervention. Sarah recognizes his unique, divinely appointed status as the sole recipient of Abraham’s covenant legacy.

Words-group analysis

• "Cast out this slave woman with her son": This command signifies a decisive and complete severance. It is not just about physical expulsion but also about the termination of all familial, social, and legal claims Hagar and Ishmael might have had on Abraham's household and, critically, his inheritance. The term "cast out" resonates throughout the Old Testament as a way of removing defilement or anything that threatens God's order or purity. This act, later endorsed by God, establishes a powerful precedent for necessary separation to uphold God's unique covenant path.
• "for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac": This statement articulates the fundamental reason behind the expulsion. It reveals Sarah's insight into the exclusive nature of the covenant God established with Abraham, which was to be fulfilled specifically through Isaac. This isn't merely a dispute over family wealth but a foundational theological declaration. It emphasizes that the heir of God’s promises must come through the channel of promise and grace, not human contrivance or natural lineage alone. This concept lays the groundwork for later biblical distinctions, particularly Paul's allegorical use in Galatians, where it differentiates those "born of the flesh" from those "born of the Spirit" as true heirs of the promise.

Genesis 21 10 Bonus section

The narrative surrounding Gen 21:10 holds profound implications for understanding God's method of working through particular individuals and lines, especially in the context of covenant. The "casting out" of Hagar and Ishmael demonstrates a key principle of divine selection: while God blesses all peoples (including Ishmael, who becomes the father of a great nation), His specific covenant of redemption operates through a singular, chosen line. This distinction underscores that not all who are "of Israel" are truly "Israel," echoing Paul's later explanation in Romans. Furthermore, this incident challenges common cultural norms of primogeniture prevalent in Abraham's time, asserting God's sovereignty over human tradition or expectation. It powerfully teaches that spiritual inheritance is not guaranteed by birth alone but by divine appointment and promise, a theme critical to understanding both the election of Israel and the nature of salvation through Christ.

Genesis 21 10 Commentary

Genesis 21:10 presents Sarah's unyielding demand to Abraham, driven by her keen perception that Ishmael posed a direct threat to Isaac's unique position as the sole heir of God's covenant promises. While seemingly harsh and emotionally charged, this demand was divinely affirmed. God's instruction to Abraham in verse 12—"listen to whatever Sarah tells you... through Isaac your offspring shall be named"—validates her understanding of the necessity of clear, unmixed lineage for the covenant. This event highlights that God's plan unfolds according to His specific election and supernatural provision, rather than through human efforts or natural birthright. The expulsion was not an act of capricious cruelty, but a separation ordained by God to protect the integrity of the covenant line. Theologically, it sets the stage for the New Testament's allegory of the two covenants in Galatians 4, where Hagar represents the covenant of Law, leading to bondage, and Sarah represents the covenant of Promise and grace, leading to freedom. Just as Ishmael could not inherit with Isaac, those under legalism cannot share in the spiritual inheritance of those redeemed by grace through Christ. This serves as a timeless principle: for the fullness of God's redemptive purpose to be realized, a decisive break from anything that impedes or contaminates the path of faith and promise is sometimes required.