Genesis 21:13 kjv
And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
Genesis 21:13 nkjv
Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."
Genesis 21:13 niv
I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring."
Genesis 21:13 esv
And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring."
Genesis 21:13 nlt
But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar's son because he is your son, too."
Genesis 21 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 16:10 | The angel of the Lord said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly..." | God's prior promise to Hagar concerning Ishmael's numerous descendants. |
| Gen 16:12 | He will be a wild donkey of a man; His hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand against him... | Prophecy regarding Ishmael's nature and interactions, given before his birth. |
| Gen 17:18 | And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before You!" | Abraham's earlier concern and plea for Ishmael, prior to Isaac's promise. |
| Gen 17:20 | "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly." | God's prior commitment to bless Ishmael, affirming His intentions for him. |
| Gen 21:9-10 | Sarah saw the son of Hagar... scoffing. So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman..." | Immediate context: Sarah's demand for Ishmael's expulsion, leading to Abraham's distress. |
| Gen 21:11 | And the matter was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. | Immediate context: Abraham's grief over the necessity of sending Ishmael away. |
| Gen 21:18 | "Arise, lift up the boy... for I will make him a great nation." | God's renewed promise to Hagar, affirming His word about Ishmael's future, reinforcing Gen 21:13. |
| Gen 25:12-16 | These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son... These are their names, by their towns and their camps, twelve princes according to their tribes. | Fulfillment of God's promise, listing Ishmael's twelve princely sons and their nations. |
| Rom 9:7-8 | Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel... It is not the children of the flesh who are God's children... | Clarifies distinction: the covenantal 'seed' (Isaac) is not merely biological (Ishmael). |
| Gal 3:16 | Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. He does not say, "And to offsprings..." | Highlights the singular, covenantal 'seed' (Christ), differentiating it from all natural descendants. |
| Deut 23:7-8 | "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not abhor an Egyptian..." | Illustrates God's broader recognition of relational ties and specific groups, beyond direct covenant. |
| Jer 31:36-37 | If these fixed order departs from before Me... then also the offspring of Israel shall cease... | Demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises concerning the future of descendants/nations. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. | Reinforces God's steadfastness and truthfulness in keeping all His word. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." | God's immutability ensures His promises stand, validating even general blessings. |
| Heb 6:13-14 | For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by himself... | God's absolute certainty and unwavering commitment to fulfill His oaths and promises. |
| Isa 41:8 | "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, offspring of Abraham My friend!" | Contrasts the specially chosen, covenantal seed of Israel with other lineages. |
| Luke 1:54-55 | He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham... | God's covenantal faithfulness specifically to the chosen line, without negating other promises. |
| Ps 105:8 | He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations. | Emphasizes God's enduring remembrance and execution of His word and covenant with His people. |
| Jonah 4:11 | "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city... in which there are more than 120,000 persons..." | An example of God's compassion and concern extending even to pagan nations beyond Israel. |
| Acts 17:26 | And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth... | God's divine ordering and making of all nations from one origin, underscoring His sovereignty. |
| Rom 3:29 | Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also. | While not covenantal, shows God's broader interaction and concern for all humanity, not exclusively Israel. |
| Gen 17:4 | "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations." | This verse is a broader promise to Abraham that extends beyond Isaac alone, aligning with Ishmael becoming a nation. |
Genesis 21 verses
Genesis 21 13 Meaning
God assures Abraham that despite the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, Ishmael, being Abraham's biological son, will also be established as a distinct nation. This promise alleviates Abraham's distress and demonstrates God's care and faithfulness beyond the specific covenantal line established through Isaac.
Genesis 21 13 Context
Genesis chapter 21 primarily focuses on the pivotal event of the birth and subsequent weaning of Isaac, the son of promise, to Abraham and Sarah. This marks the fulfillment of God's covenant concerning their heir. During Isaac's weaning feast, Sarah observes Ishmael, Hagar's son, mocking Isaac. This incident ignites Sarah's deep-seated animosity, leading her to demand that Abraham expel Hagar and Ishmael. This demand greatly grieves Abraham because Ishmael is his son. In this distress, God intervenes, instructing Abraham to obey Sarah's instruction, but immediately offers reassurance. Verse 13 is part of God's direct word to Abraham, mitigating his pain by assuring him that while the covenant's line will continue through Isaac, Ishmael, as Abraham's biological offspring, will also be preserved and developed into a significant nation.
Genesis 21 13 Word analysis
- And also (וְגַם֙, vegam): This introductory phrase signals an important addition to the preceding instructions regarding Ishmael. It emphasizes that despite his expulsion and the passing of the covenant through Isaac, God's providence will extend to Ishmael, too, demonstrating a comprehensive divine plan.
- of the son of the bondwoman (אֶת־בֶּן־הָאָמָ֔ה, et-ben-ha'amah): Refers directly to Ishmael, whose birth to Hagar, a "bondwoman," occurred outside the primary covenantal line designated through Sarah. "Son" (ben) underscores his direct paternal link to Abraham, which is the stated basis for God's continued action on his behalf.
- will I make a nation (לְג֖וֹי אֲשִׂימֶ֑נּוּ, legoy ashimennu): The Hebrew word goy denotes a "nation" or "people group." God's active declaration "will I make" signifies divine agency and purpose. This is a promise of a distinct, self-sustaining people, mirroring the promises made for Abraham's covenantal lineage (Gen 12:2). It implies a significant future and established identity for Ishmael's descendants.
- because he is thy seed (כִּ֥י זַרְעֲךָ֖ הֽוּא׃, ki zar'acha hu): This clause provides the divine rationale for God's continued blessing upon Ishmael. Zera (seed/offspring/descendant) here refers specifically to biological progeny. God explicitly acknowledges Ishmael as Abraham's direct descendant, affirming that this lineage, though not chosen for the covenant, holds significance due to Abraham's fatherhood. This demonstrates God's compassion and justice extended even beyond the specific election of grace.
Genesis 21 13 Bonus section
- The promise to make Ishmael a "nation" (goy) partially fulfills the broader aspect of God's covenant with Abraham, which included being the "father of a multitude of nations" (Gen 17:4), extending beyond just the nation of Israel.
- God's explicit reasoning ("because he is thy seed") emphasizes His justice and compassion; He honors Abraham's fatherhood even for a son born through human ingenuity (Hagar) rather than divine promise (Isaac).
- This verse prefigures the complex historical relationship between the descendants of Isaac (Israelites) and the descendants of Ishmael (various Arab peoples), affirming God's foreknowledge and involvement in the destinies of all nations stemming from Abraham.
- The divine declaration here provides theological reassurance that even when a chosen path separates individuals, God's overall care and plans for broader humanity persist.
Genesis 21 13 Commentary
Genesis 21:13 stands as a profound testament to the breadth of God's mercy and the steadfastness of His word. Abraham was heartbroken by the necessary expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, a decision commanded by God Himself. Yet, God does not leave Abraham in distress. Instead, He offers immediate comfort by affirming His unwavering commitment to Ishmael's future. This verse illustrates that while God chooses a specific line for His covenantal promises (Isaac's), His general beneficence and care extend even to those outside that particular redemptive path. Ishmael's lineage, springing from Abraham's biological seed, would not be extinguished but would flourish into a distinct and numerous nation, fulfilling earlier divine declarations (Gen 16:10, 17:20). It reminds us that God is faithful not only to His covenants but also to His general benevolence, respecting human relationships and extending grace based on His own righteous character and initial pronouncements.