Genesis 21 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 Nowe the Lord visited Sarah, as he had saide, and did vnto her according as he had promised.
1 Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceiued, and bare Abraham a sonne in his olde age, at the same season that God tolde him.
2 Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3 And Abraham called his sonnes name that was borne vnto him, which Sarah bare him, Izhak.
3 Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
4 Then Abraham circumcised Izhak his sonne, when he was eight dayes olde, as God had commanded him.
4 Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5 So Abraham was an hundreth yeere olde, when his sonne Izhak was borne vnto him.
5 Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.
6 Then Sarah said, God hath made me to reioyce: all that heare will reioyce with me.
6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
7 Againe she said, Who would haue saide to Abraham, that Sarah shoulde haue giuen children sucke? for I haue borne him a sonne in his olde age.
7 She said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”
8 Then the childe grewe and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Izhak was weaned.
8 The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah sawe the sonne of Hagar the Egyptian (which she had borne vnto Abraham) mocking.
9 Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she saide vnto Abraham, Cast out this bond woman and her sonne: for ye sonne of this bonde woman shall not be heire with my sonne Izhak.
10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”
11 And this thing was very grieuous in Abrahams sight, because of his sonne.
11 The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son.
12 But God said vnto Abraham, Let it not be grieuous in thy sight for the childe, and for thy bonde woman: in all that Sarah shall say vnto thee, heare her voyce: for in Izhak shall thy seede be called.
12 God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For your offspring will be named through Isaac.
13 As for the sonne of the bond woman, I will make him a nation also, because he is thy seede.
13 I will also make a nation of the son of the servant, because he is your child.”
14 So Abraham arose vp early in ye morning, and tooke bread, and a bottell of water, and gaue it vnto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the childe also, and sent her away: who departing wandred in the wildernesse of Beer-sheba.
14 Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 And when the water of the bottell was spent, she cast the childe vnder a certaine tree.
15 The water in the container was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs.
16 Then she went and sate her ouer against him a farre off about a bowe shoote: for she said, I will not see the death of the child. and she sate downe ouer against him, and lift vp her voyce and wept.
16 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
17 Then God heard the voyce of ye childe, and the Angel of God called to Hagar from heauen, and said vnto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? feare not, for God hath heard the voyce of the childe where he is.
17 God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
18 Arise, take vp the childe, and holde him in thine hand: for I will make of him a great people.
18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
19 And God opened her eyes, and she sawe a well of water. so she went and filled the bottell with water, and gaue the boy drinke.
19 God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.
20 So God was with the childe, and he grewe and dwelt in the wildernesse, and was an archer.
20 God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and as he grew up, he became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wildernesse of Paran, and his mother tooke him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother got a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
22 And at that same time Abimelech and Phichol his chief captaine spake vnto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest.
22 At that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.
23 Nowe therefore sweare vnto me here by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, nor my children, nor my childrens children: thou shalt deale with me, and with the countrey, where thou hast bene a stranger, according vnto the kindnesse that I haue shewed thee.
23 Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”
24 Then Abraham said, I will sweare.
24 Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25 And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for a well of water, which Abimelechs seruants had violently taken away.
25 Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
26 And Abimelech saide, I knowe not who hath done this thing: also thou toldest me not, neither heard I of it but this day.
26 Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.”
27 Then Abraham tooke sheepe and beeues, and gaue them vnto Abimelech: and they two made a couenant.
27 Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant.
28 And Abraham set seuen lambes of the flocke by themselues.
28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 Then Abimelech said vnto Abraham, What meane these seuen lambes, which thou hast set by themselues?
29 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?”
30 And he answered, Because thou shalt receiue of mine hand these seuen lambes, that it may be a witnes vnto me, that I haue digged this well.
30 He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”
31 Wherefore the place is called Beer-sheba, because there they both sware.
31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore an oath there.
32 Thus made they a couenant at Beer-sheba: afterward Abimelech and Phichol his chiefe captaine rose vp, and turned againe vnto the land of the Philistims.
32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33 And Abraham planted a groue in Beer-sheba, and called there on the Name of ye Lord, the euerlasting God.
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God.
34 And Abraham was a stranger in the Philistims land a long season.
34 Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abimelech
King of Gerar who took Sarah, was warned by God in a dream and returned her to Abraham, and made a covenant with Abraham at Beersheba; an Abimelech king of the Philistines at…
Cited in the guide: Genesis 20:2–3; Genesis 21:22–27; Genesis 26:1
Abraham
Called by God, he left home in faith to become the father of a chosen people.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 12–25
Hagar
Sarah's Egyptian servant who bore Ishmael and met God in the wilderness.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 16, 21
Sarah
Wife of Abraham who bore Isaac in her old age, long after hope seemed gone.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 17-21
Cross references (33)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Psalm 12:6; Genesis 18:10; Genesis 18:14; Genesis 17:19; Galatians 4:23
- 2 Galatians 4:22; Hebrews 11:11; Luke 1:24–25; Genesis 17:19; Luke 1:36
- 3 Genesis 17:19; Romans 9:7; Genesis 21:6; Matthew 1:2; Joshua 24:3
- 4 Acts 7:8; Genesis 17:10–12; Leviticus 12:3; John 7:22–23; Exodus 12:48
- 5 Genesis 17:17; Romans 4:19; Genesis 17:1
- 6 Psalm 126:2; Isaiah 54:1; Genesis 17:17; Luke 1:58; Galatians 4:27–28
- 7 Genesis 18:11–12; Isaiah 66:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Deuteronomy 4:32–34; Numbers 23:23
- 8 1 Samuel 1:22; Hosea 1:8; Genesis 40:20; Genesis 29:22; Psalm 131:2
- 9 Galatians 4:29; Genesis 16:15; Galatians 4:22; Genesis 16:1; Psalm 44:13–14
- 10 John 8:35; Galatians 4:22–31; 1 John 2:19; 1 Peter 1:4; Genesis 36:6–7
- 11 Hebrews 12:11; Genesis 17:18; Matthew 10:37; Genesis 22:1–2; 2 Samuel 18:33
- 12 Hebrews 11:18; Romans 9:7–8; Genesis 17:19; 1 Samuel 8:9; 1 Samuel 8:7
- 13 Genesis 16:10; Genesis 17:20; Genesis 21:18; Genesis 25:12–18
- 14 Psalm 119:60; Genesis 21:31; Proverbs 27:14; 1 Kings 19:3; Genesis 25:6
- 15 Jeremiah 14:3; 2 Kings 3:9; Psalm 63:1; Exodus 15:22–25; Exodus 17:1–3
- 16 Isaiah 49:15; Ruth 1:9; 1 Kings 3:26; Judges 2:4; 1 Samuel 30:4
- 17 Genesis 16:11; Psalm 50:15; Psalm 91:15; Exodus 3:7; Genesis 16:9
- 18 Genesis 21:13; Genesis 16:10; 1 Chronicles 1:29–31; Genesis 17:20; Genesis 25:12–18
- 19 Numbers 22:31; 2 Kings 6:17–20; Isaiah 35:5–6; Luke 24:16–31
- 20 Genesis 28:15; Genesis 39:21; Genesis 16:12; Genesis 39:2–3; Luke 1:80
- 21 Genesis 24:3–4; Genesis 26:34–35; Genesis 27:46–28:2; Numbers 12:16; 1 Samuel 25:1
- 22 Joshua 3:7; Genesis 26:28; Genesis 26:26; Genesis 20:2; Romans 8:31
- 23 Joshua 2:12; Genesis 20:14; Genesis 14:22–23; Genesis 26:28; Genesis 31:44
- 24 Hebrews 6:16; Romans 12:18; Genesis 14:13
- 25 Genesis 26:15–22; Proverbs 27:5; Matthew 18:15; Judges 1:15; Genesis 29:8
- 26 2 Kings 5:20–24; Genesis 13:7
- 27 Genesis 26:28–31; Isaiah 32:8; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 18:24; Ezekiel 17:13
- 29 Genesis 33:8; Exodus 12:26; 1 Samuel 15:14
- 30 Genesis 31:52; Joshua 24:27; Joshua 22:27–28; Genesis 31:44–48
- 31 Genesis 26:33; Genesis 21:14; 1 Kings 4:25; Genesis 26:23; 2 Samuel 17:11
- 32 Genesis 21:27; 1 Samuel 18:3; Genesis 10:14; Genesis 26:8; Exodus 13:17
- 33 1 Timothy 1:17; Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 90:2; Romans 16:26; Jeremiah 10:10
- 34 Psalm 39:12; Hebrews 11:13; Genesis 20:1; 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:9
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For when Isaac was born and called by that name, Sarah showed that her laughter was not that of scornful reproach, but that of joyful praise; for she said, "God hath made me to laugh, so that every one who hears will laugh with me." Then in a little while the bond maid was cast out of the house with …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
And when, after he had gained his son, he was commanded to offer him up, although he had heard the word, In Isaac shall thy seed be called, he proceeded to offer up his son, his only son, to God, believing that God is able to raise up even from the dead.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… by casting out the bond maid and her son, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." No doubt He then goes on to say, "And as for the son of this bond woman, I will make him a great nation, because he is thy seed." How then is it said "In Isaac shall thy seed be called," when God calls …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For when it is said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called," by this seed is meant solely the city of God; so that from it is separated Abraham's other seed, which was in the son of the bond woman, and which was to be in the sons of Keturah.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)