Genesis 16 · Verse 4

Genesis 16:4

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Genesis 16:4, King James Version

Genesis 16:4 in other translations

BSBAnd he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.
WEBHe went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
ASVAnd he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
YLTand he goeth in unto Hagar, and she conceiveth, and she seeth that she hath conceived, and her mistress is lightly esteemed in her eyes.
DARBYAnd he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was lightly esteemed in her eyes.
BBEAnd he went in to Hagar and she became with child, and when she saw that she was with child, she no longer had any respect for her master's wife.
WebsterAnd he went in to Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

What does Genesis 16:4 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 16:4-6
Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this case, Passionate people often quarrel with others, for things of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai had given her maid to Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee. That is never said wisely, which pride and anger put into our mouths. Those are not always in the right, who are most loud and forward in appealing to God: such rash and bold imprecations commonly speak guilt and a bad cause. Hagar forgot that she herself had first given the provocation, by despising her mistress. Those that suffer for their faults, ought to bear it patiently, 1Pe 2:20.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 16:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'and he wentH935
אֶל\־'el-intoH413
הָגָ֖רha.GarHagarH1904
וַתַּ֑הַרva.Ta.harand she conceivedH2029
וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙va.Te.re'and she sawH7200
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
הָרָ֔תָהha.Ra.tahshe had conceivedH2029
וַתֵּקַ֥לva.te.Kaland she became insignificantH7043
גְּבִרְתָּ֖הּge.vir.Tahmistress herH1404
בְּעֵינֶֽיהָ\׃be.'ei.Nei.hain view herH5869

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 16:4

  • 2 Samuel 6:16

    And 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.

  • Proverbs 30:23

    For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

  • 1 Samuel 1:6-8

    And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

    Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

  • Proverbs 30:20-21

    Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

  • 1 Corinthians 4:6

    And 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
her mistress.
1Sa 1:6-8; 2Sa 6:16; Pr 30:20,21,23; 1Co 4:6; 13:4,5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 16:3

    And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

  • Genesis 16:4

    And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

  • Genesis 16:5

    And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

Read all of Genesis 16

Genesis 16:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y él cohabitó con Agar, la cual concibió: y cuando vió que había concebido, miraba con desprecio á su señora.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il vint vers Agar, et elle conçut; et elle vit qu’elle avait conçu, et sa maîtresse fut méprisée à ses yeux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er ging zu Hagar ein, und sie ward schwanger; und als sie sah, daß sie schwanger war, da wurde ihre Herrin gering in ihren Augen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui ingressus est ad eam. At illa concepisse se videns, despexit dominam suam.