Genesis 21

The Birth of Isaac

1 And the LORD a visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah b as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah c conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, d at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him - whom Sarah bore to him - e Isaac. 1 4 Then Abraham f circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, g as God had commanded him. 5 Now h Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, i "God has 2 made me laugh, and all who hear j will laugh with me." 7 She also said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? k For I have borne him a son in his old age."

God Protects Hagar and Ishmael

8 So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar l the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, m scoffing. 3 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, n "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." 11 And the matter was very 4 displeasing in Abraham's sight o because of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for p in Isaac your seed shall be called. 13 "Yet I will also make q a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your 5 seed." 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and 6 a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and r sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. 17 And s God heard the voice of the lad. Then the t angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 "Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for u I will make him a great nation." 19 Then v God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 So God w was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, x and became an archer. 21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother y took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

A Treaty with Abimelech

22 And it came to pass at that time that z Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, a "God is with you in all that you do. 23 "Now therefore, b swear 7 to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt." 24 And Abraham said, "I will swear."

25 Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech's servants c had seized. 26 And Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today." 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them d made a 8 covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham, e "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?" 30 And he said, "You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that f they may be my witness that I have dug this well." 31 Therefore he g called that place 9 Beersheba, 10 because the two of them swore an oath there. 32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and h there called on the name of the LORD, i the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:21
    And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 17:16
    "And I will bless her and also give you a son b...
    Genesis 17:19
    Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear ...
    Genesis 17:21
    "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, w...
    Genesis 18:10
    And He said, "I will certainly return to you ac...
    Genesis 18:14
    "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appo...
    Galatians 4:23
    But he who was of the bondwoman was born accord...
    Galatians 4:28
    Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of...
  3. Cross References
    Acts 7:8
    Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.
    Galatians 4:22
    For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
    Hebrews 11:11
    By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
    Hebrews 11:12
    Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude - innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 17:21
    "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."
    Genesis 18:10
    And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)
    Genesis 18:14
    "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
    Galatians 4:4
    But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.
  5. Cross References
    Genesis 17:19
    Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
    Genesis 17:21
    "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."
  6. Cross References
    Acts 7:8
    Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 17:10
    This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised.
    Genesis 17:12
    He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.
    Leviticus 12:3
    And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 17:1
    When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
    Genesis 17:17
    Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 18:13
    And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?
    Psalms 126:2
    Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them.
    Isaiah 54:1
    Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the LORD.
  10. Cross References
    Luke 1:58
    When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 18:11
    Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
    Genesis 18:12
    Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 16:1
    Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
    Genesis 16:4
    So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.
    Genesis 16:15
    So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
  13. Cross References
    Galatians 4:29
    But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 25:6
    But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.
    Genesis 36:6
    Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob.
    Genesis 36:7
    For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock.
    Galatians 3:18
    For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
    Galatians 4:30
    Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
  15. Cross References
    Genesis 17:18
    And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 1:2
    Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.
    Luke 3:34
    The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor.
    Romans 9:7
    Nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called.
    Romans 9:8
    That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
    Hebrews 11:18
    Of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called.
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 16:10
    Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.
    Genesis 17:20
    And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
    Genesis 21:18
    "Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation."
    Genesis 25:12 - 18
    Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's maidservant, bore to Abraham.
  18. Cross References
    John 8:35
    And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
  19. Cross References
    Exodus 3:7
    And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
    Deuteronomy 26:7
    Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression.
    Psalms 6:8
    Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 22:11
    But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am.
  21. Cross References
    Genesis 16:10
    Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.
    Genesis 21:13
    "Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."
    Genesis 25:12 - 16
    Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's maidservant, bore to Abraham.
  22. Cross References
    Genesis 3:7
    Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
    Numbers 22:31
    Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
    2 Kings 6:17
    And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
    Luke 24:31
    Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 28:15
    "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."
    Genesis 39:2
    The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
    Genesis 39:3
    And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.
    Genesis 39:21
    But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 16:12
    He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 24:4
    "but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac."
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 20:2
    Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
    Genesis 20:14
    Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.
    Genesis 26:26
    Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army.
  27. Cross References
    Genesis 26:28
    But they said, "We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you.
    Isaiah 8:10
    Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, For God is with us.
  28. Cross References
    Joshua 2:12
    Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token.
    1 Samuel 24:21
    "Therefore swear now to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father's house."
  29. Cross References
    Genesis 26:15
    Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth.
    Genesis 26:18
    And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them.
    Genesis 26:20 - 22
    But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him.
  30. Cross References
    Genesis 26:31
    Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
    Genesis 31:44
    "Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me."
    1 Samuel 18:3
    Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
  31. Cross References
    Genesis 33:8
    Then Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" And he said, " These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.
  32. Cross References
    Genesis 31:48
    And Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me this day." Therefore its name was called Galeed.
    Genesis 31:52
    This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.
  33. Cross References
    Genesis 21:14
    So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
    Genesis 26:33
    So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
  34. Cross References
    Genesis 4:26
    And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.
    Genesis 12:8
    And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
    Genesis 13:4
    To the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
    Genesis 26:25
    So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 35:11
    Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fr...
    Exodus 15:18
    "The LORD shall reign forever and ever."
    Deuteronomy 32:40
    For I raise My hand to heaven, And say, " As I ...
    Deuteronomy 33:27
    The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath ...
    Psalms 90:2
    Before the mountains were brought forth, Or eve...
    Psalms 93:2
    Your throne is established from of old; You are...
    Isaiah 40:28
    Have you not known? Have you not heard? The eve...
    Jeremiah 10:10
    But the LORD is the true God; He is the living ...
    Habakkuk 1:12
    Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my...
    Hebrews 13:8
    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and ...
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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