Genesis 16 — Greek, Translation, Interlinear & Discourse

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Σαρα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ Αβραμ οὐκ ἔτικτεν αὐτῷ· ἦν δὲ αὐτῇ παιδίσκη Αἰγυπτία ᾗ ὄνομα Αγαρ.

Now Sarai, the wife of Abram, bore him no children; but she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.

Scene-setting / expositionδέ

The opening δέ marks a new scene following ch.15 (the covenant of the pieces). The verse presents Sarai's barrenness as established fact, then introduces Hagar in a relative clause — the two characters whose stories will collide. Hebraizing word order places Σαρα in the topic position. The imperfects (ἔτικτεν, ἦν) set a background state against which the narrative will act.

Word-by-word analysis· 16 words

ΣαραSaraiindeclinable proper noun, subject (topic position)→ participant identificationΣαρα: the LXX spelling of שָׂרַי (Sarai), still using the pre-covenant form (her name becomes Σαρρα at 17:15); indeclinable throughout.

δὲnowpostpositive continuative-adversative particle (scene transition)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γυνὴwifeNominativenominative appositive to Σαρα (identifying her role)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the appositive ἡ γυνὴ Αβραμ defines Sarai's identity in relation to the patriarch; the same phrase recurs at 16:3.

Αβραμof Abramindeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship (wife of Abram)→ participant identificationΑβραμ: the pre-covenant name (אַבְרָם, 'exalted father'); renamed Αβρααμ at 17:5. Indeclinable in LXX.

οὐκnotnegation particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἔτικτενwas bearingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (predicate of subject Σαρα)→ progressive / iterative imperfect (sustained state of barrenness)τίκτω: 'bear / give birth'; the imperfect οὐκ ἔτικτεν depicts ongoing barrenness as a narrative state, not a single event; echoes the barrenness of Sarah in Gen 11:30 LXX. The same verb recurs at vv.11, 15, 16.

αὐτῷto himDativedative of disadvantage (bearing to Abram's benefit / lack thereof)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (bearing to Abram's benefit / lack thereof).

ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there was to her')→ imperfect of existing stateεἰμί: the construction ἦν δὲ αὐτῇ + nominative ('there was to her') is a Hebraism calquing the Hebrew יֶשׁ-לָהּ idiom of possession.

δὲbutpostpositive adversative particle (contrast: no child, but a maidservant)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

αὐτῇto herDativedative of possession (she had)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'to her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession (she had).

παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativenominative subject (predicate with existential ἦν)→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: 'young female slave / maidservant'; diminutive of παῖς; the term consistently marks Hagar's servile status throughout this chapter and is the word Paul picks up in Gal 4:22–23, 30–31 (ἡ παιδίσκη).

ΑἰγυπτίαEgyptianNominativeattributive adjective (ethnic identification)→ participant prominenceΑἰγυπτία: the ethnic adjective identifies Hagar as Egyptian — a Gentile slave — and may recall the Abram-in-Egypt episode of ch.12, where such a servant could plausibly have been acquired. The detail is significant for Paul's reading in Gal 4.

ᾗwhoseDativedative relative pronoun (attraction to antecedent παιδίσκη; dative of possession)→ participant reference or interestᾗ: meaning 'whose'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative relative pronoun (attraction to antecedent παιδίσκη; dative of possession).

ὄνομαnameNominativenominative subject (ᾗ ὄνομα = 'to whom [the] name [was]')→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; the ᾗ ὄνομα construction (dative relative + anarthrous ὄνομα) is a Hebraism calquing וּשְׁמָהּ; names in Genesis consistently signal theological significance — Hagar (הָגָר) means 'flight / stranger.'

ΑγαρHagarindeclinable proper noun, predicate of ᾗ ὄνομα→ participant identificationΑγαρ: transliteration of הָגָר; indeclinable. The name is traditionally associated with the root הגר ('to flee / sojourn'), apt for a character who flees twice (16:6; 21:14). She is the ancestor of the Ishmaelite tribes and the typological figure of the old covenant in Gal 4:24–25.

εἶπεν δὲ Σαρα πρὸς Αβραμ· Ἰδοὺ συνέκλεισέν με κύριος τοῦ μὴ τίκτειν· εἴσελθε οὖν πρὸς τὴν παιδίσκην μου, ἵνα τεκνοποιήσῃς ἐξ αὐτῆς. ὑπήκουσεν δὲ Αβραμ τῆς φωνῆς Σαρας.

And Sarai said to Abram, 'Behold, the LORD has shut me up from bearing; go in, then, to my maidservant, so that I may have children by her.' And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Direct speech / proposalεἶπεν δέ

Sarai's speech frames the crisis theologically: she attributes her barrenness to divine action (συνέκλεισέν με κύριος), then proposes the surrogate arrangement using the purpose clause ἵνα τεκνοποιήσῃς. Abram's compliance is noted with the verb ὑπήκουσεν — the same verb used of Abraham's obedience elsewhere, its use here preparing an ironic echo when the same compliance will be recalled as both obedience and failure in the Isaac narrative.

Word-by-word analysis· 28 words

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction frame)→ constative aorist (single speech act)λέγω: standard LXX speech-introduction formula; the aorist εἶπεν + δέ is the characteristic narrative introduction for a new speaker turn.

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ΣαραSaraiindeclinable proper noun, subject→ participant identificationΣαρα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject.

πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipient of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (recipient of speech).

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, object of πρός→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, object of πρός.

Ἰδοὺbeholdinterjection / attention-marker (Hebraism)→ participant identificationἰδού: a frozen imperative ('see!') used as a presentative particle, calquing Hebrew הִנֵּה; draws attention to the following explanatory clause. Frequent in LXX speech.

συνέκλεισένhas shut upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκλείωmain verb (theological attribution of barrenness)→ constative aorist (completed divine act)συγκλείω: 'shut up / enclose / confine'; renders Hebrew עָצַר ('to restrain / shut up [the womb]'); the LXX idiom depicts the womb as 'closed' by divine decree; cf. 1 Sam 1:5–6 LXX (Peninnah); the verb occurs in the NT at Gal 3:22–23 (ἡ γραφὴ συνέκλεισεν τὰ πάντα ὑπὸ ἁμαρτίαν) where Paul echoes the confinement/liberation dialectic.

μεmeAccusativeaccusative direct object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object.

κύριοςthe LORDNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of יהוה; Sarai attributes her barrenness to a divine act — the first theological interpretation of infertility in this narrative.

τοῦfromGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive of result / purpose after συγκλείω)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

μὴnotnegation with infinitive→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.

τίκτεινto bear childrenPres Act Inf · τίκτωarticular infinitive, genitive of result (shut up from bearing)→ progressive infinitive (ongoing inability)τίκτω: same verb as v.1's ἔτικτεν; the articular infinitive τοῦ μὴ τίκτειν picks up the imperfect's state and presents it as the content of divine restraint.

εἴσελθεgo inAor Act Imper 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (imperative command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (enter into this relationship)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in to'; the idiom εἴσελθε πρός + person is the standard LXX euphemism for sexual union (cf. Gen 6:4; 38:8); renders Hebrew בֹּא אֶל.

οὖνtherefore / theninferential particle (drawing the logical conclusion from the divine closure)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: meaning 'therefore'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipient of the union)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (recipient of the union).

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παιδίσκηνmaidservantAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationπαιδίσκη: cf. v.1; the article τὴν παιδίσκην μου makes Hagar the already-introduced character.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.

ἵναso thatsubordinating conjunction (purpose clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: meaning 'so that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τεκνοποιήσῃςyou may have childrenAor Act Subj 2 Sg · τεκνοποιέωsubjunctive in purpose clause→ constative aorist subjunctive (achieve the state of having offspring)τεκνοποιέω: 'to make children / beget'; a compound found rarely outside the LXX; renders Hebrew אִבָּנֶה מִמֶּנָּה — lit. 'I may be built up from her' — which is itself a wordplay on בֵּן ('son') and בָּנָה ('to build'); the LXX renders the idiom interpretively with a straightforward childbearing verb.

ἐξby / frompreposition + genitive (source of the offspring)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of the offspring).

αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐξ.

ὑπήκουσενlistened / obeyedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑπακούωmain verb (narrative close: Abram's compliance)→ constative aorist (completed act of obedience/compliance)ὑπακούω: 'obey / listen to'; renders שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל ('hear the voice of'); the same verb is used of Abraham's covenantal obedience in 22:18; 26:5 — its use here is charged with irony, since this 'obedience' to Sarai's voice produces the crisis that Genesis will have to resolve through Isaac.

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, subject→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject.

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ὑπακούω→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice'; the phrase ὑπήκουσεν τῆς φωνῆς ('obeyed the voice of') mirrors the formula of 22:18 (ὑπήκουσας τῆς ἐμῆς φωνῆς) — the obedience Abram shows his wife anticipates the obedience he will show God.

Σαραςof SaraiGenitiveindeclinable proper noun (genitive form), genitive of source→ participant identificationΣαρας: the genitive form of Σαρα (LXX allows this declensional form of the name before ch.17).

καὶ ἔλαβεν Σαρα ἡ γυνὴ Αβραμ Αγαρ τὴν Αἰγυπτίαν τὴν ἑαυτῆς παιδίσκην, μετὰ δέκα ἔτη τοῦ οἰκεῖν Αβραμ ἐν γῇ Χανααν, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν Αβραμ τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς αὐτῷ γυναῖκα.

And Sarai, the wife of Abram, took Hagar the Egyptian, her own maidservant — after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan — and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.

Narrative sequence (legal transaction)καί

The καί-paratactic chain drives the action; the parenthetical time-marker μετὰ δέκα ἔτη τοῦ οἰκεῖν Αβραμ ἐν γῇ Χανααν anchors the transaction in elapsed time — ten years since the call of ch.12 and the first covenant promises — heightening the narrative tension of the unfulfilled promise. The formal phrase ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν … αὐτῷ γυναῖκα marks a legal act of gift-in-marriage.

Word-by-word analysis· 30 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (legal acquisition: Sarai takes Hagar to give her)→ constative aorist (single completed act)λαμβάνω: 'take'; the marriage-acquisition formula λαμβάνω + γυναῖκα is standard LXX idiom (cf. 4:19; 11:29); here Sarai, not Abram, is the active agent of the taking — an unusual role inversion that the narrative marks.

ΣαραSaraiindeclinable proper noun, subject→ participant identificationΣαρα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γυνὴwifeNominativeappositive to Σαρα (identifying her as Abram's wife)→ participant prominenceγυνή: cf. v.1; ἡ γυνὴ Αβραμ is repeated from v.1, framing the verse within the chapter's opening exposition.

Αβραμof Abramindeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship.

ΑγαρHagarindeclinable proper noun, direct object of ἔλαβεν→ participant identificationΑγαρ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, direct object of ἔλαβεν.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΑἰγυπτίανEgyptianAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive, identifying Hagar's ethnicity)→ object specificationΑἰγυπτία: cf. v.1; the ethnic marker is repeated to underscore Hagar's status as a foreigner.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἑαυτῆς παιδίσκην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἑαυτῆςher ownGenitivereflexive genitive of possession (emphatic: her own slave-girl)→ relational specificationἑαυτῆς: intensive reflexive pronoun; the emphasis ('her own maidservant') marks the sacrificial character of Sarai's action — she is giving away her own property.

παιδίσκηνmaidservantAccusativeaccusative (second object-description of Αγαρ)→ object specificationπαιδίσκη: third occurrence in 3 verses; Hagar is consistently defined by her servile status.

μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal: after ten years)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'after'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (temporal: after ten years).

δέκαtencardinal numeral (temporal, with ἔτη)→ measure or countδέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable. The ten years in Canaan mark the elapsed time of the unfulfilled promise — Abram arrived at 75 (12:4), so he is now 85, and the birth of Ishmael at 86 (v.16) is imminent.

ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of time (duration: for ten years)→ object specificationἔτος: 'year'; accusative of extent of time.

τοῦofGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive, temporal)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

οἰκεῖνdwellingPres Act Inf · οἰκέωarticular infinitive (genitive of time: 'after Abram's dwelling')→ progressive / durative (ongoing residence)οἰκέω: 'dwell / live in'; renders Hebrew שֶׁבֶת ('dwelling / sojourn'); the combination δέκα ἔτη τοῦ οἰκεῖν is a Hebraism of the bound infinitive construct.

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, subject of infinitive→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject of infinitive.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).

γῇlandDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; the phrase ἐν γῇ Χανααν picks up the promised-land setting; ten years in the land of promise with no heir is the narrative pressure that makes Sarai's proposal comprehensible.

ΧαναανCanaanindeclinable proper noun, genitive of location (land of Canaan)→ participant identificationΧανααν: transliteration of כְּנַעַן; indeclinable; the promised land of the Abrahamic covenant (12:7; 15:18–21).

καὶandnarrative conjunction (continuing action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (gift/legal transaction: giving Hagar as wife)→ constative aorist (single completed act of gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; the formula ἔδωκεν … γυναῖκα echoes the formal gift of a wife in LXX marriage narratives (29:28; 34:8); Sarai acts as the legal agent, completing the transaction she proposed.

αὐτὴνherAccusativeaccusative direct object (Hagar)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object (Hagar).

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, indirect object (recipient)→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, indirect object (recipient).

τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀνδρὶhusbandDativedative (appositive to Αβραμ: her husband)→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; the phrase τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς identifies Abram explicitly as Sarai's husband, marking the transaction's legal character.

αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her husband)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (her husband).

αὐτῷto himDativedative of advantage (to him as wife)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (to him as wife).

γυναῖκαas wifeAccusativeaccusative predicate (double-accusative: giving her to him as wife)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife / woman'; the predicate accusative γυναῖκα marks this as a formal marriage-gift, distinguishing the arrangement from mere concubinage; Hagar receives the legal status of secondary wife (cf. the similar formula at 25:1, 6).

εἰσῆλθεν δὲ πρὸς Αγαρ, καὶ συνέλαβεν· καὶ εἶδεν ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει, καὶ ἠτιμάσθη ἡ κυρία ἐναντίον αὐτῆς.

And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was dishonored in her sight.

Narrative sequence (rapid consequence)εἰσῆλθεν δέ

Three rapid aorists — εἰσῆλθεν, συνέλαβεν, εἶδεν — drive the narrative forward without pause, compressing the transaction to its result. The social reversal — ἠτιμάσθη ἡ κυρία ἐναντίον αὐτῆς — is the narrative crisis that the rest of the chapter resolves; the passive verb makes the dishonoring something that happened to Sarai from Hagar's perspective.

Word-by-word analysis· 18 words

εἰσῆλθενwent inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (narrative action: sexual union)→ constative aorist (completed single act)εἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; the same euphemism as εἴσελθε in v.2; Abram's compliance with the instruction is narrated by picking up the imperative's own verb.

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (object of union)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object of union).

ΑγαρHagarindeclinable proper noun, object of πρός→ participant identificationΑγαρ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, object of πρός.

καὶandnarrative conjunction (immediate result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

συνέλαβενconceivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (result of union)→ constative aorist (single conception event)συλλαμβάνω: 'conceive'; the standard LXX term for conception; renders הָרָה; the immediate juxtaposition of entry and conception signals the divine granting of fertility — ironic, since it is Sarai's own plan that produces the problem.

καὶandnarrative conjunction (temporal sequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (perception leading to attitude change)→ constative aorist (moment of perception)ὁράω: 'see'; the moment Hagar perceives her pregnancy is the pivot of the verse: knowledge of the pregnancy is what transforms her attitude toward Sarai.

ὅτιthatsubordinating conjunction (content of εἶδεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative idiom for pregnancy)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative idiom for pregnancy).

γαστρὶwombDativedative of location (ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχειν = to be pregnant)→ sphere or referenceγαστήρ: 'belly / womb'; the idiom ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχω is the standard LXX and classical formula for pregnancy ('to have in the womb'), rendering Hebrew הָרָה; recurs at vv.5, 11.

ἔχειshe hasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb in subordinate clause (content of 'saw')→ progressive present (ongoing pregnancy)ἔχω: 'have'; the present tense within the indirect perception marks the pregnancy as an ongoing state — she is with child.

καὶandnarrative conjunction (result of perception)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἠτιμάσθηwas dishonoredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀτιμάζωmain verb (social reversal, passive)→ constative aorist (shift in status)ἀτιμάζω: 'dishonor / treat with contempt'; renders Hebrew קָלַל ('be slight / treat lightly / curse'); the passive focuses on what was experienced by Sarai (the mistress is dishonored), while the agent — Hagar — is implied. The same verb recurs at v.5 (ἠτιμάσθην) in Sarai's own mouth.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κυρίαmistressNominativenominative subject of ἠτιμάσθη→ participant prominenceκυρία: 'mistress / lady'; the feminine of κύριος; the term ἡ κυρία marks Sarai's legal superiority over Hagar, making the dishonoring a formal inversion of the social order.

ἐναντίονin the sight ofpreposition + genitive (viewpoint: 'before the eyes of her')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; renders לְפָנֶיהָ ('before her face'); a Hebraism; the same phrase recurs in Sarai's speech at v.5.

αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον (Hagar's viewpoint)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐναντίον (Hagar's viewpoint).

εἶπεν δὲ Σαρα πρὸς Αβραμ· Ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ· ἐγὼ ἔδωκα τὴν παιδίσκην μου εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου, ἰδοῦσα δὲ ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει, ἠτιμάσθην ἐναντίον αὐτῆς· κρίναι κύριος ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ.

And Sarai said to Abram, 'I am being wronged because of you; I myself gave my maidservant into your bosom, and seeing that she has conceived, I have been dishonored in her sight; may the LORD judge between me and you.'

Direct speech / complaint and judicial appealεἶπεν δέ

Sarai's speech moves through three rhetorical steps: (1) accusation (Ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ — blame directed at Abram), (2) the evidence of her own complicity and the resulting humiliation (ἐγὼ ἔδωκα … ἠτιμάσθην), and (3) a judicial appeal to the LORD as arbiter (κρίναι κύριος). The precative optative κρίναι anticipates the divine response — which comes not to Sarai but to Hagar in the next scene.

Word-by-word analysis· 33 words

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ΣαραSaraiindeclinable proper noun, subject→ participant identificationΣαρα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject.

ἈδικοῦμαιI am being wrongedPres Pass Indic 1 Sg · ἀδικέωmain verb (complaint: first-person accusation)→ progressive present passive (ongoing wrong being done to her)ἀδικέω: 'wrong / injure / treat unjustly'; the present passive depicts Sarai as the ongoing recipient of a wrong; renders Hebrew חֲמָסִי עָלֶיךָ ('my violence / wrong is upon you'). The verb echoes legal terminology; Sarai is presenting her case.

ἐκbecause of / frompreposition + genitive (cause: wronged because of you)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: causal use ('as a result of you / because of you'); renders Hebrew עָלֶיךָ ('upon you').

σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (causal)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐκ (causal).

ἐγὼINominativeemphatic nominative pronoun (subject of ἔδωκα)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun is contrastive — 'I myself (not you) gave her'; Sarai stresses her own agency in the gift, making her the active initiator and thus doubly aggrieved by the outcome.

ἔδωκαgaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (recounting her own act as evidence)→ constative aorist (her completed act of giving)δίδωμι: same verb as v.3 (ἔδωκεν), echoed in Sarai's speech; she re-narrates the transaction of v.3 in the first person as grounds for her complaint.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παιδίσκηνmaidservantAccusativeaccusative direct object→ object specificationπαιδίσκη: fifth occurrence; the repeated term maintains Hagar's identity as slave throughout, which is the socio-legal point at issue.

εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction / location: into your bosom)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction / location: into your bosom).

τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κόλπονbosomAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (figurative: your embrace / authority)→ object specificationκόλπος: 'bosom / lap / chest'; renders Hebrew חֵיקְךָ; the phrase εἰς τὸν κόλπον ('into the bosom') denotes the intimate sphere of the husband's authority; cf. Num 11:12 LXX. The image is of Sarai placing Hagar under Abram's authority while retaining her own claim.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.

ἰδοῦσαseeing / when she sawAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Fem · ὁράωnominative participle (circumstantial / temporal: subject Hagar)→ constative aorist participle (prior action)ὁράω: the participle ἰδοῦσα resumes the perception of v.4 (εἶδεν ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει) from Sarai's perspective, grounding the complaint in Hagar's change of attitude.

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὅτιthatsubordinating conjunction (content of ἰδοῦσα)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (pregnancy idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (pregnancy idiom).

γαστρὶwombDativedative of location (ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει = is pregnant)→ sphere or referenceγαστήρ: cf. v.4 and v.11; the formulaic phrase is repeated verbatim.

ἔχειshe hasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb in ὅτι-clause→ progressive present (ongoing pregnancy)ἔχω: 'have / hold'; ἔχει τὴν ἐλπίδα ('he holds/sets his hope') renders נֹשֵׂא אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹ ('he lifts up his soul/life to it'); the Hebrew idiom of longing is rendered by the language of hope — the laborer's whole expectation hangs on this pay.

ἠτιμάσθηνI have been dishonoredAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · ἀτιμάζωmain verb (Sarai's self-description, echoing v.4)→ constative aorist passive (the completed dishonoring she has experienced)ἀτιμάζω: cf. v.4 (ἠτιμάσθη); Sarai now uses the same verb in the first person, internalizing the dishonoring. The shift from third to first person is rhetorically powerful.

ἐναντίονin the sight ofpreposition + genitive (viewpoint)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: cf. v.4; the phrase ἠτιμάσθην ἐναντίον αὐτῆς directly echoes v.4's ἠτιμάσθη ἡ κυρία ἐναντίον αὐτῆς, with the subject now being the first person — Sarai is applying the same verb to herself.

αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον (Hagar's perspective)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐναντίον (Hagar's perspective).

κρίναιmay he judgeAor Act Opt 3 Sg · κρίνωoptative (precative / judicial appeal to the LORD)→ precative aorist optative (prayer for divine adjudication)κρίνω: 'judge / decide'; the precative optative κρίναι expresses a wish — 'may the LORD judge'; Sarai invokes divine arbitration, which paradoxically is what God will provide — but to Hagar (vv.7–13), not to Sarai. The formula κρίναι κύριος ἀνὰ μέσον X καὶ Y recurs at Gen 31:53; Judg 11:27.

κύριοςthe LORDNominativenominative subject of κρίναι→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'the LORD'; it serves as nominative subject of κρίναι.

ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (ἀνὰ μέσον = 'in the middle / between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ μέσον: 'between'; a distributive prepositional phrase rendering Hebrew בֵּין … וּבֵין; a Hebraism for the position of a judge adjudicating between two parties.

μέσονmiddleAccusativeaccusative (with ἀνά: ἀνὰ μέσον = between)→ object specificationμέσον: meaning 'middle'; it serves as accusative (with ἀνά: ἀνὰ μέσον = between).

ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσον (first party)→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as genitive object of ἀνὰ μέσον (first party).

καὶandconnective (between the two parties)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσον (second party)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀνὰ μέσον (second party).

εἶπεν δὲ Αβραμ πρὸς Σαραν· Ἰδοὺ ἡ παιδίσκη σου ἐν ταῖς χερσίν σου· χρῶ αὐτῇ ὡς ἄν σοι ἀρεστὸν ᾖ. καὶ ἐκάκωσεν αὐτὴν Σαρα, καὶ ἀπέδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς.

And Abram said to Sarai, 'Behold, your maidservant is in your hands; deal with her as seems good to you.' And Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.

Response / narrative consequenceεἶπεν δέ

Abram's reply is a studied non-intervention — he returns Hagar entirely to Sarai's authority (ἐν ταῖς χερσίν σου) and to her discretion (ὡς ἄν σοι ἀρεστὸν ᾖ). The consequences unfold in two rapid aorists: Sarai mistreats (ἐκάκωσεν) and Hagar flees (ἀπέδρα). The flight sets up the theophany of v.7.

Word-by-word analysis· 29 words

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, subject→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject.

ΣαρανSaraiindeclinable proper noun (accusative form), object of πρός→ participant identificationΣαραν: accusative form used after πρός; cf. Σαρας at v.2.

Ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (drawing attention to the following statement)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: cf. v.2; calques הִנֵּה.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativenominative subject (predicate: 'is in your hands')→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: sixth occurrence; Abram deliberately echoes Sarai's own term from v.5, reinforcing Hagar's servile status as the ground of Sarai's authority over her.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your maidservant)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (your maidservant).

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: in your hands = under your authority)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: in your hands = under your authority).

ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χερσίνhandsDativedative of location (idiom: in your hands = in your power)→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; ἐν ταῖς χερσίν σου is a Hebraism of בְּיָדֵךְ, meaning 'in your authority / at your disposal'; Abram transfers responsibility to Sarai completely.

χρῶdeal / usePres Mid Imper 2 Sg · χράομαιmain verb (imperative of permission)→ progressive present imperative (ongoing license to act as she wishes)χράομαι: 'use / deal with / treat'; the present imperative grants ongoing license; renders עֲשִׂי לָהּ ('do to her [what is good in your eyes]'); Abram's response is not protective of Hagar — he grants Sarai full authority.

αὐτῇherDativedative object of χράομαι→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of χράομαι.

ὡςascomparative conjunction (introducing the manner clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: meaning 'as'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἄν[modal particle]modal particle (with subjunctive: indefinite manner)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: meaning '[modal particle]'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

σοιto youDativedative of reference (as seems good to you)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference (as seems good to you).

ἀρεστὸνpleasing / goodNominativepredicate adjective (what seems good)→ participant prominenceἀρεστός: 'pleasing / acceptable / right'; renders Hebrew הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינַיִךְ ('what is good in your eyes'); the idiom of personal moral judgment appears throughout Judges and Kings with negative connotation — each did what was right in his own eyes.

ᾖmay bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίsubjunctive in indefinite manner clause (ὡς ἄν + subj.)→ indefinite / progressive subjunctiveεἰμί: the indefinite manner clause ὡς ἄν σοι ἀρεστὸν ᾖ = 'however it may seem good to you.'

καὶandnarrative conjunction (consequence of Abram's reply)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐκάκωσενtreated harshlyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κακόωmain verb (Sarai's action)→ constative aorist (completed act of mistreatment)κακόω: 'harm / mistreat / afflict'; renders Hebrew וַתְּעַנֶּהָ ('she humbled / afflicted her'); the verb is notably the same root used for Israel's affliction in Egypt (Exod 1:11–12 LXX κακόω); Hagar's suffering foreshadows the oppression of her descendants.

ΣαραSaraiindeclinable proper noun, subject (delayed for emphasis)→ participant identificationΣαρα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject (delayed for emphasis).

καὶandnarrative conjunction (consequence: Hagar's flight)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀπέδραfledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδιδράσκωmain verb (Hagar's flight)→ constative aorist (completed act of flight)ἀποδιδράσκω: 'run away / flee'; renders Hebrew וַתִּבְרַח; the verb denotes escape from a situation of oppression — the same root used for a runaway slave. Hagar will use a cognate form (ἀποδιδράσκω) to describe herself in v.8.

ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (point of departure).

προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: from before her face)→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; ἀπὸ προσώπου is a Hebraism of מִפָּנֶיהָ ('from before her'); the same idiom appears in v.8 (ἀπὸ προσώπου Σαρας), linking Hagar's speech to the narrator's description here.

αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (from Sarai's presence)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (from Sarai's presence).

εὗρεν δὲ αὐτὴν ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπὶ τῆς πηγῆς τοῦ ὕδατος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἐπὶ τῆς πηγῆς ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ Σουρ.

And the angel of the LORD found her by the spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the road to Shur.

Theophanic encounter / new sceneεὗρεν δέ

The ἄγγελος κυρίου appears here for the first time in the LXX — a moment of enormous theological significance. The double prepositional phrase (ἐπὶ τῆς πηγῆς … ἐπὶ τῆς πηγῆς) is emphatic repetition marking the encounter's location as a liminal place — a spring in the wilderness between Canaan and Egypt. Shur (Σουρ) is the desert boundary of Egypt, confirming Hagar is fleeing home.

Word-by-word analysis· 20 words

εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb (the divine finding — not accidental)→ constative aorist (completed act of finding)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; the subject ἄγγελος κυρίου 'found' Hagar — the same verb used of providential encounters throughout the LXX (cf. Ruth 2:3 περιέπεσεν). The divine messenger's finding of the runaway slave is an act of grace.

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle (new scene)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceἄγγελος: 'messenger / angel'; first appearance of the ἄγγελος κυρίου in the LXX. The figure speaks in the first person of God (v.10: 'I will multiply your seed'), prompting the question of whether this is a distinct being or a theophany; the answer has generated centuries of exegesis — from identification with the Logos (Justin Martyr, Dial. 56–60; Philo, De Somn. 1.232) to a created intermediary. The NT identifies the pre-incarnate Christ with this figure (Jude 5; 1 Cor 10:4).

κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source / relationship (angel belonging to / sent by the LORD)→ relational specificationκύριος: genitive with ἄγγελος; the title ἄγγελος κυρίου renders מַלְאַךְ יהוה; the messenger is identified by his sender and speaks with the divine prerogative.

ἐπὶby / atpreposition + genitive (location: at the spring)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location: at the spring).

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πηγῆςspringGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location at the spring)→ relational specificationπηγή: 'spring / source'; renders Hebrew עַיִן ('eye / spring'); the well / spring is the locus of the theophanic encounter and will be named in v.14 as Beer-lahai-roi.

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὕδατοςwaterGenitivegenitive of content (spring of water)→ relational specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; πηγὴ ὕδατος = 'spring of water'; the phrase specifies a flowing source, as opposed to a cistern.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).

τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐρήμῳwilderness / desertDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'desert / uninhabited place'; renders Hebrew מִדְבַּר; the wilderness between Canaan and Egypt is the arena of the theophany — Hagar is between worlds, belonging to neither.

ἐπὶbypreposition + genitive (repeated for emphasis: by the spring on the road)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (repeated for emphasis: by the spring on the road).

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πηγῆςspringGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (second occurrence, emphatic localization)→ relational specificationπηγή: the repeated ἐπὶ τῆς πηγῆς is not redundant but a Hebraizing emphatic localization, pinpointing the site for the later naming in v.14.

ἐνonpreposition + dative (road: location specification)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (road: location specification).

τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁδῷroad / wayDativedative of place (on the road)→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'road / way'; ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ Σουρ = 'on the road to Shur'; the road to Shur (= Egyptian frontier) identifies Hagar's direction of travel: back toward her homeland.

ΣουρShurindeclinable proper noun, genitive of direction (road to Shur)→ participant identificationΣουρ: transliteration of שׁוּר; the desert east of Egypt; Hagar is fleeing homeward. Israel will later cross this same wilderness (Exod 15:22 LXX), creating a typological resonance between Hagar and the Exodus.

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· Αγαρ ἡ παιδίσκη Σαρας, πόθεν ἔρχῃ καὶ ποῦ πορεύῃ; ἡ δὲ εἶπεν· ἀπὸ προσώπου Σαρας τῆς κυρίας μου ἐγὼ ἀποδιδράσκω.

And he said to her, 'Hagar, maidservant of Sarai, where do you come from and where are you going?' And she said, 'I am fleeing from the presence of Sarai my mistress.'

Dialogue / interrogationκαί

The angel's double question (πόθεν … ποῦ;) — whence and whither — is a standard theophanic interrogation formula (cf. 1 Kgs 19:9, 13 LXX to Elijah: τί σύ ἐνταῦθα;). The address Αγαρ ἡ παιδίσκη Σαρας simultaneously names and defines her identity in her slave-status; Hagar's answer addresses only the first question ('whence') — a significant half-silence that the angel does not press.

Word-by-word analysis· 23 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction, subject = angel)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

αὐτῇto herDativedative indirect object (recipient of speech)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'to her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (recipient of speech).

ΑγαρHagarindeclinable proper noun, vocative-function address→ participant identificationΑγαρ: the angel addresses Hagar by name — a sign of divine knowledge and personal attention; the messenger knows who she is before she speaks.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativenominative appositive to Αγαρ (identifying her as Sarai's slave)→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: the title used throughout by Sarai (vv.1–6) is now used by the angel — he accepts the social reality of Hagar's status even as he addresses her with grace.

Σαραςof SaraiGenitiveindeclinable proper noun (genitive form), genitive of relationship→ participant identificationΣαρας: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun (genitive form), genitive of relationship.

πόθενfrom whereinterrogative adverb (source / origin)→ clausal contributionπόθεν: 'from where / whence'; the first of the angel's two questions; cf. the theophanic double-question to Elijah at 1 Kgs 19:9 LXX.

ἔρχῃare you comingPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb in interrogative clause→ progressive present (ongoing journey)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the present tense asks about her current state of travel.

καὶandconnective (joining the two questions)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (destination)→ clausal contributionποῦ: 'where / to where'; the second question, about destination — which Hagar does not answer, suggesting she has not resolved where she is going.

πορεύῃare you goingPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb in second interrogative clause→ progressive present (ongoing travel)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel / proceed'; distinguished from ἔρχομαι here by direction: ἔρχῃ = coming from, πορεύῃ = going to.

ἡsheNominativearticle used as pronoun (subject of response)→ noun-phrase markingἡ δέ: the Attic/LXX construction using the article as a demonstrative pronoun for a new speaker in dialogue.

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle (speaker change)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Hagar's reply)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure / cause of flight)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (point of departure / cause of flight).

προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism: from before her face)→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: ἀπὸ προσώπου Σαρας echoes the narrator's phrase ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς at v.6, confirming this as the continuation of the flight described there.

Σαραςof SaraiGenitiveindeclinable proper noun (genitive), genitive of source→ participant identificationΣαρας: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun (genitive), genitive of source.

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κυρίαςmistressGenitivegenitive appositive to Σαρας (identifying her mistress)→ relational specificationκυρία: cf. v.4; Hagar herself uses the title κυρία — she acknowledges Sarai's authority even in the act of fleeing, and Sarai's ownership is the very thing she is trying to escape.

ἐγὼINominativeemphatic nominative pronoun (subject of ἀποδιδράσκω)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic; Hagar identifies herself as the agent of the flight she confesses, taking ownership of her action.

ἀποδιδράσκωI am fleeingPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποδιδράσκωmain verb (confession of flight)→ progressive present (ongoing act of fleeing)ἀποδιδράσκω: cf. v.6 (ἀπέδρα); Hagar uses the same root the narrator used to describe her flight — she owns the label. The present tense makes the flight an ongoing state rather than a past event, suggesting she is still in mid-flight.

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου· Ἀποστράφηθι πρὸς τὴν κυρίαν σου καὶ ταπεινώθητι ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς.

And the angel of the LORD said to her, 'Return to your mistress and submit yourself under her hands.'

Divine commandεἶπεν δέ

Two imperatives — ἀποστράφηθι (return) and ταπεινώθητι (submit / humble yourself) — constitute the angel's command. The second is the most theologically charged: ταπεινόω renders the same root (עָנָה, 'to humble / afflict') whose noun form (ταπείνωσις) appears in v.11 as the ground of the naming of Ishmael. The command reverses the dynamic of v.6: Sarai's affliction will become the platform for divine deliverance.

Word-by-word analysis· 17 words

δὲandpostpositive continuative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

αὐτῇto herDativedative indirect object (recipient: Hagar)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'to her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (recipient: Hagar).

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄγγελοςangelNominativenominative subject (with κυρίου: the angel of the LORD)→ participant prominenceἄγγελος: cf. v.7; ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου (with the article) marks the same figure now re-identified in the narrative.

κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (angel of the LORD)→ relational specificationκυρίου: meaning 'of the LORD'; it serves as genitive of relationship (angel of the LORD).

Ἀποστράφηθιreturn / turn backAor Pass Imper 2 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (imperative command: return to your mistress)→ ingressive aorist imperative (begin the return)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the passive-form imperative ἀποστράφηθι renders Hebrew שׁוּבִי ('return!'); the reversal of Hagar's flight is commanded — but the command comes with a promise (vv.10–12), transforming it from mere restitution of servitude into a mission.

πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction / recipient)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction / recipient).

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κυρίανmistressAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationκυρία: cf. vv.4, 8; the angel uses the same social title as Hagar herself used in v.8 (τῆς κυρίας μου), accepting the reality of the social order while moving within it.

καὶandconnective (joining the two imperatives)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ταπεινώθητιhumble yourself / submitAor Pass Imper 2 Sg · ταπεινόωmain verb (second imperative: submission to authority)→ constative aorist imperative (submit, accept the position)ταπεινόω: 'humble / lower / afflict'; renders Hebrew וְהִתְעַנִּי ('humble yourself / allow yourself to be afflicted'); the same root עָנָה whose noun form ταπείνωσις appears in v.11 as the ground of the name Ishmael: 'the LORD heard your ταπείνωσιν.' The command to submit to affliction becomes the very affliction that God hears. The verb is theologically significant in the NT: ταπεινόω is the verb of the kenosis hymn (Phil 2:8, ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτόν).

ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (subordination: under her hands)→ spatial or relational framingὑπὸ: meaning 'under'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (subordination: under her hands).

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπό (under her authority)→ object specificationχείρ: cf. ἐν ταῖς χερσίν σου at v.6, where Abram placed Hagar ἐν ταῖς χερσίν of Sarai; now the angel echoes that phrase — ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς — and commands Hagar to accept it. The authority she fled is the authority she is told to re-enter.

αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (Sarai's hands)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Sarai's hands).

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου· Πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὸ σπέρμα σου, καὶ οὐκ ἀριθμηθήσεται ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους.

And the angel of the LORD said to her, 'Multiplying I will multiply your seed, and it shall not be numbered for multitude.'

Divine promise / oracleκαί

The promise of innumerable descendants (Πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὸ σπέρμα σου) is structurally the Abrahamic multiplication promise (cf. 13:16; 15:5; 22:17) extended to Hagar — a slave woman — by the ἄγγελος κυρίου speaking in divine first person. The cognate-participle Hebraism (πληθύνων πληθυνῶ) marks this as a formal promise speech. The promise that the seed 'shall not be numbered' is verbally parallel to 13:16 (οὐ δυνήσεται ἀριθμηθῆναι).

Word-by-word analysis· 17 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction (continuing the divine speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introducing the promise speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

αὐτῇto herDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'to her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄγγελοςangelNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceἄγγελος: meaning 'angel'; it serves as nominative subject.

κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationκυρίου: meaning 'of the LORD'; it serves as genitive of relationship.

ΠληθύνωνmultiplyingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · πληθύνωnominative participle (cognate-participle Hebraism: intensifying the main verb)→ progressive participle (continuous multiplication)πληθύνω: 'multiply / increase'; the cognate-participle construction Πληθύνων πληθυνῶ calques the Hebrew infinitive absolute + finite verb construction רַבָּה אַרְבֶּה — a Hebraism for intensifying emphasis ('I will most certainly multiply'). The identical formula appears at 22:17 for the Abrahamic promise. The promise to Hagar thus mirrors and parallels the promise to Abraham, a theological equivalence Paul will exploit in Gal 4.

πληθυνῶI will multiplyFut Act Indic 1 Sg · πληθύνωmain verb (divine promise, first person of the angel = divine first person)→ predictive future (certain promise)πληθύνω: the future first person (πληθυνῶ) with the cognate participle constitutes the formal promise speech; the angel speaks in the divine first person — 'I will multiply' — confirming that the ἄγγελος κυρίου is the divine presence itself.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

σπέρμαseed / offspringAccusativeaccusative direct object (what will be multiplied)→ object specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / offspring / descendants'; renders Hebrew זַרְעֵךְ; the Abrahamic seed-promise vocabulary is deliberately applied here to Hagar's son — a theological statement that Ishmael's descendants too are within the sphere of God's covenantal attention, even if Isaac is the covenant heir.

καὶandconnective (expanding the promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οὐκnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.

ἀριθμηθήσεταιwill be numbered / countedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀριθμέωmain verb (passive: the seed will be innumerable)→ predictive future passiveἀριθμέω: 'count / number'; the fut. pass. 'shall not be counted' is the standard LXX formula for innumerability (cf. 13:16; 15:5); the negative promise is rhetorical superlative — so many they cannot be counted.

ἀπὸbecause of / forpreposition + genitive (cause / measure: 'on account of its multitude')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'because of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (cause / measure: 'on account of its multitude').

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πλήθουςmultitude / abundanceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (cause of uncountability)→ relational specificationπλῆθος: 'multitude / great number'; ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους = 'because of the multitude' — the seed will be so vast it cannot be numbered. The cognate πληθύνω / πλῆθος in one verse creates an internal wordplay: the multiplication (πληθύνω) produces such a multitude (πλῆθος) that counting fails.

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου· Ἰδοὺ σὺ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχεις καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισμαηλ, ὅτι ἐπήκουσεν κύριος τῇ ταπεινώσει σου.

And the angel of the LORD said to her, 'Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son, and you shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your humiliation.'

Naming oracleκαί

The announcement of Ishmael's birth follows the standard annunciation pattern (ἰδοὺ + pregnancy statement + gender + name + etymology): cf. the angelic announcements to Samson's mother (Judg 13:3–5 LXX), to Mary (Luke 1:31). The etymological gloss ὅτι ἐπήκουσεν κύριος τῇ ταπεινώσει σου makes explicit what the name Ισμαηλ encodes: שָׁמַע אֵל = 'God has heard.' ταπείνωσις (v.9's ταπεινώθητι) is now named as the very thing the LORD heard.

Word-by-word analysis· 26 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄγγελοςangelNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceἄγγελος: meaning 'angel'; it serves as nominative subject.

κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationκυρίου: meaning 'of the LORD'; it serves as genitive of relationship.

Ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (annunciation formula opener)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: cf. vv.2, 6; here it opens the formal birth-announcement oracle.

σὺyouNominativeemphatic nominative pronoun (subject: Hagar specifically)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic pronoun; the annunciation is personal and direct — 'you yourself are pregnant.' The σύ echoes and anticipates Hagar's address to God at v.13: Σύ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐπιδών με — a verbal rhyme binding divine address and human response.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (pregnancy idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (pregnancy idiom).

γαστρὶwombDativedative of location (ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχεις = you are pregnant)→ sphere or referenceγαστήρ: cf. vv.4, 5; the formula now on the angel's lips confirms what Hagar already knew and fled from.

ἔχειςyou havePres Act Indic 2 Sg · ἔχωmain verb (present state of pregnancy)→ progressive presentἔχω: 'have / hold / possess'; 'as you have it today' — the Transjordan conquest (chs. 2–3) is the down-payment guaranteeing the fuller possession to come.

καὶandconnective (to the birth prediction)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τέξῃyou will bearFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (predictive: future birth)→ predictive futureτίκτω: cf. vv.1, 2, 15, 16; the same verb whose denial (οὐκ ἔτικτεν, v.1) opened the chapter now appears as promise — Hagar will bear what Sarai could not.

υἱόνa sonAccusativeaccusative direct object (object of τέξῃ)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the gender specification in the annunciation is the standard form; cf. the annunciation at Judg 13:3; Luke 1:31.

καὶandconnective (to the naming command)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

καλέσειςyou shall callFut Act Indic 2 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming command in future form)→ volitive future (command expressed as future indicative)καλέω: 'call / name'; the naming of a child in an annunciation is a divine prerogative delegated to the parent; cf. 17:19 (Isaac), Luke 1:13 (John), Luke 1:31 (Jesus).

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομαnameAccusativeaccusative direct object (the name to be given)→ object specificationὄνομα: cf. v.1 (ᾗ ὄνομα Αγαρ); naming scenes frame the chapter — Hagar was introduced by name in v.1, the child is named in v.11, and God is named in v.13.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.

ΙσμαηλIshmaelindeclinable proper noun, predicate of naming→ participant identificationΙσμαηλ: transliteration of יִשְׁמָעֵאל = 'God hears / God has heard' (from שָׁמַע + אֵל); the name encodes the divine act explained in the following ὅτι-clause. In Gal 4:22–23 Paul names Ισμαηλ as the son of the παιδίσκη, 'born according to the flesh,' over against Isaac, 'born according to the Spirit' (κατὰ πνεῦμα).

ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (etymological explanation of the name)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: causal — the name is given because of the following divine act; this is the standard onomastic-etiology formula in Genesis name-giving scenes.

ἐπήκουσενhas heard / listenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπακούωmain verb (etiology: explaining the name Ishmael)→ constative aorist (completed act of divine hearing)ἐπακούω: 'hear / listen attentively'; renders שָׁמַע (the verbal element of the name יִשְׁמָעֵאל); the aorist marks the divine hearing as already accomplished — God heard Hagar's affliction before the child was even born.

κύριοςthe LORDNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'the LORD'; it serves as nominative subject.

τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ταπεινώσειhumiliation / afflictionDativedative object of ἐπακούω (heard to / responded to your humiliation)→ sphere or referenceταπείνωσις: 'lowliness / humiliation / affliction'; renders Hebrew עָנְיֵךְ ('your affliction'); a dative of reference or indirect object after ἐπακούω. The root ταπειν- connects this verse to the ταπεινώθητι command of v.9 — the very submission the angel commanded has already been heard by God as affliction calling for response.

οὗτος ἔσται ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος· αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντας, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες πάντων ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν· καὶ κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ κατοικήσει.

This one will be a wild man; his hands against all, and the hands of all against him; and he will dwell over against all his brothers.

Prophetic character portraitοὗτος

The oracle about Ishmael shifts to a third-person prophetic portrait using the demonstrative οὗτος ('this one'). Three parallel clauses describe a life of perpetual conflict: the ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος is hostile to all, all are hostile to him, and yet he 'dwells over against all his brothers' — a position of independent, combative presence rather than annihilation. The LXX's rendering of פֶּרֶא אָדָם ('wild-ass of a man') as ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος softens the animal image into a social one.

Word-by-word analysis· 23 words

οὗτοςthis oneNominativedemonstrative pronoun, subject (referring to the unborn Ishmael)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this one'; the demonstrative picks up the previously named υἱόν and individualizes the oracle — the prophecy is about this specific child.

ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predictive: characterizing the future man)→ predictive futureεἰμί: the future copula introduces the character oracle.

ἄγροικοςwild / rusticNominativepredicate adjective (characterizing Ishmael)→ participant prominenceἄγροικος: 'of the field / rustic / wild / boorish'; from ἀγρός ('field') + οἶκος ('house') — 'one whose home is the open field'; renders Hebrew פֶּרֶא ('wild donkey'), but the LXX replaces the animal metaphor with a social description: a man who lives outside civilization. The word can denote both geographic wildness and social coarseness.

ἄνθρωποςmanNominativepredicate nominative (ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος = a wild man)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'human being / man'; the compound phrase ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος renders Hebrew פֶּרֶא אָדָם ('wild-ass of a man'): the LXX translators chose to interpret rather than transliterate the animal comparison, producing a social characterization rather than a zoological one — a significant interpretive choice.

αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χεῖρεςhandsNominativenominative subject (his hands against all)→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντας = 'his hands against everyone' — a Hebraism for hostility and conflict; the χεῖρες motif echoes ταῖς χερσίν σου (v.6) and χεῖρας αὐτῆς (v.9), now in an entirely different register: the slave woman's child will be beyond anyone's authority.

ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostility: against all)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: hostile direction ('against'); the same preposition is reversed in the next clause (αἱ χεῖρες πάντων ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν) to express the counter-hostility — a chiastic reversal.

πάνταςall / everyoneAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationπάντας: meaning 'all'; it serves as accusative object of ἐπί.

καὶandconnective (chiastic counterpart)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χεῖρεςhandsNominativenominative subject (counter-clause: all's hands against him)→ participant prominenceχεῖρες: meaning 'hands'; it serves as nominative subject (counter-clause: all's hands against him).

πάντωνof allGenitivegenitive of possession (hands of all)→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'of all'; it serves as genitive of possession (hands of all).

ἐπ᾽againstpreposition + accusative (hostility reversed)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾽: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostility reversed).

αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾽→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπ᾽.

καὶandconnective (final clause of the portrait)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

κατὰover against / beforepreposition + accusative (position: facing / in front of)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'facing / before / over against'; κατὰ πρόσωπον = 'before the face of / in the presence of' — renders Hebrew עַל-פְּנֵי ('over the face of'); the phrase denotes Ishmael's dwelling as conspicuously present among his brothers, not hidden.

πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (κατὰ πρόσωπον = over against the face of)→ object specificationπρόσωπον: cf. vv.6, 8; the πρόσωπον motif (facing, fleeing from the face, looking upon) continues through the chapter into v.13 (ἐπιδών = 'the God who looked upon').

πάντωνof allGenitivegenitive object of κατὰ πρόσωπον→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'of all'; it serves as genitive object of κατὰ πρόσωπον.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive (Ishmael's brothers — including Isaac's line)→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; Ishmael's brothers include Isaac (Gen 25:9, where they bury Abraham together) and the sons of Keturah; the oracle describes perpetual proximity-in-conflict rather than separation.

κατοικήσειwill dwellFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικέωmain verb (predictive: place of dwelling)→ predictive futureκατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; renders Hebrew יִשְׁכֹּן; the promise is of an enduring, geographically distinct existence for Ishmael's line — not destruction but persistent, independent presence.

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αγαρ τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου τοῦ λαλοῦντος πρὸς αὐτήν· Σύ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐπιδών με· ὅτι εἶπεν· Καὶ γὰρ ἐνώπιον εἶδον ὀπίσω τοῦ ὁρῶντός με.

And Hagar called the name of the LORD who had spoken to her, 'You are the God who looked upon me'; for she said, 'For here I have seen face to face the one who appeared to me.'

Theophanic naming / responseκαί

Hagar names God — a unique act in the Pentateuch: a woman, a slave, a foreigner, gives God a name. Σύ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐπιδών με reverses the σύ of v.11 — where the angel addressed Hagar ('you have conceived'), Hagar now addresses God ('you are the God'). The explanatory ὅτι-clause (ἐνώπιον εἶδον ὀπίσω τοῦ ὁρῶντός με) is the LXX's interpretive rendering of the phrase behind Beer-lahai-roi: the well of 'the living one who sees me.'

Word-by-word analysis· 26 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming act: Hagar names God)→ constative aoristκαλέω: the naming verb; Hagar performs the act of naming God just as in v.11 the angel commanded her to name her son — parallel naming events frame the encounter.

ΑγαρHagarindeclinable proper noun, subject→ participant identificationΑγαρ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομαnameAccusativeaccusative direct object (naming the name of the LORD)→ object specificationὄνομα: cf. v.1 and v.11; the naming of God by Hagar uses the same formula as the naming of the child — a deliberate structural parallel: the God who named himself through the promise is now named in return by the recipient.

κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (whose name she called)→ relational specificationκύριος: the LORD whose name Hagar is giving a new expression: Σύ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐπιδών με.

τοῦthe oneGenitivearticle with participle (attributive: the LORD who spoke)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

λαλοῦντοςspeakingPres Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · λαλέωattributive participle (describing the LORD: the one speaking to her)→ progressive participle (the speaking that just occurred)λαλέω: 'speak'; the attributive participle identifies the LORD by his theophanic activity — he is the one who spoke.

αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.

ΣύYouNominativeemphatic nominative pronoun (subject of the divine address: 'You are …')→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun opens Hagar's name for God, as the angel's Ἰδοὺ σύ opened the birth announcement to Hagar at v.11; the verbal echo binds the two addresses. 'You are the God' — Hagar makes a confessional claim about divine identity.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (Σύ … ὁ θεὸς = 'You are … God')→ participant prominenceθεός: the divine name with the article marks a specific divine identity-claim; Hagar identifies the θεός she encountered as the one who looked upon her.

ὁthe oneNominativearticle with participle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐπιδώνwho looked uponAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἐπιοράωattributive participle (defining God by his act of seeing Hagar)→ constative aorist participle (God's completed act of looking upon her)ἐπιοράω: 'look upon / look down upon / regard'; renders Hebrew רָאָה ('see / look upon'); the compound ἐπι- adds the nuance of divine attention from above or upon. The same root recurs in the ὁρῶντός με of the following clause, creating a wordplay. The name Σύ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐπιδών με ('You are the God who looked upon me') is Hagar's confession that she has been seen by God — a profound statement of divine care for the marginalized.

μεmeAccusativeaccusative direct object of ἐπιδών→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object of ἐπιδών.

ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (explaining the naming)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἶπενshe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introducing Hagar's explanatory speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.

Καὶforparticle (καὶ γάρ = 'for indeed / for even')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: intensive with γάρ in the combination καὶ γάρ ('for indeed / for truly'); marks the following as the grounds of her confession.

γὰρindeedpostpositive explanatory particle→ discourse linkage or contrastγὰρ: meaning 'indeed'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐνώπιονface to face / beforeadverb / preposition (face to face: here as an adverb of manner)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in front of / face to face'; renders Hebrew הֲלֹם ('here'); but the LXX appears to be rendering the name Beer-lahai-roi's second element — לַחַי ('the living one') or רֹאִי ('my seeing') — in an interpretive paraphrase. The phrase ἐνώπιον εἶδον ('I saw face to face') is the LXX's attempt to render the enigmatic Hebrew idiom 'a well of the living one who sees me.'

εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (Hagar's confession of seeing God)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; the mutual seeing — God looked upon Hagar (ἐπιδών, v.13a) and Hagar saw God (εἶδον) — is a two-directional vision: theophany is encounter, not mere observation.

ὀπίσωafter / behindpreposition + genitive (here: 'behind / after the one seeing me')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; the phrase ὀπίσω τοῦ ὁρῶντός με is difficult — perhaps 'after / in the wake of the one who saw me'; the LXX's interpretive rendering of the well-name produces a theologically rich but grammatically unusual clause.

τοῦthe oneGenitivearticle with participle (substantival)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁρῶντόςwho seesPres Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · ὁράωsubstantival participle (the seeing one = God who sees her)→ progressive participle (ongoing divine seeing)ὁράω: cf. ἐπιδών above; the wordplay on seeing — ἐπιδών (v.13a) / εἶδον / ὁρῶντος — binds the confession together: God looked upon Hagar, Hagar saw God, and God is the ongoing seer. This mutual visibility is the theological heart of the Beer-lahai-roi naming.

μεmeAccusativeaccusative direct object of ὁρῶντος→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object of ὁρῶντος.

ἕνεκεν τούτου ἐκάλεσεν τὸ φρέαρ, Φρέαρ οὗ ἐνώπιον εἶδον· ἰδοὺ ἀνὰ μέσον Καδης καὶ Βαραδ.

Therefore she called the well, 'The well of him whom I saw face to face'; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

Aetiological conclusion (place-name explanation)ἕνεκεν τούτου

ἕνεκεν τούτου ('for this reason / therefore') is the standard LXX aetiological formula introducing a place-name explanation: because of this theological encounter, the place is named. The well-name Φρέαρ οὗ ἐνώπιον εἶδον is the LXX's interpretive rendering of Beer-lahai-roi ('well of the living one who sees me'). The geographical note (ἀνὰ μέσον Καδης καὶ Βαραδ) anchors the sacred encounter in verifiable geography.

Word-by-word analysis· 15 words

ἕνεκενtherefore / for the sake ofcausal preposition (ἕνεκεν τούτου = 'for this reason')→ spatial or relational framingἕνεκεν: 'because of / for the sake of'; renders Hebrew עַל-כֵּן ('therefore / on account of this'); the standard introductory formula for an aetiological explanation in Genesis.

τούτουthisGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκεν (referring to the theophanic encounter)→ relational specificationτούτου: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἕνεκεν (referring to the theophanic encounter).

ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming the well)→ constative aoristκαλέω: the same verb as v.13 (Hagar naming God) — now she names the well; both namings flow from the same encounter.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

φρέαρwellAccusativeaccusative direct object (what is being named)→ object specificationφρέαρ: 'well / cistern'; renders Hebrew בְּאֵר ('well / spring'); the well is a theophanic site — a place of encounter with the divine — and will be identified by the name it receives from this encounter.

ΦρέαρWellindeclinable place-name (predicate of naming: 'The Well of …')→ participant identificationΦρέαρ οὗ ἐνώπιον εἶδον: 'The well of him whom I saw face to face'; the LXX's interpretive translation of Beer-lahai-roi (בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי = 'well of the living one who sees me'). The LXX renders the difficult Hebrew name with an appeal to the Hagar-is-seen motif from v.13 (ἐπιδών με / εἶδον), making the well-name a memorial of the mutual seeing.

οὗof whom / whereGenitivegenitive relative pronoun (the one seen: 'the well of him whom')→ relational specificationοὗ: meaning 'of whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive relative pronoun (the one seen: 'the well of him whom').

ἐνώπιονface to faceadverb (manner: face to face / before)→ clausal contributionἐνώπιον: cf. v.13; the adverb is repeated from Hagar's confession — the well-name encodes the very language she used to describe her encounter.

εἶδονI sawAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωrelative clause verb (what happened at this well: 'I saw')→ constative aoristὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see / perceive'; Saul appeals to what he observed as the ground of his action.

ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (introducing the geographical note)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: shifts from naming to geographical specification — 'look, it is between Kadesh and Bered'; calques Hebrew הִנֵּה.

ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (ἀνὰ μέσον = 'between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ μέσον: cf. v.5 (the same phrase used for judicial arbitration); here purely geographical: 'between Kadesh and Bered.'

μέσονmiddleAccusativeaccusative with ἀνά→ object specificationμέσον: meaning 'middle'; it serves as accusative with ἀνά.

ΚαδηςKadeshindeclinable proper noun, first geographical boundary→ participant identificationΚαδης: transliteration of קָדֵשׁ; the wilderness settlement at the northeastern edge of the Sinai; a location of Israelite history (Num 13:26; 20:1) that Paul in Gal 4:25 links to 'the present Jerusalem' through the Sinai-Hagar typology.

καὶandconnective (between the two geographical markers)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ΒαραδBeredindeclinable proper noun, second geographical boundary→ participant identificationΒαραδ: transliteration of בָּרֶד; a place in the Negev / Sinai wilderness; the precise location is unknown, but the two landmarks define the area as the border region between Canaan and Egypt.

Καὶ ἔτεκεν Αγαρ τῷ Αβραμ υἱόν, καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αβραμ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὃν ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ Αγαρ, Ισμαηλ.

And Hagar bore to Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore to him, Ishmael.

Narrative fulfillmentΚαί

The birth and naming are narrated in plain paratactic style — the angel's annunciation (v.11) is fulfilled exactly. The relative clause ὃν ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ Αγαρ is inserted to make explicit that Hagar is the mother of the named child, forestalling any ambiguity. The chapter's opening negative (οὐκ ἔτικτεν, v.1) is now reversed: Αγαρ ἔτεκεν.

Word-by-word analysis· 19 words

Καὶandnarrative conjunction (fulfillment sequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastΚαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth: the chapter's anticipated event)→ constative aorist (completed birth)τίκτω: cf. vv.1, 2, 11; the verb that was negated in v.1 (Σαρα οὐκ ἔτικτεν) is now used positively of Hagar — the narrative reversal is complete. The same verb in the same aorist form appears in v.16.

ΑγαρHagarindeclinable proper noun, subject→ participant identificationΑγαρ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject.

τῷtoDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, dative of advantage (bore to Abram)→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, dative of advantage (bore to Abram).

υἱόνa sonAccusativeaccusative direct object (what was born)→ object specificationυἱός: the fulfillment of the angel's prediction υἱόν at v.11; the gender matches the oracle exactly.

καὶandnarrative conjunction (naming follows birth)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming: Abram obeys the angel's command of v.11)→ constative aoristκαλέω: cf. vv.11, 13, 14; Abram names the child as the angel commanded Hagar (καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισμαηλ, v.11); the naming shows that Hagar relayed the annunciation to Abram.

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, subject of ἐκάλεσεν→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject of ἐκάλεσεν.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομαnameAccusativeaccusative direct object (the name being given)→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as accusative direct object (the name being given).

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive of possession (his son's name)→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive of possession (his son's name).

ὃνwhomAccusativeaccusative relative pronoun (antecedent: τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ)→ participant referenceὃν: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative relative pronoun (antecedent: τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ).

ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωverb in relative clause (clarifying Hagar as mother)→ constative aoristτίκτω: repeated in the relative clause for clarity — though Abram names the child, the narrator ensures the reader knows Hagar bore him.

αὐτῷto himDativedative of advantage (bore to him = Abram)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (bore to him = Abram).

ΑγαρHagarindeclinable proper noun, subject of ἔτεκεν in relative clause→ participant identificationΑγαρ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject of ἔτεκεν in relative clause.

ΙσμαηλIshmaelindeclinable proper noun, predicate of naming (the name given)→ participant identificationΙσμαηλ: cf. v.11; the angel's command is fulfilled exactly — the child receives the name given by God, establishing Ishmael as a figure within God's providential plan even outside the Abrahamic covenant-heir line.

Αβραμ δὲ ἦν ὀγδοήκοντα ἓξ ἐτῶν, ὅτε ἔτεκεν Αγαρ τὸν Ισμαηλ τῷ Αβραμ.

Now Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Chronological close / framework notationδέ

The chronological note mirrors the age-notation style of the patriarchal framework (cf. 12:4; 17:1; 25:7). Abram is eighty-six at Ishmael's birth; the next chapter will find him at ninety-nine (17:1) — thirteen years later — when God renews the covenant and promises Isaac. The chapter closes as it opened (Σαρα … Αβραμ / Αβραμ … Αγαρ … Αβραμ), with Abram framing both the problem (barrenness) and its resolution (Ishmael's birth).

Word-by-word analysis· 13 words

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, subject (topic position, emphatic)→ participant identificationΑβραμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, subject (topic position, emphatic).

δὲnowpostpositive continuative particle (transitional to the closing note)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (Abram's age at the time of birth)→ imperfect of state (his age at that point in time)εἰμί: the imperfect ἦν marks a contemporaneous state ('was [this age] when …'); the construction ἦν + genitive of age is the standard patriarchal chronological formula.

ὀγδοήκονταeightycardinal numeral (indeclinable, with ἓξ: eighty-six)→ measure or countὀγδοήκοντα: 'eighty'; indeclinable; from ὀκτώ ('eight') + -κοντα (decades suffix).

ἓξsixcardinal numeral (indeclinable, completing the compound: eighty-six)→ clausal contributionἕξ: 'six'; indeclinable. The specific age — eighty-six — links the birth of Ishmael to the patriarchal chronology: Abram was seventy-five when he left Haran (12:4), so ten years elapsed in Canaan (v.3), confirming the internal consistency of the LXX timeline. Thirteen more years will pass before the covenant of circumcision at ninety-nine (17:1).

ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of measure (genitive of age: 'of years' = years old)→ relational specificationἔτος: 'year'; the genitive of measure after the numeral is the standard LXX age-notation formula (cf. 12:4; 17:1; 21:5); 'of eighty-six years' = 'eighty-six years old.'

ὅτεwhentemporal conjunction (introducing the temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτε: 'when'; introduces the temporal clause fixing the age at the birth event.

ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb in temporal clause (the birth event that fixes the age)→ constative aoristτίκτω: fourth and final occurrence of the verb in this chapter (vv.1, 11, 15, 16); the narrative arc runs from 'Sarai did not bear' (v.1) to 'Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram' (v.16) — the chapter's plot is complete.

ΑγαρHagarindeclinable proper noun, subject of ἔτεκεν→ participant identificationΑγαρ: the final naming of Hagar in the chapter — her identity as mother is the last statement made.

τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισμαηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΙσμαηλIshmaelindeclinable proper noun, accusative direct object (the child born)→ participant identificationΙσμαηλ: the chapter closes with the name given by God (v.11), confirmed by Abram (v.15), and now fixed in the chronological record — Ishmael, 'God has heard,' is the enduring memorial of the ἄγγελος κυρίου's encounter with Hagar in the wilderness.

τῷtoDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΑβραμAbramindeclinable proper noun, dative of advantage (bore to Abram)→ participant identificationΑβραμ: the chapter ends with Abram's name — the patriarch who began the chapter with his barren wife and ends it as the father of Ishmael, aged eighty-six, awaiting the covenant of Isaac thirteen years hence.

The Book of Genesis, Chapter 16ΓΕΝΕΣΙΣ ΙϚ′

Theme

Translation & textual notes