Genesis 16:5-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:4-6

We have here the immediate bad consequences of Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar. A great deal of mischief it made quickly. When we do not well both sin and trouble lie at the door; and we may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this story. I. Sarai is despised, and thereby provoked and put into a passion, Gen. 16:4. Hagar no sooner perceives herself with child by her master than she looks scornfully upon her mistress,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:5

And Sarai said to Abram ,.... Being affronted with the behaviour of her maid to her, she applies to Abram for the redress of her grievance, judging it, perhaps, below her dignity to enter into an altercation with her maid: my wrong be upon thee ; in her passion imprecating evil on him, as a just punishment upon him for suffering wrong to be done her by her maid; or, "is upon thee" F9 חמסי עליך "injuria mea super te est", Cocceius; so Ainsworth. ; pointing at his duty, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:6

But Abram said unto Sarai ,.... In a meek, mild and gentle manner: behold, thy maid is in thine hand ; though Hagar was Abram's secondary wife he still considers her as Sarai's maid, and as subject to her, and allows her to exercise authority over her; for he still retained the same love and affection for Sarai, his first and lawful wife, and showed the same respect he ever did, and supported her in her honour and dignity: do to her as it pleaseth thee : not giving her liberty to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:5

My wrong be upon thee - This appears to be intended as a reproof to Abram, containing an insinuation that it was his fault that she herself had not been a mother, and that now he carried himself more affectionately towards Hagar than he did to her, in consequence of which conduct the slave became petulant. To remove all suspicion of this kind, Abram delivers up Hagar into her hand, who was certainly under his protection while his concubine or secondary wife; but this right given to him by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:6

Sarah dealt hardly with her - תאנה teanneha , she afflicted her; the term implying stripes and hard usage, to bring down the body and humble the mind. If the slave was to blame in this business the mistress is not less liable to censure. She alone had brought her into those circumstances, in which it was natural for her to value herself beyond her mistress. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:5

Verse 5 5.My wrong be upon thee. This also was a part of her punishment, that Sarai was brought so low as to forget herself for a while; and being vehemently excited, conducted herself with so much weakness. Certainly, to the utmost of her power, she had impelled her husband to act rashly; and now she petulantly insults him, although innocent. For she adduces nothing for which Abram was to be blamed. She reproaches him with the fact, that she had given her maid into his bosom; and complains... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:6

Verse 6 6.Behold, thy maid is in thy hand. The greatness of Abram’s humanity and modesty appears from his answer. He does not quarrel with his wife; and though he has the best cause, yet he does not pertinaciously defend it, but voluntarily dismisses the wife who had been given him. In short, for the sake of restoring peace, he does violence to his feelings, both as a husband, and a father. For, in leaving Hagar to the will of her enraged mistress, he does not treat her as his wife; he also, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 16:1-6

The maid, the mistress, and the master. I. HAGAR 'S SINS . 1. Pride. 2. Contempt. 3. Insubordination. 4. Flight. II. SARAI 'S FAULTS . 1. Tempting her husband. 2. Excusing herself. 3. Appealing to God. 4. Afflicting her servant. III. ABRAM 'S INFIRMITY . 1. Yielding to temptation. 2. Perpetrating injustice. 3. Acquiescing in oppression.— W . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 16:1-16

Hagar. The history of Hagar has its two sides—that which is turned towards God and illustrates Divine grace, that which is turned towards man and illustrates human infirmity and sinfulness. Jehovah brought forth compassionate bestowments of revelation and promise out of his people's errors. Abram and Sarah both sinned. Hagar sinned. The angel of the Lord, representative of the continuous gracious revelation of Jehovah as a covenant God, appeared in the cloud of family sorrow, drawing once... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 16:5

And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee. Ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ ( LXX . ); indue agis contra me (Vulgate); My injury is upon thee, i.e. thou art the cause of it (Jonathan, Rosenmüller, Ainsworth, Clarke, 'Speaker's Commentary'); or, it belongs to thee as well as to me (Clericus, Bush, Alford); or, perhaps better, May the injury done to me return upon thee! cf. Genesis 27:13 (Keil, Kalisch, Lange, Wordsworth)—the language of passionate irritation, indicating repentance of... read more

Group of Brands