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Gênesis, 16

1. Sarai, mulher de Abrão, não lhe tinha dado filho; mas, possuindo uma escrava egípcia, chamada Agar,

1. Now Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar,

2. disse a Abrão: “Eis que o Senhor me fez estéril; rogo-te que tomes a minha escrava, para ver se, ao menos por ela, eu posso ter filhos”. Abrão aceitou a proposta de Sarai.

2. She said to her husband: Behold, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: go in unto my handmaid, it may be I may have children of her at least. And when he agreed to her request,

3. Sarai tomou, pois, sua escrava, Agar, a egípcia, passado dez anos que Abrão ha­bitava a terra de Canaã, e deu-a por mulher a Abrão, seu marido.

3. She took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to wife.

4. Este aproximou-se de Agar e ela concebeu. Agar, vendo que tinha concebido, começou a desprezar a sua senhora.

4. And he went in to her. But she, perceiving that she was with child, despised her mistress.

5. Então Sarai disse a Abrão: “Caia sobre ti o ultraje que me é feito! Dei-te minha escrava, e ela, desde que concebeu, olha-me com desprezo. O Senhor seja juiz entre mim e ti!”.

5. And Sarai said to Abram: Thou dost unjustly with me: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and she perceiving herself to be with child, despiseth me. The Lord judge between me and thee.

6. Abrão respondeu-lhe: “Tua escrava está em teu poder, faze dela o que quiseres”. E Sarai maltratou-a de tal forma que ela teve de fugir.

6. And Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in thy own hand, use her its it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted her, she ran away.

7. O anjo do Senhor, encontran­do-a no deserto junto de uma fonte que está no caminho de Sur,*

7. And the angel of the Lord having found her, by a fountain of water in the wilderness, which is in the way to Sur in the desert,

8. disse-lhe: “Agar, escrava de Sarai, donde vens? E para onde vais?”. “Eu fujo de Sarai, minha senhora” – respondeu ela.

8. He said to her: Agar, handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she answered: I flee from the face of Sarai, my mistress.

9. “Volta para a tua senhora – tornou o anjo do Senhor – e humilha-te diante dela.”

9. And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand.

10. E ajuntou: “Multiplicarei tua posteridade de tal forma, e será tão numerosa, que não se poderá contar”.

10. And again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it shall not be numbered for multitude.

11. Disse ainda mais: “Estás grávida, e vais dar à luz um filho: darás a ele o nome de Ismael, porque o Senhor te ouviu na tua aflição.*

11. And again: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

12. Este menino será como um jumento bravo: sua mão se levantará contra todos e a mão de todos contra ele, e levantará sua tenda defronte de todos os seus irmãos”.

12. He shall be a wild man: his hand will be against all men, and all men's hands against him: and he shall pitch his tents over against all his brethren.

13. Agar deu ao Senhor, que lhe tinha falado, o nome: Vós sois El-roí, “porque – dizia ela – não vi eu aqui mesmo o Deus que me via?”.*

13. And she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her: Thou the God who hast seen me. For she said: Verily here have I seen the hinder parts of him that seeth me.

14. E por isso deu-se àquele poço o nome de poço Lahai-roí; ele se encontra entre Cades e Barad.*

14. Therefore she called that well, The well of him that liveth and seeth me. The same is between Cades and Bared.

15. Agar deu à luz um filho a Abrão, o qual lhe pôs o nome de Ismael.*

15. And Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name Ismael.

16. Abrão tinha a idade de oitenta e seis anos quando Agar lhe deu à luz Ismael.

16. Abram was fourscore and six years old when Agar brought him forth Ismael.


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Footnotes:

16:1-3 - Sarai's doubt about God's promise leads to her decision to use Hagar as a servant. This illustrates the human tendency to try to help God rather than trust His promises, reflecting the struggle between faith and doubt (see also Psalm 37:5 and Proverbs 3:5-6).

16:4-6 - Hagar becomes pregnant and then despises Sarai, revealing family tensions and the consequences of sin. This conflict is a reminder of the fragility of human relationships without God's guidance (see also James 4:1-2 and Galatians 5:15).

16:7-10 - Hagar's encounter with the angel of the Lord in the wilderness shows that God cares for the marginalized. God's promise to Hagar about her son Ishmael highlights divine grace and inclusion in God's plan (see also Psalm 34:18 and Matthew 11:28).

16:11-14 - Ishmael's name, which means "God hears," emphasizes God's response to Hagar's afflictions. This highlights the importance of prayer and trusting in God in times of difficulty (see also Psalm 65:2 and 1 Peter 5:7).

16:15-16 - Hagar gives birth to Ishmael when Abraham is 86 years old, indicating God's patience even in the face of human impatience. Ishmael's lineage will also be important in the history of nations (see also Genesis 21:14-21 and Galatians 4:22-23).

Verses related to Gênesis, 16:

Genesis chapter 16 reports the birth of Ishmael. What are the consequences of trying to fulfill God's promises through human means? This text reveals Sarah's impatience, Hagar's conception of Ishmael and the resulting conflict. The chapter explores themes such as faith, jealousy and the complications of sin. Genesis 16 also demonstrates God's compassion for Hagar. Ponder with us five biblical passages that correlate with the complex themes of this instructive chapter.

Galatians 4:22-23: "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. The son of the slave was born according to human will, but the son of the free woman was born through a promise." - Paul uses the story of Hagar and Ishmael from Genesis 16 as an allegory to contrast law and grace.

Romans 9:8-9: "In other words, it is not the natural children who are children of God, but the children of the promise who are considered descendants of Abraham. For this was the promise: 'At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.'" - Paul contrasts the children of the flesh (like Ishmael) with the children of promise, referring to the events of Genesis 16.

1 Peter 3:6: "like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You will be her daughters if you do good and do not give way to fear." - Peter uses Sarah as an example of submission, contrasting with Hagar's situation in Genesis 16.

Hebrews 11:11: "By faith, even Sarah, who was barren, received power to conceive a child, even when she was old, because she considered him faithful who had made the promise to her." - This verse contrasts with the lack of faith demonstrated in Genesis 16 when Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham.

Galatians 4:30: "But what does Scripture say? 'Send away the slave and her son, because the son of the slave will never be an heir with the son of the free woman'." - Paul cites the eventual expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, which has its roots in the events of Genesis 16.

FAQ:

Who was Hagar and what was her conflict with Sarah?

Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian servant. Sarah, who was barren, offered Hagar to Abraham to bear a son. After Hagar became pregnant, tension arose between the two, causing Hagar to run away. (Genesis 16:1-6)

What did the angel of the Lord say to Hagar in the wilderness?

The angel commanded Hagar to return to Sarah and submit to her, promising that her son, Ishmael, would be the father of a great nation. (Genesis 16:7-10)

What was God's promise to Ishmael?

God promised that Ishmael would be a strong and indomitable man, and that his descendants would be numerous. (Genesis 16:11-12)

How does the name "Ishmael" reflect Hagar's experience?

Ishmael means "God hears," reflecting divine intervention in Hagar's distress when she cried out in the wilderness. (Genesis 16:11)

Where did Hagar find a well and what significance did it have?

Hagar found a well in Beer Lahai Roi, a place where God saw her distress and answered her need. (Genesis 16:13-14)


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