Text -- Genesis 16:11 (NET)

16:11 Then the Lord’s angel said to her, “You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your painful groans.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Gen 16:11

¹ tn The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) focuses on her immediate situation: “Here you are pregnant.”

² tn The active participle refers here to something that is about to happen.

³ sn The name Ishmael consists of the imperfect or jussive form of the Hebrew verb with the theophoric element added as the subject. It means “God hears” or “may God hear.”

⁴ tn Heb “affliction,” which must refer here to Hagar’s painful groans of anguish.

sn This clause gives the explanation of the name Ishmael, using a wordplay. Ishmael’s name will be a reminder that “God hears” Hagar’s painful cries.