Genesis 21 · Verse 10

Genesis 21:10

Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Genesis 21:10, King James Version

Genesis 21:10 in other translations

BSBand she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!”
WEBTherefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”
ASVWherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son: for the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
YLTand she saith to Abraham, ‘Cast out this handmaid and her son; for the son of this handmaid hath no possession with my son--with Isaac.'
DARBYAnd she said to Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son; for the son of this handmaid shall not inherit with my son — with Isaac.
BBESo she said to Abraham, Send away that woman and her son: for the son of that woman is not to have a part in the heritage with my son Isaac.
WebsterWherefore, she said to Abraham, Cast out this bond-woman, and her son: for the son of this bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

What does Genesis 21:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman--Nothing but the expulsion of both could now preserve harmony in the household. Abraham's perplexity was relieved by an announcement of the divine will, which in everything, however painful to flesh and blood, all who fear God and are walking in His ways will, like him, promptly obey. This story, as the apostle tells us, in "an allegory" [Ga 4:24], and the "persecution" by the son of the Egyptian was the commencement of the four hundred years' affliction of Abraham's seed by the Egyptians.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Cast out this bondwoman and her son - Both Sarah and Abraham have been accused of cruelty in this transaction, because every word reads harsh to us. Cast out; גרש garash signifies not only to thrust out, drive away, and expel, but also to divorce; (see Lev 21:7); and it is in this latter sense the word should be understood here. The child of Abraham by Hagar might be considered as having a right at least to a part of the inheritance; and as it was sufficiently known to Sarah that God had designed that the succession should be established in the line of Isaac, she wished Abraham to divorce Hagar, or to perform some sort of legal act by which Ishmael might be excluded from all claim on the inheritance.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 21:9-13

Let us not overlook the manner in which this family matter instructs us not to rest in outward privileges, or in our own doings. And let us seek the blessings of the new covenant by faith in its Divine Surety. Ishmael's conduct was persecution, being done in profane contempt of the covenant and promise, and with malice against Isaac. God takes notice of what children say and do in their play; and will reckon with…

Read the full comment on Genesis 21:9-13 →

Genesis 21:10 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.

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merand she saidH559
לְאַבְרָהָ֔םle.'av.ra.Hamto AbrahamH85
גָּרֵ֛שׁga.Reshdrive outH1644
הָאָמָ֥הha.'a.Mahthe slave womanH519
הַזֹּ֖אתha.Zot<the> thisH2063
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
בְּנָ֑הּbe.Nahson herH1121
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
לֹ֤אlo'notH3808
יִירַשׁ֙yi.Rashhe will inheritH3423
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
הָאָמָ֣הha.'a.Mahthe slave womanH519
הַזֹּ֔אתha.Zot<the> thisH2063
עִם\־'im-withH5973
בְּנִ֖יbe.Nison myH1121
עִם\־'im-withH5973
יִצְחָֽק\׃yitz.ChakIsaacH3327

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

Cross references for Genesis 21:10

  • John 8:35

    And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

  • Galatians 4:22-31

    For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. …

  • 1 John 2:19

    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

  • 1 Peter 1:4

    To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

  • Genesis 36:6-7

    And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

  • Matthew 22:13

    Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

  • Galatians 3:18

    For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

  • Matthew 8:11-12

    And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

  • Genesis 25:19

    And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begat Isaac:

  • Galatians 4:7

    Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

  • Genesis 22:10

    And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

  • Genesis 17:19

    And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Cast out.The word rendered "cast out," signifies also to divorce. See Le 21:7. In this latter sense, it may be understood here.
25:6,19; 17:19,21; 20:11; 22:10; 36:6,7; Mt 8:11,12; 22:13; Joh 8:35
Ga 4:22-31; 1Jo 2:19
heir.
Joh 8:35; Ga 3:18; 4:7; 1Pe 1:4; 1Jo 2:19

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

Context

  • Genesis 21:9

    And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

  • Genesis 21:10

    Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

  • Genesis 21:11

    And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

Read all of Genesis 21

Genesis 21:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por tanto dijo á Abraham: Echa á esta sierva y á su hijo; que el hijo de esta sierva no ha de heredar con mi hijo, con Isaac.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et elle dit à Abraham: Chasse cette servante et son fils; car le fils de cette servante n’héritera pas avec mon fils, avec Isaac.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie sprach zu Abraham: Treibe diese Magd und ihren Sohn hinaus; denn der Sohn dieser Magd soll nicht erben mit meinem Sohne, mit Isaak!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ejice ancillam hanc, et filium ejus: non enim erit hæres filius ancillæ cum filio meo Isaac.