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So she calledוַתִּקְרָאthe nameשֵׁםof YHWH,יְהוָהwhoהַwas speakingדֹּבֵרto her,אֵלֶיהָ“Youאַתָּהare El Roi,”אֵל רֳאִיforכִּיshe said,אָמְרָה“Have I reallyהֲגַםseenרָאִיתִיhereהֲלֹםafterאַחֲרֵיthe one who sees me?”רֹאִי
Genesis 16:13
Study it in the app“So she called the name of YHWH, who was speaking to her, “You are El Roi,” for she said, “Have I really seen here after the one who sees me?””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 16:13, word by word
- So she calledתִּקְרָאtikra
cry out
To shout to YHWH for help, call on his name.
Where else “tikra” appears- the nameשֵׁםshem
name
The word by which a person, place or thing is called and recognized.
Where else “shem” 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- was speakingדֹּבֵרdover
speak
To speak, say something; above all God to his people.
Where else “dover” appears- are El Roiאֵלel
El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
Where else “el” appears- are El Roiרֳאִיroi
one who sees
A viewer. Name Hagar gave to God: the one who looks on me.
Where else “roi” appears- she saidאָמְרָהamra
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “amra” appears- seenרָאִיתִיraiti
see
To see with one's eyes.
Where else “raiti” appears- hereהֲלֹםhalom
here, hither
Here, to this place; this far.
Where else “halom” appears
Translation note
“El Roi” means “God who sees me.” The text says that Hagar gave this name to YHWH, who was speaking to her: the “angel of YHWH” of verses 7 to 11 speaks here as YHWH himself.
The context
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.”
13 · This verse (above)
14That is why the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; look, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
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?