Genesis 21

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 21

1¶ And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

5And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, [so that] all that hear will laugh with me.

7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in his old age.

8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the [same] day that Isaac was weaned.

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

10Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, [even] with Isaac.

11And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

13And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he [is] thy seed.

14¶ 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.

15And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

16And she went, and sat her down over against [him] a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against [him], and lift up her voice, and wept.

17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he [is].

18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

19And 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.

20And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

22¶ And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God [is] with thee in all that thou doest:

23Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: [but] according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

24And Abraham said, I will swear.

25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

26And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I [of it], but to day.

27And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

28And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

29And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What [mean] these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

30And he said, For [these] seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

31Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

32Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

33¶ And [Abraham] planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

34And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

God fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah with the miraculous birth of Isaac in their old age. Following Isaac's weaning, Sarah demands the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, a decision God affirms while also promising to make a great nation of Ishmael. Subsequently, Abraham establishes a covenant with Abimelech concerning a well, naming the place Beersheba, and calls upon the everlasting God.

Medium Summary

In fulfillment of divine promise, Sarah conceives and bears Abraham a son, Isaac, in their old age, bringing great joy and laughter. After Isaac is weaned, Sarah observes Ishmael mocking and insists that Hagar and her son be cast out, asserting Isaac's sole heirship. Though grieved, Abraham obeys God's instruction to heed Sarah, as God confirms Isaac as the inheritor of the covenant while also promising to make a great nation of Ishmael. Hagar and Ishmael wander in the wilderness, facing death by thirst, until an angel of God reveals a well and reiterates the promise for Ishmael. Later, Abimelech, acknowledging God's favor upon Abraham, seeks a covenant of peace. Abraham agrees, but first reclaims a well taken by Abimelech's servants, establishing the place as Beersheba, the "well of the oath," and calling upon the everlasting God.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with the fulfillment of God's long-standing promise to Abraham and Sarah, as Sarah conceives and bears a son, Isaac, in their old age, precisely at the appointed time. Abraham circumcises Isaac on the eighth day as commanded, and Sarah expresses her profound joy and laughter, acknowledging God's miraculous work. Upon Isaac's weaning, a great feast is made, but tensions arise when Sarah sees Ishmael, Hagar's son, mocking Isaac. Sarah demands that Abraham cast out Hagar and Ishmael, declaring that Ishmael shall not inherit with Isaac. This command is grievous to Abraham, but God intervenes, instructing him to listen to Sarah, for the covenant seed will be called through Isaac. Nevertheless, God also assures Abraham that He will make a nation of Ishmael because he is Abraham's son. Abraham rises early, provides Hagar with bread and water, and sends her and Ishmael away into the wilderness of Beersheba. When their water is spent, Hagar lays Ishmael under a shrub, moving a distance away to avoid witnessing his death, and weeps. God hears the lad's voice, and an angel calls to Hagar from heaven, comforting her and revealing a well of water, reaffirming the promise that Ishmael will become a great nation. Hagar gives Ishmael water, and God is with the lad as he grows, dwells in the wilderness, becomes an archer, and eventually takes an Egyptian wife. Later, Abimelech, king of Gerar, and Phichol, his chief captain, approach Abraham, recognizing God's presence and blessing in all his endeavors. Abimelech proposes a sworn covenant, requesting that Abraham deal kindly with him and his descendants, just as Abimelech has shown kindness to Abraham. Abraham agrees to swear but first reproves Abimelech concerning a well that Abimelech's servants had seized. Abimelech denies knowledge of the act. To seal their covenant, Abraham gives Abimelech sheep and oxen, and sets aside seven ewe lambs as a witness that he himself dug the disputed well. This act leads to the place being named Beersheba, meaning "well of the oath," where they both swore. Abimelech and Phichol then return to the land of the Philistines, while Abraham plants a grove in Beersheba and calls there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God, continuing to sojourn in the Philistines' land for many days.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Promise FulfilledGod's long-standing covenant promise to Abraham and Sarah regarding a son is miraculously fulfilled with the birth of Isaac in their old age, demonstrating God's faithfulness and power.
  • Heirship and SuccessionThe chapter clarifies the lineage of the covenant, with God explicitly stating that Abraham's seed will be called through Isaac, despite Ishmael also being Abraham's son.
  • Divine Providence and CompassionEven after Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, God hears the lad's cry, intervenes to save them from death in the wilderness, and reaffirms His promise to make a great nation of Ishmael.
  • Covenant MakingAbraham enters into a sworn agreement with Abimelech at Beersheba, establishing peace and resolving a dispute over a well, highlighting the importance of oaths and agreements in ancient society.
  • The Everlasting GodAbraham's act of planting a grove and calling upon "the LORD, the everlasting God" at Beersheba signifies his continued worship and recognition of God's eternal nature and faithfulness.
  • Sibling Rivalry and SeparationThe conflict between Sarah and Hagar, leading to Ishmael's expulsion, illustrates the challenges arising from polygamy and the distinct paths ordained for the two sons.