Old Testament

New Testament

Genesis 21:3-22 Holy Bible: Easy-To-Read Version (ETR)

3. Abraham named his son Isaac.

4. Abraham did what God commanded and circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old.

5. Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.

6. Sarah said, “God has made me happy, and everyone who hears about this will be happy with me.

7. No one thought that I, Sarah, would be able to have Abraham’s child. But I have given Abraham a son, even though he is old.”

8. Isaac continued to grow, and soon he was old enough to begin eating solid food. So Abraham gave a big party.

9. Sarah saw Hagar’s son playing. (Hagar was the Egyptian slave woman who gave birth to Abraham’s first son.)

10. Sarah said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. Send them away! When we die, our son Isaac will get everything we have. I don’t want that slave woman’s son sharing these things with my son Isaac!”

11. This upset Abraham very much. He was worried about his son Ishmael.

12. But God said to Abraham, “Don’t worry about the boy and the slave woman. Do what Sarah wants. Your descendants will be those who come through Isaac.

13. But I will also bless the son of your slave woman. He is your son, so I will make a great nation from his family also.”

14. Early the next morning Abraham took some food and water and gave them to Hagar. She carried them and left with her boy. She left that place and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.

15. After some time, when all their drinking water was gone, Hagar put her son under a bush.

16. Then she walked a short distance away and sat down. She thought her son would die because there was no water. She did not want to watch him die. She sat there and began to cry.

17. God heard the boy crying, and God’s angel called to Hagar from heaven. He said, “What is wrong, Hagar? Don’t be afraid! God has heard the boy crying there.

18. Go help the boy. Hold his hand and lead him. I will make him the father of many people.”

19. Then God allowed Hagar to see a well of water. So she went to the well and filled her bag with water. Then she gave water to the boy to drink.

20. God continued to be with the boy while he grew up. Ishmael lived in the desert and became a hunter. He learned to shoot a bow very well.

21. His mother found a wife for him in Egypt. They continued to live in the Paran desert.

22. Then Abimelech and Phicol spoke with Abraham. Phicol was the commander of Abimelech’s army. They said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.

Read complete chapter Genesis 21