Genesis 21:15 kjv

And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

Genesis 21:15 nkjv

And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs.

Genesis 21:15 niv

When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes.

Genesis 21:15 esv

When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes.

Genesis 21:15 nlt

When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.

Genesis 21 verses

Genesis 21 15 Meaning

This verse depicts Hagar's utter despair after exhausting the water supply in the wilderness. Believing her son, Ishmael, is on the verge of death from thirst, she removes him from her sight and places him under a meager shrub. This action reveals her profound grief and inability to witness her son's final moments, a desperate attempt to create emotional distance from the impending tragedy.

Genesis 21 15 Context

Genesis 21 describes a turning point in Abraham's family: the birth and weaning of Isaac, the son of promise. Due to Sarah's jealousy, Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn through Hagar, began to mock Isaac, leading Sarah to demand their expulsion. Abraham, initially distressed, complies at God's command (Gen 21:11-13), knowing God has a plan for Ishmael too. Hagar and Ishmael are sent into the wilderness of Beer-sheba with only bread and a skin of water. The critical immediate context for verse 15 is their exhaustion of this meager water supply (Gen 21:14), leading to a life-threatening situation. Ishmael, approximately 14-16 years old (given Isaac's weaning around age 3-5 and Ishmael being 14 years older), is depicted as equally weakened by dehydration as Hagar. Her action of casting him under a shrub is not one of abandonment but of extreme maternal love, a final act of preserving her sanity from the agony of watching her son die. The narrative sets the stage for God's miraculous intervention and reaffirmation of His promise to make a great nation of Ishmael.

Genesis 21 15 Word analysis

• And she cast (וַתַּשְׁלֵךְ - vayashlekh): Derived from the Hebrew root shalakj, meaning "to throw," "to cast down," or "to send away." In this context, it implies a desperate, grief-laden act, not a gentle placement. It reflects Hagar's utter exhaustion and the deep agony of her soul; she literally could not bear to look upon his impending death. This 'casting' signifies a physical removal from her sight to shield her heart from further pain, not a careless abandoning, as some interpretations might imply. It underscores the severity of her despair.
• the child (הַיֶּלֶד - hayyeled): The Hebrew word yeled means "child" or "boy." Although Ishmael would have been approximately 14-16 years old at this time, he is still referred to as hayyeled. This emphasizes his dependency and vulnerability in this dire circumstance, despite his age. Dehydration would have rendered him helpless, effectively reducing him to the state of a "child" in need of urgent intervention, and emphasizing the maternal role Hagar desperately tried to fulfill.
• under one of the shrubs (אֶחָד מִן־הַשִּׂיחִם - ekhad min hasikhim): Sikhim refers to desert bushes or shrubs, suggesting meager and sparse vegetation, offering minimal shade or cover. This highlights the harsh, unforgiving environment. Hagar places him there to distance herself emotionally from his demise. It is the last, almost futile, attempt to provide any comfort or privacy for his presumed final moments. This choice of location vividly illustrates their isolation and the extreme lack of resources.
• Words-group analysis: The phrase "And she cast the child under one of the shrubs" captures Hagar's ultimate act of maternal despair in the face of insurmountable odds. Every word speaks of her grief, her love for her son, and her utter helplessness. It sets the scene for a divine encounter, emphasizing that human despair often precedes God's most profound interventions. The scene highlights vulnerability and destitution, making the subsequent divine provision all the more striking.

Genesis 21 15 Bonus section

The motif of the wilderness as a place of testing, despair, and divine encounter is central throughout Scripture. For Hagar, this is her second encounter with the Divine in the wilderness (cf. Gen 16). The choice of a "shrub" for Ishmael's placement, a small, barely protective bush, dramatically contrasts with the miraculous provision of a well (Gen 21:19), a life-sustaining oasis. This verse beautifully sets up the moment for God to hear "the voice of the boy" (Gen 21:17), underscoring that God hears the desperate cries of even those on the margins, those without human advocate or visible hope. It reinforces the theological principle that when human capacity ends, divine grace begins.

Genesis 21 15 Commentary

Genesis 21:15 portrays the agonizing nadir of Hagar's journey in the wilderness, following her expulsion. Her act of placing Ishmael under a shrub is a visceral expression of profound maternal grief, not abandonment. She removes him from her sight not because she has given up on him, but because she cannot endure the visual torment of watching her beloved son die of thirst. The meager "shrub" symbolizes their desolate circumstances, offering barely any shade yet serving as a desperate sanctuary for what she presumes to be her son's final breaths. This moment of human powerlessness and sorrow, when all earthly resources are depleted, directly precedes God's miraculous intervention, showcasing His compassionate attention to the vulnerable and His faithfulness to His earlier promises concerning Ishmael's destiny (Gen 17:20, 21:13). It underscores that even in the bleakest moments, God hears and sees the cries of those in distress.