Verse

Genesis 21:21

ESV He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
NIV While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.
NASB He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
CSB He settled in the Wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
NLT and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.
KJV And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

What does Genesis 21:21 mean?

Abraham's firstborn son had been sent away at God's instruction, after the birth of Isaac. After nearly dying in the wilderness, Ishmael and Hagar had been saved by the Lord. God continues to be with Ishmael, blessing the boy as he grows into a man in a place called the wilderness of Paran.

Normally, a father would arrange his son's marriage. Hagar took on that duty, finding a wife for her son among her own people in Egypt (Genesis 12:16; 16:1).

When Hagar first met the Lord while pregnant with Ishmael, He had revealed to her some details about Ishmael's future. He would be a wild donkey of a man in conflict with everyone. He would dwell over and against his kinsman, meaning his extended family (Genesis 16:12). God had revealed even more to Abraham. Ishmael would father 12 princes and become a great nation (Genesis 17:20). God would not fail to keep His promise to bless Abraham's firstborn son. This verse establishes the beginning of these promises coming true.
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