Hagar
Gentile Egyptian · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Also called
- Agar
- Name means
- Flight; stranger (commonly given)
- Role
- Egyptian handmaid of Sarah; mother of Ishmael
- When
- c. 2000 BC (traditional)
What they did
Given to Abram by Sarai to bear a child. When she fled into the wilderness, the angel of the LORD met her, and she called Him 'Thou God seest me'. Later God heard her son's cry and opened her eyes to a well.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
God's care for an Egyptian slave woman shows that He sees and hears the outcast of every nation. Paul uses her story as an allegory of the two covenants (Galatians 4:24-25).
And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Genesis 16:13 (KJV)
Bible references
Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. Genesis 16:1 (KJV)
And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Genesis 16:13 (KJV)
And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. Genesis 21:17-19 (KJV)
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. Galatians 4:24-25 (KJV)
Family
- Spouse(s)
- Abraham
- Children
- Ishmael
Took an Egyptian wife for Ishmael (Genesis 21:21).