Genesis 16:2 “So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bear…”

Genesis 16:2

So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

World English Bible

Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

American Standard Version

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Sarai said vnto Abram, Beholde now, the Lord hath restrained me from childe bearing. I pray thee goe in vnto my maide: it may be that I shall receiue a childe by her. And Abram obeyed the voyce of Sarai.

Darby Translation

And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, Jehovah has shut me up, that I do not bear. Go in, I pray thee, to my maidservant: it may be that I shall be built up by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Young's Literal Translation

and Sarai saith unto Abram, 'Lo, I pray thee, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing, go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; perhaps I am built up from her;' and Abram hearkeneth to the voice of Sarai.

Bible in Basic English

And Sarai said to Abram, See, the Lord has not let me have children; go in to my servant, for I may get a family through her. And Abram did as Sarai said.

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Cross references

“the Lord”

Genesis 18:10 Genesis 17:16 Genesis 20:18 Genesis 25:21 Genesis 30:22 Psalm 127:3

Genesis 18:10 · BSB

Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.

Genesis 17:16 · BSB

And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”

Genesis 20:18 · BSB

for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

Genesis 25:21 · BSB

Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

Genesis 30:22 · BSB

Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,

Psalm 127:3 · BSB

Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

“obtain children”

Exodus 21:4 Genesis 30:6 Ruth 4:11

Exodus 21:4 · BSB

If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

Genesis 30:6 · BSB

Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan.

Ruth 4:11 · BSB

“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and…

“hearkened”

Genesis 3:17 Genesis 3:1–6 Genesis 3:12

Genesis 3:17 · BSB

And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the day…

Genesis 3:1–6 · BSB

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

Genesis 3:12 · BSB

And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

1Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.

3So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife.

Read Genesis 16