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.
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.
- KJV And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and 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.
- 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 6:16As Yahweh’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart.
- Prov 30:23for an unloved woman when she is married; and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
- 1 Cor 4:6Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.
- Prov 30:20–21“So is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
- 1 Cor 13:4–5Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,
- 1 Sam 1:6–8Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.