9
The angelמַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto her,לָהּ“Returnשׁוּבִיto your mistress,אֶל גְּבִרְתֵּךְandוְsubmit yourselfהִתְעַנִּיunderתַּחַתher hand.”יָדֶיהָ
Genesis 16:9
Study it in the app“The angel of YHWH said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 16:9, word by word
- 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- “Returnשׁוּבִיshuvi
return
To go back to a place.
Where else “shuvi” appears- to your mistressגְּבִרְתֵּgevirte
mistress
Mistress: the lady who owns a female slave; also a queen.
Where else “gevirte” appears- submit yourselfהִתְעַנִּיhitani
humble
To humble, or humble oneself; to fast.
Where else “hitani” appears- her handיָדֶיyade
power
Literally "the hand": the strength and control someone has.
Where else “yade” appears
Translation note
“Submit yourself” (hit'anni) is the same root as “afflicted her” (16:6) and “your affliction” (16:11).
The context
8He said, “Hagar, slave woman of Sarai, where from have you come, and where are you going?” She said, “From the presence of Sarai my mistress I am fleeing.”
9 · This verse (above)
10The angel of YHWH said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, so that it cannot be counted because of its multitude.”
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?