Genesis 21 14

Genesis 21:14 kjv

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Genesis 21:14 nkjv

So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

Genesis 21:14 niv

Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

Genesis 21:14 esv

So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Genesis 21:14 nlt

So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar's shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Genesis 21 verses

Genesis 21 14 meaning

Genesis 21:14 describes Abraham's difficult act of sending away Hagar and their son Ishmael. Driven by Sarah's demand and God's instruction, Abraham provided minimal provisions—bread and water—and expelled them from his household. Hagar then departed and became lost, wandering without direction in the arid region near Beersheba, symbolizing their immediate vulnerability and the harsh reality of their expulsion.

Genesis 21 14 Context

Genesis 21:14 occurs shortly after Isaac's birth and weaning, an event that highlighted the difference between Abraham's promised heir and his first son, Ishmael. The celebration for Isaac's weaning leads to Sarah observing Ishmael "mocking" or "scoffing" (Hebrew: metzaheq, playing in a disrespectful way, possibly deriding Isaac or his weaning celebration) her son. This deeply offends Sarah, prompting her vehement demand to Abraham to "Cast out this slave woman and her son" (Gen 21:10). Abraham is greatly distressed by this command because Ishmael is his son. However, God intervenes, confirming Sarah's request as His will and reassuring Abraham that Ishmael, too, will become a nation, albeit not through the covenant of promise (Gen 21:12-13). Thus, Abraham's action in verse 14, though seemingly harsh from a human perspective, is presented as an act of obedience to a direct divine instruction, despite his personal grief. This period also highlights the social complexities of patriarchal households, involving multiple wives/concubines and their children. Beersheba, where they wander, would later become an important landmark in the narratives of Abraham and Isaac, signifying wells and a more settled life, ironic for Hagar and Ishmael's initial desperate state there.

Genesis 21 14 Word analysis

• And Abraham rose early in the morning, (vayashkem Avraham baboqer): "Rose early" indicates Abraham's swift and determined action. This phrase often denotes a sense of urgency, readiness, or solemnity for a significant or difficult undertaking in biblical narrative, similar to Abraham's preparations for the sacrifice of Isaac (Gen 22:3). It emphasizes the promptness of his obedience.
• and took bread and a skin of water, (vayiqqach lechem v'chemet mayim): "Bread" (lechem) and "skin of water" (chemet mayim). These are basic, minimal provisions, common for a short journey but insufficient for prolonged survival in a wilderness. The "skin" refers to a flask made from an animal hide, designed for carrying liquids in arid regions. This provision highlights the severity of their departure—they were not given a generous endowment but bare essentials, underscoring their precarious position.
• and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, (vayiten el-Hagar sim al shichmah): Placing the provisions on her shoulder emphasizes the immediate burden and responsibility placed upon Hagar. It underscores her agency, yet also her solitude in this harsh ordeal, as the primary caregiver and bearer of the survival necessities for herself and her child. This imagery paints a picture of physical and emotional weight.
• and the child, (v'et hayeled): Hebrew hayeled, "the child" or "the boy." At this time, Ishmael is likely around 14-17 years old (Isaac weaned at approximately 2-3 years old, and Ishmael was 13 when Abraham was 99, meaning Ishmael was ~14 when Isaac was born. If Isaac weaned at 2-3, Ishmael would be 16-17). Referring to him as "the child" highlights his dependent status within this act of expulsion and evokes greater pity or sense of his vulnerability, despite his actual age and capability.
• and sent her away; (vayishlacheha): Hebrew shalach. This verb can mean "to send away," "to dismiss," or "to send forth." In this context, it implies a decisive, permanent, and forceful dismissal from the household. It is the same verb used for casting out an undesirable thing or divorce, signifying an irreversible separation.
• and she departed and wandered (vatelech vateta’): "Departed" (talach) simply means "she went." "Wandered" (tata’ or ta’ah) carries the sense of straying, being lost, aimless roaming, or going astray from the proper path. This verb signifies her immediate disorientation and lack of destination or security after her dismissal, painting a vivid picture of desolation.
• in the Wilderness of Beersheba. (bimmidbar Be'er Sheva): "Wilderness" (midbar) is a desolate, unpopulated, arid region. "Beersheba" was an area in the Negeb known for its sparse resources and potential for wells (as implied by its name, 'Well of Oath' or 'Well of Seven'). Her wandering in its wilderness signifies that despite the later establishment of wells by Abraham and Isaac there, at this moment, Hagar found herself in a life-threatening environment without water sources or guidance.

Genesis 21 14 Bonus section

• The age of Ishmael at this time (approx. 14-17) suggests that he was old enough to travel on his own. Yet, he is explicitly referred to as "the child" (hayeled) and remains dependent on Hagar. This highlights the vulnerability associated with being dispossessed from the household structure and the specific emotional weight of a child being sent away. Scholars debate whether this is to elicit sympathy for him or to diminish his status relative to Isaac.
• Abraham's act, while appearing harsh, is framed biblically as an act of faith and obedience to God (as supported by Gen 21:12). This foreshadows Abraham's even more extreme test of faith with Isaac in Genesis 22. Both instances show Abraham trusting God's ability to fulfill His promises even through humanly impossible or emotionally distressing circumstances.
• The wilderness of Beersheba serves as a recurring biblical motif representing desolation, testing, but also a place of divine encounter and provision. This mirrors Hagar's earlier flight from Sarah in Genesis 16, where she also encountered the angel of the Lord in the wilderness. The narrative pattern reinforces God's continuous oversight and care for those who find themselves lost and without hope in barren lands.

Genesis 21 14 Commentary

Genesis 21:14 captures a deeply poignant and difficult moment in Abraham's life and the nascent history of God's covenant people. It details Abraham's wrenching decision, commanded by God yet originating from human discord (Sarah's jealousy), to expel Hagar and Ishmael. His action of rising early indicates a resolute yet possibly anguished determination. The provision of minimal sustenance—bread and a water skin carried by Hagar herself—underscores their immediate destitution and highlights the patriarchal reality where Hagar bore the physical burden and direct responsibility for Ishmael's life outside Abraham's household.

This verse sets the stage for God's divine intervention in the wilderness, showing that while human actions can lead to suffering, God's providence extends even to those seemingly cast out and outside the primary covenant lineage. The seemingly harsh command to Abraham and his obedience emphasize the sovereign and mysterious nature of God's plan, which separates the line of promise through Isaac from the physical lineage of Ishmael. Ultimately, the wandering of Hagar and Ishmael leads not to death but to God's rescue and the reaffirmation of His promise to Ishmael, proving that God's plans are wider than human understanding, encompassing even the distressed and forgotten.