Hagar and Ishmael
Genesis 16
Sara, being childless, gives her Egyptian maid Agar to Abram to bear a child on her behalf, but when Agar despises her mistress and flees into the wilderness, the angel of the Lord meets her at a well and tells her to return and submit to Sara. The angel promises to multiply her descendants through the son she will bear and name Ismael.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonSTILL Sara, the wife of Abram, did not bear him children; so having an Egyptian servant whose name was Agar,
BrentonAnd Sara the wife of Abram bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian maid, whose name was Agar.
GreekΣάρα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ Ἅβραμ οὐκ ἔτικτεν αὐτῷ· ἦν δὲ αὐτῇ παιδίσκη Αἰγυπτία, ᾗ ὄνομα Ἄγαρ.
KJVNow Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
JPSNow Sarai Abram’s wife bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2
ThomsonSara said to Abram, Behold the Lord hath shut me up that I may not bear. Go in therefore to my maid that I may have children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sara.
BrentonAnd Sara said to Abram, Behold, the Lord has restrained me from bearing, go therefore in to my maid, that I may get children for myself through her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sara.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ Σάρα πρὸς Ἅβραμ, ἰδοὺ συνέκλεισέ με Κύριος τοῦ μὴ τίκτειν· εἴσελθε οὖν πρὸς τὴν παιδίσκην μου, ἵνα τεκνοποιήσωμαι ἐξ αὐτῆς· ὑπήκουσελ δὲ Ἅβραμ τῆς φωνῆς Σάρας.
KJVAnd Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
JPSAnd Sarai said unto Abram: ‘Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall be builded up through her.’ And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3
ThomsonAnd Sara the wife of Abram took Agar her Egyptian maid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
BrentonSo Sara the wife of Abram having taken Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Chanaan, gave her to Abram her husband as a wife to him.
GreekΚαὶ λαβοῦσα Σάρα ἡ γυνὴ Ἅβραμ Ἄγαρ τὴν Αἰγυπτίαν τὴν ἑαυτῆς παιδίσκην, μετὰ δέκα ἔτη τοῦ οἰκῆσαι Ἅβραμ ἐν γῇ Χαναὰν, ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν τῷ Ἅβραμ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς αὐτῷ γυναῖκα.
KJVAnd Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
JPSAnd Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
4
ThomsonAnd he went in unto Agar and she conceived. And when she saw that she was with child, her mistress was contemptible in her sight.
BrentonAnd he went in to Agar, and she conceived, and saw that she was with child, and her mistress was dishonoured before her.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς Ἄγαρ, καὶ συνέλαβε· καὶ εἶδεν ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει, καὶ ἠτιμάσθη ἡ κυρία ἐναντίον αὐτῆς.
KJVAnd he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
JPSAnd he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5
ThomsonWhereupon Sara said to Abram, I am injured on thy account. I gave thee this maid of mine into thy bosom, and when she seeth that she is with child, I am contemptible in her sight. God judge between me and thee.
BrentonAnd Sara said to Abram, I am injured by thee; I gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and when I saw that she was with child, I was dishonoured before her. The Lord judge between me and thee.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ Σάρα πρὸς Ἅβραμ, ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ· ἐγὼ δέδωκα τὴν παιδίσκην μου εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου, ἰδοῦσα δὲ ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει, ἠτιμάσθην ἐναντίον αὐτῆς. κρίναι ὁ Θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σου.
KJVAnd Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
JPSAnd Sarai said unto Abram: ‘My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.’
6
ThomsonAnd Abram said to Sara, Behold thy maid is in thy hands, treat her as it seemeth good to thee. Thereupon Sara treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.
BrentonAnd Abram said to Sara, Behold thy handmaid is in thy hands, use her as it may seem good to thee. And Sara afflicted her, and she fled from her face.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ Ἅβραμ πρὸς Σάραν, ἰδοὺ ἡ παιδίσκη σου ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου, χρῶ αὐτῇ ὡς ἄν σοι ἀρεστὸν ᾖ. καὶ ἐκάκωσεν αὐτὴν Σάρα, καὶ ἀπέδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς.
KJVBut Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
JPSBut Abram said unto Sarai: ‘Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes.’ And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
7
ThomsonBut an angel of the Lord found her at the fountain of water in the wilderness—at the fountain in the way to Sour.
BrentonAnd an angel of the Lord found her by the fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Sur.
GreekΕὗρε δὲ αὐτὴν ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπὶ τῆς πηγῆς τοῦ ὕδατος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἐπὶ τῆς πηγῆς ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ Σούρ.
KJVAnd the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
JPSAnd the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8
ThomsonAnd the angel of the Lord said to her, Agar, thou servant of Sara, whence comest thou and whither art thou going? And she said I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sara. And the angel of the Lord said to her,
BrentonAnd the angel of the Lord said to her, Agar, Sara's maid, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou? and she said, I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sara.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου, Ἄγαρ παιδίσκη Σάρας, πόθεν ἔρχῃ; καὶ ποῦ πορεύῃ; καὶ εἶπεν· ἀπὸ προσώπου Σάρας τῆς κυρίας μου ἐγὼ ἀποδιδράσκω.
KJVAnd he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
JPSAnd he said: ‘Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, whence camest thou? and whither goest thou?’ And she said: ‘I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.’
9
ThomsonReturn to thy mistress and submit to her authority.
BrentonAnd the angel of the Lord said to her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
GreekΕἶπε δὲ αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου, ἀποστράφηθι πρὸς τὴν κυρίαν σου, καὶ ταπεινώθητι ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς.
KJVAnd the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
JPSAnd the angel of the LORD said unto her: ‘Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.’
10
ThomsonMoreover the angel of the Lord said to her, I will multiply thy seed so that it shall not be numbered on account of the multitude of it.
BrentonAnd the angel of the Lord said to her, I will surely multiply thy seed, and it shall not be numbered for multitude.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου, πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὸ σπέρμα σου, καὶ οὐκ ἀριθμηθήσεται ὑπὸ τοῦ πλήθους.
KJVAnd the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
JPSAnd the angel of the LORD said unto her: ‘I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11
ThomsonFurthermore the angel of the Lord said to her, Behold thou art with child, and thou shalt bear a son and shalt call his name Ismael; for the Lord hath harkened to thy affliction.
BrentonAnd the angel of the Lord said to her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ismael, for the Lord hath hearkened to thy humiliation.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου, ἰδοὺ σὺ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχεις, καὶ τέξῃ υἱὸν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰσμαὴλ, ὅτι ἐπήκουσε Κύριος τῇ ταπεινώσει σου.
KJVAnd the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
JPSAnd the angel of the LORD said unto her: ‘Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12
ThomsonHe will be a wild man. His hands will be against all, and the hands of all, against him. And he shall dwell in front of all his brethren.
BrentonHe shall be a wild man, his hands against all, and the hands of all against him, and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
GreekΟὗτος ἔσται ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος· αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντας, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες πάντων ἐπʼ αὐτόν· καὶ κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ κατοικήσει.
KJVAnd he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
JPSAnd he shall be a wild ass of a man: his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the face of all his brethren.’
13
ThomsonSo she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, Thou the God who lookest upon me; for said she, I saw plainly him who appeared to me;
BrentonAnd she called the name of the Lord God who spoke to her, Thou art God who seest me; for she said, For I have openly seen him that appeared to me.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου τοῦ λαλοῦντος πρὸς αὐτὴν, σὺ ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ἐτιδών με· ὅτι εἶπε, καὶ γὰρ ἐνώπιον εἶδον ὀφθέντα μοι.
KJVAnd she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
JPSAnd she called the name of the LORD that spoke unto her, Thou art a God of seeing; for she said: ‘Have I even here seen Him that seeth Me?’
14
Thomsonfor this cause she called the well, The well before which I saw. Lo! it is between Kades and Barad.
BrentonTherefore she called the well, The well of him whom I have openly seen; behold it is between Cades and Barad.
GreekἝνεκεν τούτου ἐκάλεσε τὸ φρέαρ, φρέαρ οὗ ἐνώπιον εἶδον· ἰδοὺ ἀνὰ μέσον Κάδης καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον Βαράδ.
KJVWherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
JPSWherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15
ThomsonAnd Agar bore Abram a son; and Abram called his son whom Agar bore to him Ismael.
BrentonAnd Agar bore a son to Abram; and Abram called the name of his son which Agar bore to him, Ismael.
GreekΚαὶ ἔτεκεν Ἄγαρ τῷ Ἅβραμ υἱὸν, καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Ἅβραμ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὃν ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ Ἄγαρ, Ἰσμαήλ.
KJVAnd Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
JPSAnd Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
16
ThomsonNOW Abram was eighty-six years old when Agar bore Ismael to Abram. And when Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am thy God. Be well pleasing in my sight, and be blameless
BrentonAnd Abram was eighty-six years old, when Agar bore Ismael to Abram.
GreekἍβραμ δὲ ἦν ἐτῶν ὀγδοηκονταὲξ, ἡνίκα ἔτεκεν Ἄγαρ τῷ Ἅβραμ τὸν Ἰσμαήλ.
KJVAnd Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
JPSAnd Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.