Genesis 16:3-5

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Genesis 16:3 tn Heb “at the end of ten years, to live, Abram.” The prepositional phrase introduces the temporal clause, the infinitive construct serves as the verb, and the name “Abram” is the subject.
2. Genesis 16:3 tn Heb “the Egyptian, her female servant.”
3. Genesis 16:3 sn To be his wife. Hagar became a slave wife, not on equal standing with Sarai. However, if Hagar produced the heir, she would be the primary wife in the eyes of society. When this eventually happened, Hagar become insolent, prompting Sarai’s anger.
4. Genesis 16:4 tn Heb “came to.” See the note on the same expression in v. 2.
5. Genesis 16:4 tn Or “she conceived” (also in v. 5)
6. Genesis 16:4 tn Heb “and she saw that she was pregnant and her mistress was despised in her eyes.” The Hebrew verb קָלַל (qalal) means “to despise, to treat lightly, to treat with contempt.” In Hagar’s opinion Sarai had been demoted.
7. Genesis 16:5 tn Heb “my wrong is because of you.”
8. Genesis 16:5 tn Heb “bosom” or “lap.”
9. Genesis 16:5 tn Heb “saw.”
10. Genesis 16:5 tn Heb “I was despised in her eyes.” The passive verb has been translated as active for stylistic reasons. Sarai was made to feel supplanted and worthless by Hagar the servant girl.
11. Genesis 16:5 tn Heb “me and you.”sn May the Lord judge between you and me. Sarai blamed Abram for Hagar’s attitude, not the pregnancy. Here she expects to be vindicated by the Lord who will prove Abram responsible. A colloquial rendering might be, “God will get you for this.” It may mean that she thought Abram had encouraged the servant girl in her elevated status.