Hagar in the Wilderness

The words

1. Archer

   Genesis follows Hagar’s son beyond the well: God is with him as he grows, lives in the wilderness and becomes an archer.

   Genesis 21:20 (opens a new tab)

2. Beersheba

   After Abraham sends Hagar away with bread and water, she wanders in the wilderness of Beersheba until the water is gone.

   Did you know?

   Later in the same chapter, Abraham names Beersheba in connection with the oath sworn there by him and Abimelech.

   Genesis 21:14–15 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 21:31 (opens a new tab)

3. Bondwoman

   An enslaved woman; the NET Bible uses slave woman.

   Sarah calls Hagar the bondwoman when demanding that she and her son be sent away, saying he must not share Isaac’s inheritance.

   Genesis 21:10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 21:9-16 (opens a new tab)

4. Bottle

   A skin container for water, as the NET Bible renders it.

   Abraham gives Hagar a bottle of water; when it is empty, she later refills it at the well and gives her son a drink.

   Did you know?

   Joshua also uses the KJV word bottles for wine containers described as old, torn and bound up.

   Genesis 21:14–15 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 21:19 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 21:9-16 (opens a new tab) · Joshua 9:4 (opens a new tab)

5. Bowshot

   About the distance an arrow can be shot.

   Hagar sits about a bowshot away from her son and weeps, saying she does not want to see the child die.

   Genesis 21:16 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 21:16 (opens a new tab)

6. Egyptian

   Sarah sees the son of Hagar the Egyptian at Isaac’s feast; Genesis had earlier introduced Hagar as Sarai’s Egyptian handmaid.

   Did you know?

   Egypt appears again at the close of this account: Ishmael’s mother finds him a wife from the land of Egypt.

   Genesis 21:9 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 16:1 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 21:21 (opens a new tab)

7. Filled

   After God opens Hagar’s eyes to the well, she fills the bottle with water and gives her son a drink.

   Genesis 21:19 (opens a new tab)

8. Hagar

   Hagar is sent away with her son; when their water runs out, the angel calls her by name and tells her not to fear.

   Genesis 21:14–15 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 21:17 (opens a new tab)

9. Ishmael

   Genesis earlier names Hagar’s son Ishmael; the wilderness account calls him the lad and says God hears his voice.

   Did you know?

   Genesis later lists Ishmael’s sons by name and describes them as twelve princes, carrying his family’s story beyond the wilderness rescue.

   Genesis 16:15 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 21:17 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 25:12–16 (opens a new tab)

10. Mocking

    The KJV says Sarah sees Hagar’s son mocking. The NET note leaves the exact action uncertain; Sarah demands that mother and son leave.

    Genesis 21:9–10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 21:9-16 (opens a new tab)

11. Paran

    After the rescue, Ishmael grows up as an archer and lives in the wilderness of Paran, where the account follows his later life.

    Did you know?

    Paran appears again in Numbers, when the Israelites leave the wilderness of Sinai and the cloud comes to rest in Paran.

    Genesis 21:20–21 (opens a new tab) · Numbers 10:11–12 (opens a new tab)

12. Shrubs

    When the water is gone, Hagar places her son under one of the shrubs before moving away and weeping.

    Genesis 21:15–16 (opens a new tab)

13. Wandered

    Hagar wanders in the wilderness of Beersheba after Abraham sends her away; the next verse says the water in her bottle is spent.

    Genesis 21:14–15 (opens a new tab)

14. Weaned

    No longer fed at the breast.

    Abraham holds a great feast on the day Isaac is weaned; Sarah’s demand concerning Hagar and her son follows this celebration.

    Genesis 21:8–10 (opens a new tab) · Webster’s 1828: wean (opens a new tab)

15. Well of Water

    God opens Hagar’s eyes and she sees a well, providing the water she gives her son after their supply has run out.

    Genesis 21:15 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 21:19 (opens a new tab)