Genesis 21 · Verse 9

Genesis 21:9

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
Genesis 21:9, King James Version

Genesis 21:9 in other translations

BSBBut Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,
WEBSarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
ASVAnd Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne unto Abraham, mocking.
YLTand Sarah seeth the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she hath borne to Abraham, mocking,
DARBYAnd Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
BBEAnd Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian playing with Isaac.
WebsterAnd Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

What does Genesis 21:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. Sarah saw the son of Hagar ... mocking--Ishmael was aware of the great change in his prospects, and under the impulse of irritated or resentful feelings, in which he was probably joined by his mother, treated the young heir with derision and probably some violence (Ga 4:29).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Mocking - What was implied in this mocking is not known. St. Paul, Gal 4:29, calls it persecuting; but it is likely he meant no more than some species of ridicule used by Ishmael on the occasion, and probably with respect to the age of Sarah at Isaac's birth, and her previous barrenness. Jonathan ben Uzziel and the Jerusalem Targum represent Ishmael as performing some idolatrous rite on the occasion, and that this had given the offense to Sarah. Conjectures are as useless as they are endless. Whatever it was, it became the occasion of the expulsion of himself and mother. Several authors are of opinion that the Egyptian bondage of four hundred years, mentioned Gen 15:13, commenced with this persecution of the righteous seed by the son of an Egyptian woman.

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 them, if they say or do amiss, though their parents do not. Mocking is a great sin, and very provoking to God. And the children of promise must expect to be mocked. Abraham was grieved that Ishmael should misbehave, and Sarah demand so severe a punishment. But God showed him that Isaac must be the father of the promised Seed; therefore, send Ishmael away, lest he corrupt the manners, or try to take the rights of Isaac. The covenant seed of Abraham must be a people by themselves, not mingled with those who were out of covenant: Sarah little thought of this; but God turned aright what she said.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 21:9 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.

וַתֵּ֨רֶאva.Te.re'and she sawH7200
שָׂרָ֜הsa.RahSarahH8283
אֶֽת\־'et-<obj.>H853
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
הָגָ֧רha.GarHagarH1904
הַמִּצְרִ֛יתha.mitz.Ritthe EgyptianH4713
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whomH834
יָלְדָ֥הYal.dahshe had borneH3205
לְאַבְרָהָ֖םle.'av.ra.Hamto AbrahamH85
מְצַחֵֽק\׃me.tza.ChekmockingH6711

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

Cross references for Genesis 21:9

  • Galatians 4:29

    But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

  • Genesis 16:15

    And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

  • Galatians 4:22

    For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

  • Genesis 16:1

    Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

  • Psalms 44:13-14

    Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

  • Proverbs 20:11

    Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:10

    So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16

    But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

  • Psalms 22:6

    But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

  • Psalms 42:10

    As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

  • Lamentations 1:7

    Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.

  • 2 Kings 2:23-24

    And he went up from thence unto Beth–el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Sarah.
16:3-6,15; 17:20
Egyptian.
16:1,15
mocking.
2Ki 2:23,24; 2Ch 30:10; 36:16; Ne 4:1-5; Job 30:1; Ps 22:6; 42:10
Ps 44:13,14; Pr 20:11; La 1:7; Ga 4:22,29; Heb 11:36

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

Context

  • Genesis 21:8

    And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

  • 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.

Read all of Genesis 21

Genesis 21:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vió Sara al hijo de Agar la Egipcia, el cual había ésta parido á Abraham, que se burlaba.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Sara vit rire le fils d’Agar, l’Égyptienne, qu’elle avait enfanté à Abraham;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Sara sah den Sohn Hagars, der Ägypterin, den sie dem Abraham geboren hatte, spotten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque vidisset Sara filium Agar Ægyptiæ ludentem cum Isaac filio suo, dixit ad Abraham: