Genesis 21:11 kjv
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
Genesis 21:11 nkjv
And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.
Genesis 21:11 niv
The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.
Genesis 21:11 esv
And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son.
Genesis 21:11 nlt
This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.
Genesis 21 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1 | The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country... to the land I will show you." | Abraham's earlier obedience despite personal cost. |
| Gen 16:2 | So Sarai said to Abram, "The Lord has kept me from having children... go to my servant..." | The human solution that led to this dilemma. |
| Gen 16:6 | Abram said to Sarai, "Your servant is in your hands... Then Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled..." | Early conflict involving Hagar, foreshadowing. |
| Gen 17:18 | Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!" | Abraham's clear desire for Ishmael's welfare. |
| Gen 17:19 | Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you are to call him Isaac." | God's re-affirmation of the specific promise. |
| Gen 17:20 | And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him... | God's distinct promise of blessing for Ishmael. |
| Gen 21:10 | So she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share the inheritance with my son Isaac!" | Sarah's direct demand precipitating the conflict. |
| Gen 21:12 | But God said to Abraham, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman..." | God's immediate response and instruction to Abraham. |
| Gen 21:13 | I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman, because he is your offspring. | God's comfort and re-confirmation of Ishmael's blessing. |
| Gen 22:2 | Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah." | Another test involving a son, revealing deeper obedience. |
| 2 Sam 18:33 | The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said, "Oh my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!" | A father's profound grief over a wayward son. |
| Ps 78:38 | Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Often he restrained his anger... | God's compassion and grace, reflected in Abraham's plea. |
| Rom 9:7-8 | Nor simply because they are Abraham's descendants are they all God's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." | Clarification that physical descent is not sufficient for God's promise. |
| Gal 4:22-31 | For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman... | Paul's allegory contrasting children of the flesh vs. promise. |
| Heb 11:8 | By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed... | Highlighting Abraham's defining characteristic of faith-filled obedience. |
| Heb 11:17-19 | By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice... He reasoned that God could even raise the dead... | Another ultimate test of faith involving a son. |
| Mt 10:37 | Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. | The demand for supreme love for God, above family. |
| Lk 14:26 | "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." | Radical devotion to God's will. |
| 1 Pet 4:16 | However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. | Suffering for righteousness or God's will. |
| Jas 1:2-3 | Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds... | Trials that test and strengthen faith. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. | God's ways being higher than human ways, requiring trust. |
| Job 1:21 | He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart... The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away..." | Trusting God even when faced with deep loss or sacrifice. |
| Php 2:8 | And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! | The ultimate example of obedience through suffering. |
Genesis 21 verses
Genesis 21 11 Meaning
Genesis 21:11 conveys the profound emotional distress experienced by Abraham due to the proposition of sending away Hagar and his son, Ishmael. The phrase "very grievous" indicates an extreme level of pain and moral conflict. Abraham was deeply troubled because this decision directly involved his own flesh and blood, his son Ishmael, whom he cherished. It was not merely an inconvenience, but a matter that went against his natural paternal affection and sense of righteousness. This verse highlights the heavy personal cost of aligning with God's singular covenantal path, which necessitated the departure of Ishmael to safeguard Isaac's unique position as the heir of promise.Genesis 21 11 Context
Genesis 21:11 occurs directly after Sarah demands Abraham send away Hagar and Ishmael. This demand arose during Isaac's weaning feast (Gen 21:8), where Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn son through Hagar, was "mocking" or "playing" (Hebrew *tsakhok*, often seen as an irreverent act towards Isaac). For Sarah, this was intolerable, signifying a threat to Isaac's sole inheritance. Abraham's natural affection and paternal love for Ishmael are evident; Ishmael had been a cherished son for nearly two decades (he was about 14 at this time, Gen 16:16, 21:5), initially believed by Abraham to be the promised heir before Isaac's birth (Gen 17:18). This verse encapsulates Abraham's deep internal struggle—torn between the will of his beloved wife and mother of the promised son, the deep bond with his firstborn, and ultimately, God's divine plan for a unique line through Isaac. The historical-cultural context emphasized male lineage, inheritance rights, and the significance of the firstborn son, making Abraham's emotional state profoundly understandable.Genesis 21 11 Word analysis
- And: (וַ - wa) A conjunction, linking this verse directly to Sarah's demand in Gen 21:10, showing it is a direct consequence.
- the thing: (הַדָּבָר - haddevar) Refers to Sarah's words and demand in Gen 21:10. The Hebrew word davar encompasses "word," "matter," "thing," or "command." Here it is a weighty "matter" or "demand" presented to Abraham.
- was very grievous: (וַיֵּרַע מְאֹד - vayyera me'od)
- was grievous: (וַיֵּרַע - vayyera) From the root ra'a, meaning to be bad, evil, morally displeasing, or disastrous. It implies more than just sadness; it was a deeply troubling or even morally repugnant situation in Abraham's eyes. It suggests that Abraham perceived Sarah's demand as fundamentally wrong, perhaps unjust or unkind.
- very: (מְאֹד - me'od) An intensifier, meaning "very much," "exceedingly," "greatly." It amplifies the degree of grievousness, emphasizing the extreme pain and conflict Abraham experienced.
- in Abraham's sight: (בְּעֵינֵי אַבְרָהָם - be'eyney Avraham)
- in Abraham's sight: (be'eyney) An idiomatic expression meaning "in his eyes," or "in his estimation/perception," signifying how something appeared or felt to him personally. It indicates the subjective and deep emotional impact the situation had on Abraham. It wasn't grievous in general, but specifically to him.
- Abraham: (Avraham) The patriarch, called by God, who already knew God had promised a blessing for Ishmael (Gen 17:20), which would naturally increase his personal dilemma and grief over sending him away.
- because of his son: (עַל־אֹדוֹ בְּנוֹ - al-'odo b'no)
- because of: (עַל־אֹדוֹ - al-'odo) Means "on account of him," specifying the reason for Abraham's distress.
- his son: (בְּנוֹ - b'no) This explicitly names the cause of his sorrow: Ishmael. This emphasizes Abraham's deep paternal love and connection to Ishmael, who had been his only son for many years and was, by all natural measures, his heir before Isaac was born. This highlights the painful reality of Abraham having to send away his own child, against his paternal instinct.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the thing was very grievous": This phrase immediately establishes the weighty and distressing nature of the situation. The term "thing" (davar) denotes a significant matter, and "very grievous" (vayyera me'od) points to profound internal distress, more than simple displeasure, but a sense of deep moral conflict and personal pain for Abraham.
- "in Abraham's sight": This particular phrasing highlights Abraham's internal, personal struggle. It underscores that the perception of this command, its impact on him emotionally and ethically, was key to his distress. It wasn't just a difficult situation; it felt profoundly wrong to him.
- "because of his son": This phrase directly attributes the depth of Abraham's grief to his parental love for Ishmael. It is the core reason for his struggle, showcasing the human and familial bonds that are challenged by God's unique redemptive plan. It reveals Abraham's genuine affection for Ishmael, regardless of his status relative to the promised seed.