Genesis 21:11
in Genesis 21Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son.
KJV
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
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This verse in Genesis 21
Commentary
4 notes on this verseIt grieved him that Sarah insisted upon such a punishment. "Might it not suffice to correct him? would nothing less serve than to expel him?" Note, Even the needful extremities which must be used with wicked and incorrigible children are very grievous to tender parents, who cannot thus afflict willingly.
This site's exposition
this matter distressed Abraham greatly
on Genesis 21:11-13
Abraham is distressed over Ishmael, named here as his son. God tells him to listen to everything Sarah says, and that through Isaac his offspring will be reckoned. Paul quotes that clause at Romans 9:7 and Hebrews at 11:18. Verse 13 promises Ishmael a nation of his own.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
For her part, however, Sarah was not guilty of acting unreasonably; she acted even quite logically, so logically that even God agreed with the words she spoke. The patriarch, being affectionate and well disposed toward Ishmael, did not take kindly to her remarks. "This remark about his son … struck Abraham as severe." It was not, you see, that he took much interest in Hagar; rather, he was well disposed toward his son for the reason that he was then still in his youth. Consider in this case, however … the extraordinary considerateness of the loving God: when he saw Sarah apparently having a human problem in being distressed by the parity of esteem of the children and Abraham not taking kindly to the expulsion of Ishmael and the maidservant. (After all, even if in his great restraint he did not take issue with Sarah, it still struck him as severe, that is, harsh, repugnant, and oppressive.) At that point, in fidelity to his characteristic loving kindness and wishing to strengthen the bonds of harmony between them, the Lord said to Abraham, "Don't let the remark about the child and the maidservant strike you as severe. Whatever Sarah says to you, heed her."
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight,....
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
AND THE THING WAS VERY GRIEVOUS IN ABRAHAM’s SIGHT ON ACCOUNT OF HIS SON. That is, for he had taken to degenerate ways. The plain meaning, however, is that he was grieved because she had told him to send him away. Thus the language of Rashi.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
She said to Avraham, Drive out this slave-woman and her son, for the son of this slave-woman will not inherit with my son, with Yitzchok.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּ֧רַע | vaiyera' | and it was displeasing | H7489 → | 107 times |
| הַדָּבָ֛ר | hadavar | the matter | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| מְאֹ֖ד | meod | exceedingly | H3966 → | 300 times |
| בְּעֵינֵ֣י | beeinei | in [the] eyes of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| אַבְרָהָ֑ם | ʾavraham | Abraham | H85 → | 175 times |
| עַ֖ל | ʾal | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אוֹדֹ֥ת | ʾodot | [the] causes of | H182 → | 11 times |
| בְּנֽוֹ׃ | beno | son his | H1121 → | 4930 times |
וַיֵּ֧רַעand it was displeasing
vaiyera'H7489 →107 times
הַדָּבָ֛רthe matter
hadavarH1697 →1440 times
מְאֹ֖דexceedingly
meodH3966 →300 times
בְּעֵינֵ֣יin [the] eyes of
beeineiH5869 →887 times
אַבְרָהָ֑םAbraham
ʾavrahamH85 →175 times
עַ֖לon
ʾalH5921 →5755 times
אוֹדֹ֥ת[the] causes of
ʾodotH182 →11 times
בְּנֽוֹ׃son his
benoH1121 →4930 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 10:37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
it leads to
- Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
- Matthew 22:37
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
- Philippians 3:7–9
But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
- Luke 14:26
Through
Hebrews 12:11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
it leads to
- Romans 5:3–5
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- Hebrews 12:5–6
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
- 1 Peter 1:6
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Hebrews 12:10
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- Romans 5:3–5
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsIshmaelAbraham's son by Hagar — blessed and made a great nation, but not the covenant heir; Paul's figure of the flesh (Gal 4:21–31).
- PersonPatriarchsAbrahamCalled out of Ur, the father of all who believe, justified by faith, and the friend of God through whose seed all nations are bles…
This page draws on John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 46.3; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.