Genesis 16:12-14 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:10-14

We may suppose that the angel having given Hagar that good counsel (Gen. 16:9) to return to her mistress she immediately promised to do so, and was setting her face homeward; and then the angel went on to encourage her with an assurance of the mercy God had in store for her and her seed: for God will meet those with mercy that are returning to their duty. I said, I will confess, and thou forgavest, Ps. 32:5. Here is, I. A prediction concerning her posterity given her for her comfort in her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:12

And he will be a wild man ,.... Living in a wilderness, delighting in hunting and killing wild beasts, and robbing and plundering all that pass by; and such an one Ishmael was, see Genesis 21:20 ; and such the Saracens, his posterity, were, and such the wild Arabs are to this day, who descended from him; or "the wild ass of a man" F20 פרא אדם "onager hominis", Cocceius, Schmidt. ; or "a wild ass among men", as Onkelos; or "like to a wild ass among men", as the Targum of Jonathan;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:13

And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her ,.... Either she called on the name of the Lord, and prayed unto him, that he would forgive her sin and give her some fresh tokens of his love; and also gave him thanks for his gracious regards unto her, that he should look upon, and look after so mean a creature, and such a backslider as she was, and return her, and make such gracious promises to her; so the Targum of Onkelos,"she prayed in the name of the Lord;'and the Targum of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:14

Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi ,.... That is, the fountain where the angel found her, Genesis 16:7 ; this, from the appearance of God to her at it, was afterwards called by her and others by this name, which signifies "the well of him that liveth and seeth me"; that is, of the living and all seeing God, and who had taken a special care of her, and favoured her with a peculiar discovery of his love to her: or this may have respect to herself, and be rendered, "the well of her... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:12

He will be a wild man - אדם פרא pere adam . As the root of this word does not appear in the Hebrew Bible, it is probably found in the Arabic farra , to run away, to run wild; and hence the wild ass, from its fleetness and its untamable nature. What is said of the wild ass, Job 39:5-8 , affords the very best description that can be given of the Ishmaelites, (the Bedouins and wandering Arabs), the descendants of Ishmael: "Who hath sent out the wild ass ( פרא pere ) free? or who... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:13

And she called the name of the Lord - She invoked ( ותקרא vattikra ) the name of Jehovah who spake unto her, thus: Thou God seest me! She found that the eye of a merciful God had been upon her in all her wanderings and afflictions; and her words seem to intimate that she had been seeking the Divine help and protection, for she says, Have I also (or have I not also) looked after him that seeth me? This last clause of the verse is very obscure and is rendered differently by all the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:14

Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi - It appears, from Genesis 16:7 , that Hagar had sat down by a fountain or well of water in the wilderness of Shur, at which the Angel of the Lord found her; and, to commemorate the wonderful discovery which God had made of himself, she called the name of the well ראי לחי באר beer - lachai - roi , "A well to the Living One who seeth me." Two things seem implied here: A dedication of the well to Him who had appeared to her; and, 2.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:12

Verse 12 12.And he will be a wild man. The angel declares what kind of person Ishmael will be. The simple meaning is, (in my judgment,) that he will be a warlike man, and so formidable to his enemies, that none shall injure him with impunity. Some expound the word פרא (pereh) to mean a forester, and one addicted to the hunting of wild beasts. But the explanation must not, it seems, be sought elsewhere than in the context; for it follows immediately after, ‘His hand shall be against all men, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:13

Verse 13 13.And she called the name of the Lord. Moses, I have no doubt, implies that Hagar, after she was admonished by the angel, changed her mind: and being thus subdued, retook herself to prayer; unless, perhaps, here the confession of the tongue, rather than change of mind, is denoted. I rather incline, however, to the opinion, that Hagar, who had before been of a wild and intractable temper, begins now at length to acknowledge the providence of God. Moreover, as to that which some... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:14

Verse 14 14.Wherefore the well was called (398) I subscribe to the opinion of those who take the word יקרא (yekra,) indefinitely, which is usual enough in the Hebrew language. In order that the sense may be the clearer it is capable of being resolved into the passive voice, that ‘the well was called.’ (399) Yet I think this common appellation originated with Hagar, who, not content with one simple confession, wished that the mercy of God should be attested in time to come; and therefore she... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:10-14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:14

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