Genesis 21:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Hagar moves away from Ishmael and weeps, unable to witness her son's death.
The Context of Genesis 21:16
Hagar grieves at the edge of despair.
What Does Genesis 21:16 Mean?
Hagar distances herself from her child, yet keeps him in sight—a bow shot away. Her refusal to watch him die is an agony that speaks to every parent's deepest fear. Her weeping is the cry of a mother at the limit of her helplessness.
The emotional intensity of the scene—her voice raised in weeping, her isolation from yet proximity to her child—reveals the depth of the crisis. All human resources are exhausted, and only divine help can intervene.
Genesis 21:16 in the Original Language
bakah (בָּכָה), 'wept' — to weep, cry out; conveys both sorrow and the calling out that will reach God's ears.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 21:16
What does Genesis 21:16 mean?
Hagar moves away from Ishmael and weeps, unable to witness her son's death.
What is the context of Genesis 21:16?
Hagar grieves at the edge of despair.