11
And the angelוַ מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהsaidיֹּאמֶרto her,לָהּ“Look,הִנָּyouךְare pregnantהָרָהandוְwill bearיֹלַדְתְּa son,בֵּןand you will callוְקָרָאתhis nameשְׁמוֹIshmael,יִשְׁמָעֵאלforכִּיYHWHיְהוָהhas heardשָׁמַעyour affliction.אֶל עָנְיֵךְ
Genesis 16:11
Study it in the app“And the angel of YHWH said to her, “Look, you are pregnant and will bear a son, and you will call his name Ishmael, for YHWH has heard your affliction.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 16:11, word by word
- And the angelמַלְאַךְmalach
angel
A messenger from God, a heavenly being.
Where else “malach” appears- of YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- are pregnantהָרָהhara
pregnant
Pregnant, with child.
Where else “hara” appears- will bearיֹלַדְתְּyoladt
bear
To bring a child into the world, giving birth after pregnancy.
Where else “yoladt” appears- a sonבֵּןben
son
The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.
Where else “ben” appears- and you will callקָרָאתkarat
name
To give someone a name.
Where else “karat” appears- his nameשְׁמshem
name
The word by which a person, place or thing is called and recognized.
Where else “shem” appears- Ishmaelיִשְׁמָעֵאלyishmael
Ishmael
Ishmael, the son of Abram and Hagar, father of twelve tribal chiefs; also the name of other Israelites. The name means "God hears" (Genesis 16:11).
Where else “yishmael” appears- has heardשָׁמַעshama
listen
To pay close attention, or heed a plea.
Where else “shama” appears- your afflictionעָנְיֵanye
affliction
Affliction, suffering, misery.
Where else “anye” appears
Translation note
“Ishmael” (Yishmael) means “El hears.”
The context
10The angel of YHWH said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, so that it cannot be counted because of its multitude.”
11 · This verse (above)
12He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone, and the hand of everyone against him; and facing all his brothers he will dwell.”
To study Genesis 16 in a group
1. What it says
What did the angel of YHWH say to Hagar by the spring in the wilderness (vv. 7-12)?
2. What it means
What does it teach that Hagar called YHWH “El Roi,” the one who sees me (v. 13)?
3. How I live it
How can you walk with someone today who feels unseen or mistreated?