Genesis 16

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “See, the Lord has kept me from bearing children. So go in to my maid, that you may have children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. [a0] 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid — this was after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan — and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she was with child, her mistress was dishonored in her eyes. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “I am wronged because of you. I put my maid into your arms, and when she saw that she was with child, I was dishonored in her eyes. May God judge between me and you.” 6 And Abram said to Sarai, “Look — your maid is in your hands. Treat her however seems good to you.” Then Sarai treated her harshly, and Hagar ran away from her.

7 And the messenger of the Lord found her by the spring of water in the wilderness — the spring on the way to Shur — [a] 8 and said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” 9 And the messenger of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her hands.” 10 And the messenger of the Lord said to her, “I will surely multiply your seed, until it cannot be counted for its multitude.” 11 And the messenger of the Lord said to her, “Look — you are with child, and you will bear a son. Call his name Ishmael, for the Lord has listened to your humiliation. 12 He will be a wild man — his hands against everyone, and everyone’s hands against him — and he will live in the presence of all his brothers.”

13 Then Hagar called the name of the Lord who had spoken to her: “You are the God who looked upon me.” For she said, “I have openly seen the one who appeared to me.” 14 That is why she called the well The Well of the One I Have Openly Seen. It lies between Kadesh and Bered. [b] 15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named his son, the one Hagar bore him, Ishmael. 16 Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.