Genesis 16:3-6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:1-3

I. The maker of this match (would one think it?) was Sarai herself: she said to Abram, I pray thee, go in unto my maid, Gen. 16:2. Note, 1. It is the policy of Satan to tempt us by our nearest and dearest relations, or those friends that we have an opinion of and an affection for. The temptation is most dangerous when it is sent by a hand that is least suspected: it is our wisdom therefore to consider, not so much who speaks as what is spoken. 2. God's commands consult our comfort and honour... read more

Matthew Henry

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 16:3

And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian ,.... Took her by the hand, it is probable, and led her into the apartment where Abram was, and presented her to him; their characters are very exactly described, and the contrast beautifully given, that the affair might be the more remarkable and observable: after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan ; so that he was now eighty five years of age, for he was sventy five when he departed from Haran and came into Canaan,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:4

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived ,.... The formality of the marriage being over, he enjoyed her as his wife, and she immediately conceived by him: and when she saw that she had conceived ; when she perceived that she was with child: her mistress was despised in her eyes ; she thought herself above her, and treated her as her inferior, with contempt, and reproached her for her barrenness, as Peninnah did Hannah, 1 Samuel 1:6 ; and it was the more ungrateful, as it was at... 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 16:3

And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar - and gave her to her husband - to be his wife - There are instances of Hindoo women, when barren, consenting to their husbands marrying a second wife for the sake of children; and second marriages on this account, without consent, are very common - Ward 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 16:3

Verse 3 3.And gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. Moses states what was the design of Sarai; for neither did she intend to make her house a brothel, nor to be the betrayer of her maid’s chastity, nor a pander for her husband. Yet Hagar is improperly called a wife; because she was brought into another person’s bed, against the law of God. Wherefore, let us know that this connection was so far illicit, as to be something between fornication and marriage. The same thing takes place with... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:1-3

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:4

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:3

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:3

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