Genesis 16:11

Authorized King James Version

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And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר said H559
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 16
to say (used with great latitude)
לָהּ֙ H0
לָהּ֙
Strong's: H0
Word #: 2 of 16
מַלְאַ֣ךְ And the angel H4397
מַלְאַ֣ךְ And the angel
Strong's: H4397
Word #: 3 of 16
a messenger; specifically, of god, i.e., an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
יְהוָ֖ה because the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה because the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הִנָּ֥ךְ unto her Behold H2009
הִנָּ֥ךְ unto her Behold
Strong's: H2009
Word #: 5 of 16
lo!
הָרָ֖ה thou art with child H2030
הָרָ֖ה thou art with child
Strong's: H2030
Word #: 6 of 16
pregnant
וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ and shalt bear H3205
וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ and shalt bear
Strong's: H3205
Word #: 7 of 16
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
בֵּ֑ן a son H1121
בֵּ֑ן a son
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 8 of 16
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְקָרָ֤את and shalt call H7121
וְקָרָ֤את and shalt call
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 9 of 16
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
שְׁמוֹ֙ his name H8034
שְׁמוֹ֙ his name
Strong's: H8034
Word #: 10 of 16
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל Ishmael H3458
יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל Ishmael
Strong's: H3458
Word #: 11 of 16
jishmael, the name of abraham's oldest son, and of five israelites
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 12 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שָׁמַ֥ע hath heard H8085
שָׁמַ֥ע hath heard
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 13 of 16
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
יְהוָ֖ה because the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה because the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 14 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 15 of 16
near, with or among; often in general, to
עָנְיֵֽךְ׃ thy affliction H6040
עָנְיֵֽךְ׃ thy affliction
Strong's: H6040
Word #: 16 of 16
depression, i.e., misery

Cross References

Exodus 3:7And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.Psalms 22:24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.Genesis 17:19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.1 Samuel 1:20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.Job 38:41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.Exodus 3:9Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.Luke 1:63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.Luke 1:13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.Luke 1:31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Analysis & Commentary

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shal... This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment.

Central themes include God's unconditional covenant promises (land, descendants, blessing to nations), the call to faith and obedience, the testing of faith through delays and impossibilities, the contrast between divine promises and human schemes, and God's gracious persistence despite human failures. Abraham emerges as the father of faith whose trust in God's promises becomes the model for all believers (Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 11).

Theologically, these narratives establish:

  1. salvation by grace through faith rather than works
  2. covenant as God's gracious initiative binding Himself to His people
  3. the necessity of patient trust when promises seem impossible
  4. the consequences of attempting to fulfill God's promises through human effort
  5. the pattern of divine testing producing mature faith.

The Abraham cycle foreshadows Christ as the ultimate seed through whom blessing extends to all nations (Galatians 3:16).

Historical Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Questions for Reflection

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