Genesis 21 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

The Birth of Isaac

(Heb 11:11 )

Gen 21:1The LORD kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.

Gen 21:2She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.

Gen 21:3

Gen 21:3And Abraham named their son Isaac.

Gen 21:4

Gen 21:4Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.

Gen 21:5

Gen 21:5Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.

Gen 21:6

Gen 21:6And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.[fn] All who hear about this will laugh with me.

Gen 21:7

Gen 21:7Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

(Gal 4:21–30 )

Gen 21:8

Gen 21:8When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion.

Gen 21:9

Gen 21:9But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac.[fn]

Gen 21:10

Gen 21:10So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”

Gen 21:11

Gen 21:11This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.

Gen 21:12

Gen 21:12But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.

Gen 21:13

Gen 21:13But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

Gen 21:14

Gen 21:14So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Gen 21:15

Gen 21:15When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.

Gen 21:16

Gen 21:16Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards[fn] away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.

Gen 21:17

Gen 21:17But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.

Gen 21:18

Gen 21:18Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

Gen 21:19

Gen 21:19Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

Gen 21:20

Gen 21:20And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer,

Gen 21:21

Gen 21:21and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech

Gen 21:22

Gen 21:22About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said.

Gen 21:23

Gen 21:23“Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner.”

Gen 21:24

Gen 21:24Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!”

Gen 21:25

Gen 21:25Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from Abraham’s servants.

Gen 21:26

Gen 21:26“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Abimelech answered. “I have no idea who is responsible. You have never complained about this before.”

Gen 21:27

Gen 21:27Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made a treaty.

Gen 21:28

Gen 21:28But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves.

Gen 21:29

Gen 21:29Abimelech asked, “Why have you set these seven apart from the others?”

Gen 21:30

Gen 21:30Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.”

Gen 21:31

Gen 21:31Then he named the place Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”), because that was where they had sworn the oath.

Gen 21:32

Gen 21:32After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Philistines.

Gen 21:33

Gen 21:33Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the LORD, the Eternal God.[fn]

Gen 21:34

Gen 21:34And Abraham lived as a foreigner in Philistine country for a long time.

See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NLT Footnotes

(21:6)

The name Isaac means “he laughs.”

(21:9)

As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew lacks of her son, Isaac.

(21:16)

Hebrew a bowshot.

(21:33)

Hebrew El-Olam.

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For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.