Genesis 21:19 kjv
And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
Genesis 21:19 nkjv
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink.
Genesis 21:19 niv
Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
Genesis 21:19 esv
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
Genesis 21:19 nlt
Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.
Genesis 21 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 21:17 | God heard the voice of the lad... "What troubles you, Hagar? | God hears suffering before intervention. |
| Num 22:31 | Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD. | God supernaturally opens eyes to reality. |
| 2 Kgs 6:17 | Then Elisha prayed... "LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." | Divine enabling of sight to perceive unseen help. |
| Psa 107:4-6 | Some wandered in desert wastes... then they cried to the LORD in their trouble... | God rescues the lost and thirsty in wilderness. |
| Psa 119:18 | Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. | Prayer for spiritual insight to God's truth. |
| Isa 41:17-18 | The poor and needy seek water... I the LORD will answer them... | God provides water in arid places for His people. |
| Isa 43:19-20 | Behold, I am doing a new thing... I will make rivers in the desert. | God's power to create water sources in barren land. |
| Jer 29:11 | For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD... | God's provision demonstrates His future plans. |
| Jhn 4:10 | Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God... asked him for living water." | Jesus as the source of living, spiritual water. |
| Jhn 7:37-38 | "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water..." | Spiritual refreshment through faith in Christ. |
| Act 9:18 | Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. | Physical sight restored, often symbolic of spiritual awakening. |
| Eph 1:18 | having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know... | Spiritual understanding given by God's Spirit. |
| Phl 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches. | God's promise to provide for all needs. |
| Rev 21:6 | "I am the Alpha and the Omega... I will grant to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life." | God's ultimate provision of eternal life and sustenance. |
| Exd 17:6 | "Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." | God provides water supernaturally from a rock. |
| Num 20:11 | Moses lifted up his hand... and water came out abundantly. | God provides water miraculously for His people. |
| Psa 34:17 | When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them. | God responds to cries for help. |
| Psa 50:15 | Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. | God encourages prayer and promises deliverance. |
| Psa 78:15-16 | He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the deep. | God's abundant provision in a desert environment. |
| Rev 3:18 | "I counsel you to buy from me eye-salve to anoint your eyes, so you may see." | Spiritual blindness addressed by divine remedy. |
| Lam 3:31-32 | For the Lord will not cast off forever, but though he cause grief... | God's compassion and steadfast love amidst affliction. |
| Mat 7:7 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find. | Principle of seeking God's provision. |
| Psa 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God's immediate availability in times of distress. |
Genesis 21 verses
Genesis 21 19 Meaning
This verse details a pivotal moment of divine intervention and provision for Hagar and her son, Ishmael, who were abandoned in the wilderness and facing death by thirst. After Hagar had given up hope and moved Ishmael away, God heard the lad's cry and directed Hagar to a source of water she could not see in her despair. God sovereignly enabled her to perceive an already-present well, allowing her to save Ishmael and providing for their immediate survival. It signifies God's mercy and faithfulness, extending even to those not directly within the Abrahamic covenantal lineage, yet connected to Abraham.Genesis 21 19 Context
Genesis 21 focuses on the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac, the promised son. However, it quickly transitions to the tragic yet divinely managed departure of Hagar and Ishmael. At Sarah's insistence and God's directive, Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away with only bread and a skin of water into the wilderness of Beersheba (Gen 21:14). This was an extremely harsh environment, where water was scarce and life was fragile. When their water supply ran out, Hagar, witnessing Ishmael's rapid decline, placed him under a shrub to die, unable to bear seeing his demise. Overwhelmed by despair, she sat a bowshot away and wept bitterly (Gen 21:15-16). It was in this moment of utter desolation and impending death that God intervened. He had already heard Ishmael's cry, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, assuring her that Ishmael would become a great nation and urging her to save him (Gen 21:17-18). Verse 19 then describes God's direct act of revealing the water, enabling the fulfillment of His promise.Historically, water was paramount in the ancient Near East, especially for desert nomads. Wells represented life, sustenance, and sometimes a cause for conflict (as seen later in Gen 21:25 with Abraham and Abimelech). Expulsion into the wilderness was often a sentence of death, underscoring the severity of their situation and the miraculous nature of God's provision. The narrative subtly highlights that even outside the immediate covenant line, God shows mercy and cares for His creation, maintaining His larger providential plan for Abraham's lineage through Ishmael also.
Genesis 21 19 Word analysis
- Then God (וַיִּפְקַח אֱלֹהִים - *va-yipqach Elohim*): The narrative transition indicates an immediate divine act. "God" (*Elohim*) here signifies the Creator, the powerful one who has authority over all things and can bring life where there is none. This is not a human discovery or luck but direct divine intervention.
- opened her eyes (אֶת־עֵינֶיהָ - *et-eineyha*): The Hebrew verb *paqach* (פָּקַח), translated as "opened," implies more than simply allowing her to physically see; it means to unstop or enlighten the ability to perceive what was previously unperceived or overlooked. Hagar's eyes were physically open, but despair or panic had blinded her to the present reality of the well. God sovereignly enabled her perception. This is akin to spiritual insight or the ability to see a solution where none was apparent.
- and she saw (וַתֵּרֶא - *vatere*): Her seeing is a direct result of God opening her eyes. It emphasizes that the well was likely already there but she couldn't perceive it until God's enabling act. The object of sight—the well—was crucial for survival.
- a well of water (בְּאֵר מָיִם - *be'er mayim*): A *be'er* (well) implies a reliable, dug-out source of water, unlike a temporary cistern or pool. In a parched wilderness, finding a well was nothing short of miraculous and a guarantee of life. It speaks of sustained provision, not just a momentary relief.
- and she went (וַתֵּלֶךְ - *va-telech*): An immediate, purposeful action, indicating Hagar's prompt response to the divine revelation. She didn't hesitate or question, but acted on what God revealed.
- and filled the bottle with water (וַתְּמַלֵּא אֶת־הַחֵמֶת מַיִם - *va-temalle et-hachem_et mayim*): Her *chameth* (leather bottle/skin) was initially filled but had emptied. Filling it again signifies the restoration of hope and means of life. She engaged actively with God's provision.
- and gave the lad drink (וַתַּשְׁקְ אֶת־הַנַּעַר - *va-tashq et-hanna'ar*): This is the climactic act of the verse. Her primary concern was Ishmael's survival, and God's provision immediately met that life-threatening need. "The lad" highlights Ishmael's vulnerability and youth.
- Words-Group Analysis:
- "Then God opened her eyes": This phrase captures the divine initiative. Hagar's predicament was beyond her human capacity to solve. Her distress had led to despair, effectively blinding her to possible solutions. God's act of "opening her eyes" signifies His sovereign power not only to provide but also to enable perception of that provision, transforming a seemingly hopeless situation into one of clear sight and tangible resource. It points to God's deep compassion and active involvement in individual lives.
- "and she saw a well of water": The direct consequence of God's action. The revelation of the well transforms the barren, death-threatening landscape into a place of life. This revelation is specific, practical, and precisely what was needed for immediate survival. The "well" is more than just a source; it symbolizes life sustained through divine mercy in an otherwise fatal environment.
- "and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink": This sequence details Hagar's proactive response and the immediate outcome of God's grace. It's a testament to restored hope and an urgency to apply the received blessing. Her immediate act of filling the bottle and giving water to Ishmael shows the practical, life-saving reality of God's intervention, prioritizing the one most in need. This is faith acted out – recognizing the provision and utilizing it for life.