And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Parallel translations
- WEB He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
- BSB And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.
- NKJV So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.
- NASB Then he had relations with Hagar, and she conceived; and when Hagar became aware that she had conceived, her mistress was insignificant in her sight.
- NLT So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Hagar conceived and then despised her mistress Sarai. The scheme immediately bred contempt and household strife.
Overview
As soon as Hagar became pregnant, the relationship soured, with Hagar looking down on the barren Sarai. The fruit of the fleshly plan is not peace but rivalry and wounded pride. This swift breakdown shows the bitter consequences of seeking God's blessing through human manipulation rather than trusting His timing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Sam 6:16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
- Prov 30:23For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
- 1 Cor 4:6And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
- Prov 30:20–21Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
- 1 Cor 13:4–5Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
- 1 Sam 1:6–8And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 16:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.