Genesis 21:9 kjv

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

Genesis 21:9 nkjv

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.

Genesis 21:9 niv

But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking,

Genesis 21:9 esv

But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.

Genesis 21:9 nlt

But Sarah saw Ishmael ? the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar ? making fun of her son, Isaac.

Genesis 21 verses

Genesis 21 9 Meaning

Genesis 21:9 describes Sarah observing Ishmael, Hagar's son, born to Abraham, engaged in "mocking" or "scoffing." This incident occurs during or immediately after the weaning feast for Isaac. Sarah's perception of Ishmael's action, regardless of his exact intent, leads to her decisive demand for Hagar and Ishmael's expulsion. This event marks a critical turning point in the lives of both families and underscores the tension between the "son of the promise" (Isaac) and the "son of the flesh" (Ishmael), laying the groundwork for God's clear separation of the promised lineage.

Genesis 21 9 Context

Genesis chapter 21 opens with the fulfillment of God's long-awaited promise to Abraham and Sarah: the birth of Isaac. This miracle occurs in their old age, affirming God's faithfulness. Abraham circumcises Isaac on the eighth day as commanded, and Sarah rejoices in God's gift. The "weaning feast" for Isaac, described in Genesis 21:8, signifies a significant milestone – perhaps at the age of two or three – marking Isaac's transition from infancy. This feast was a celebratory occasion, but it is precisely during this gathering that the deeply rooted tension within Abraham's household culminates. Ishmael, approximately 16 or 17 years old at this time, interacts with Isaac in a way that profoundly disturbs Sarah. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic separation that follows, emphasizing that God's covenant blessings flow exclusively through Isaac, the son of promise. The immediate cultural context involves polygamous family structures common in the ancient Near East, where tensions over inheritance rights and status among the wives and their children were prevalent.

Genesis 21 9 Word analysis

• And Sarah saw: The Hebrew wattaṯēʾreh Sārâ (וַתֵּרֶא שָׂרָה). This emphasizes Sarah's direct observation and interpretation. Her "seeing" is pivotal, leading to immediate action. It reflects her acute perception of a threat to Isaac's position as the rightful heir.
• the son of Hagar the Egyptian: This phrase explicitly identifies Ishmael, underscoring his lineage through Hagar, a slave, distinguishing him from Isaac, the son of the free woman Sarah. This distinction is crucial to Paul's later theological argument. The epithet "the Egyptian" may subtly hint at an 'outsider' status compared to the covenant family, though Ishmael is Abraham's son.
• whom she had borne unto Abraham: This clarifies Ishmael's paternity by Abraham, acknowledging him as Abraham's son but not Sarah's, contrasting with Isaac as "her son" in the immediate preceding verses. This phrasing sets up the eventual familial division.
• mocking: The Hebrew word is mᵉṣaḥēq (מְצַחֵק), a Piel participle from the root ṣḥq (צחק). This root means "to laugh" or "to play," but in its intensive Piel form, especially in this context, it takes on negative connotations of ridicule, scorn, or even abusive playing.
  • Word-by-word significance:
    • mᵉṣaḥēq (מְצַחֵק): While the root ṣḥq is shared with Isaac's name (Yitzchaq - "he laughs," or "laughter"), here in the Piel, its meaning is decidedly negative. It does not simply mean "playing innocently." Scholars interpret this as a deliberate act of ridicule or harassment against the younger Isaac, undermining his status or demeaning him. It signifies a profound contrast: Isaac's name commemorates joyful laughter at God's impossible promise fulfilled, while Ishmael's action reveals a fleshly, derisive "laughter" directed against the child of that very promise. It can imply mocking of Isaac's dependency or fragility, or even taunting his status as heir. The implication of "persecution" found in Galatians 4:29 strongly suggests this meaning.
• words-group by words-group significance:
  • "the son of Hagar the Egyptian... mocking": This pairing explicitly links Ishmael's identity with his detrimental action, setting him apart as a source of conflict. His Egyptian heritage, combined with his status as son of a slave, serves as a literary contrast to Isaac's position as the son of promise through the barren free woman. His "mocking" symbolizes the inherent tension and conflict between the lineage of human effort and the lineage of divine promise, leading to separation.

Genesis 21 9 Bonus section

The Hebrew word mᵉṣaḥēq has various uses in the Old Testament, which further color its meaning in Genesis 21:9. While it can simply mean innocent "playing" (e.g., Exod 32:6 during the golden calf idolatry, implying revelry), it also frequently carries connotations of mockery, sport, or derision (e.g., Gen 39:14, 17 where Potiphar's wife falsely accuses Joseph of "playing" with her, implying sexual assault; Judges 16:25 where Samson is brought out "to make sport" or be mocked by the Philistines). Given Sarah's extreme reaction and God's confirmation, the negative sense of mockery or persecution is undoubtedly intended here. This reinforces the spiritual battle between the "flesh" and the "Spirit" that is central to biblical theology. The event demonstrates God's consistent protection of His chosen seed, even at the cost of familial disruption.

Genesis 21 9 Commentary

Genesis 21:9 is a pivotal moment, succinctly capturing the growing spiritual chasm within Abraham's family. Ishmael's act of "mocking" (mᵉṣaḥēq) Isaac, far from being mere childish play, is understood in theological and literary tradition as an expression of hostility or contempt. This interpretation is powerfully affirmed in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul (Gal 4:29), who describes Ishmael's action as "persecuting" Isaac, drawing a spiritual allegory between the "son of the flesh" (Ishmael) and the "son of the Spirit" (Isaac). This illustrates the perpetual conflict between those who rely on human effort or natural descent and those who receive blessings through God's supernatural promise and grace. Sarah's discerning observation and subsequent demand for Hagar and Ishmael's expulsion, though seemingly harsh, is ratified by God (Gen 21:12), confirming that the inheritance of the covenant promises would pass solely through Isaac. This event highlights divine exclusivity concerning the lineage through which the Redeemer would come, ensuring the purity of the promised seed, separate from any mingling with human attempts or natural generation. The separation underscores that God's sovereign choice, not human schemes or desires, determines who receives His special favor and carries His covenant.