Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary
Genesis 16 · World English Bible
1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me. May the LORD judge between me and you.”
6But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
7The LORD’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.
8He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”
9The LORD’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”
10The LORD’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude.”
11The LORD’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.
12He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers.”
13She called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”
14Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
World English Bible · World English Bible; source eBible.org.
Notes on Genesis 16
1867 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xvi. 6.
Editorial footnote · The Stromata (Miscellanies), THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. / THE MISCELLANIES. / BOOK I. / CHAPTER V. PHILOSOPHY THE HANDMAID OF THEOLOGY, editorial note Footnote_860 · Original source
1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xvi. 2.
Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 1 / Chap. xviii.— Passages from Moses, which the heretics pervert to the support of their hypothesis., editorial note cite_note-225 · Original source
1871 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xvi. 3.
Editorial footnote · The City of God, THE CITY OF GOD. / BOOK SIXTEENTH. / ARGUMENT., editorial note Footnote_312_312 · Original source
1888 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xvi. 2 and xxx.
Editorial footnote · Sermon I, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-94 · Original source
1888 (historical English edition; physical printing year uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Gen. xvi. 9.
Editorial footnote · Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 11, editorial note cite_note-23 · Original source
1890 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
περὶ φυγῆς καὶ εὑρέσεως. The same title is found in Johannes Monachus (Mangey, I. 546, note), and it is probably correct, as the work treats of the flight and the discovery of Hagar (Gen. xvi. 6–14). It is still extant and is given by Mangey (I. 546–577) under the title περὶ φυγ€δων, ‘On Fugitives.’ The text of Eusebius in this place has been very much corrupted. The reading which I give is supported by good ms. authority, and is adopted by Valesius, Stroth, and Laemmer. But Nicephorus reads περὶ φυγῆς καὶ αἱρέσεως καὶ ὁ περὶ φύσεως καὶ εὑρέσεως, which is also supported by ms. authority, and is adopted by Burton, Schwegler, and Heinichen. But upon comparing the title of the work, as given by Johannes Monachus and as found in the various mss. of Philo, with the contents of the work itself, there can be little doubt of the correctness of the shorter reading. Of the second work, which the longer reading introduces into the text of Eusebius, we have no knowledge, and Philo can hardly have written it. Schürer, who adopts the shorter reading, expresses himself very strongly (p. 845, note 34).
Editorial footnote · Book II, Chapter XVIII.—The Works of Philothat have come down to us.; original source section: Chapter 18, editorial note cite_note-8 · Original source
1890 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
περὶ τῆς πρὸς τὰ παιδεύματα συνόδου, “On Assembly for the sake of instruction.” Upon Gen. xvi. 1–6, which is interpreted to mean that one must make himself acquainted with the lower branches of knowledge (Hagar) before he can go on to the higher (Sarah), and from them obtain the fruit, viz.: virtue (Isaac). Still extant, and given by Mangey, I. 519–545 (Schürer, 844 sqq.).
Editorial footnote · Book II, Chapter XVIII.—The Works of Philothat have come down to us.; original source section: Chapter 18, editorial note cite_note-9 · Original source
Date uncertain | Augustine of Hippo
you, brethren? Do you not understand what is signified? Thus, then, when God wills to stir up powers against heretics, against schismatics, against those that scatter the Church, that blow on Christ as if they abhorred Him, that blaspheme baptism, let them not wonder; because God stirs them up, that Hagar may be beaten by Sarah. Let Hagar know herself, and yield her neck: for when, after being humiliated, she departed from her mistress, an angel met her, and said to her, “What is the matter with thee, Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid?” When she complained of her mistress, what did she hear from the angel? “Return to thy mistress.” It is for this that she is afflicted, that she may return; and would that she may return, for her offspring, just like the sons of Jacob, will obtain the inheritance with their brethren.
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 11, source paragraph 22 · Original source