Genesis 16:1-16

The Birth of Ishmael

16:1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from having children, have sexual relations with my servant. Perhaps I can have a family by her.” Abram did what Sarai told him.

16:3 So after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram’s wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband to be his wife. 16:4 He had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. Once Hagar realized she was pregnant, she despised Sarai. 16:5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You have brought this wrong on me! I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me!”

16:6 Abram said to Sarai, “Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.

16:7 The Lord’s angel found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert – the spring that is along the road to Shur. 16:8 He said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai.”

16:9 Then the Lord’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority. 16:10 I will greatly multiply your descendants,” the Lord’s angel added, “so that they will be too numerous to count.” 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.

16:12 He will be a wild donkey of a man.

He will be hostile to everyone,

and everyone will be hostile to him.

He will live away from his brothers.”

16:13 So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!” 16:14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. (It is located between Kadesh and Bered.)

16:15 So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, whom Abram named Ishmael. 16:16 (Now Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.)

Genesis 12:14

12:14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Numbers 15:39

15:39 You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them and so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness.

Deuteronomy 6:6

Exhortation to Teach the Covenant Principles

6:6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind,

Deuteronomy 6:8

6:8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

11:18 Fix these words of mine into your mind and being, and tie them as a reminder on your hands and let them be symbols on your forehead. 11:19 Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.

Proverbs 1:9

1:9 For they will be like an elegant garland on your head,

and like pendants around your neck.

Proverbs 3:21

3:21 My child, do not let them escape from your sight;

safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.

Proverbs 6:20-23

6:20 My child, guard the commands of your father

and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

6:21 Bind them on your heart continually;

fasten them around your neck.

6:22 When you walk about, they will guide you;

when you lie down, they will watch over you;

when you wake up, they will talk to you.

6:23 For the commandments are like a lamp,

instruction is like a light,

and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life,

Proverbs 7:23

7:23 till an arrow pierces his liver –

like a bird hurrying into a trap,

and he does not know that it will cost him his life.

The Song of Songs 8:6

The Nature of True Love

The Beloved to Her Lover:

8:6 Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart,

like a signet on your arm.

For love is as strong as death,

passion is as unrelenting as Sheol.

Its flames burst forth,

it is a blazing flame.

Isaiah 49:16

49:16 Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms;

your walls are constantly before me.

Jeremiah 22:24

Jeconiah Will Be Permanently Exiled

22:24 The Lord says,

“As surely as I am the living God, you, Jeconiah, king of Judah, son of Jehoiakim, will not be the earthly representative of my authority. Indeed, I will take that right away from you.

Matthew 23:5

23:5 They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long.