Genesis 16:6

⁴ And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

⁵ Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

“Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.

⁷ Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur.

⁸ “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.
KJV: But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
WEB: But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
ASV: But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes. And Sarai dealt hardly with her, and she fled from her face.
DARBY: And Abram said to Sarai, Behold, thy maidservant is in thy hand: do to her what is good in thine eyes. And Sarai oppressed her; and she fled from her face.
BLB: And Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed, your maidservant [is] in your hand. Do to her what is good in your eyes.” And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her presence.

ÅB: Da sa Abram til Sarai: Se, din slavekvinne råder du selv over; gjør med henne som du synes. Og Sarai var hård mot henne, og hun rømte fra henne.
OTB: Abram svarte Sarai: "Din slave er i dine hender; gjør med henne hva du synes er best." Så behandlet Sarai Hagar hardt, og hun flyktet fra henne.
B1930: Da sa Abram til Sarai: Se, din trælkvinne råder du selv over; gjør med henne som du synes. Og Sarai var hård mot henne, og hun rømte fra henne.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 38:5
“Here he is,” replied King Zedekiah. “He is in your hands, since the king can do nothing to stop you.”
Read in context
Job 2:6
“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”
Read in context
Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
Read in context
Psalms 106:41–42
He delivered them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.
Read in context
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Read in context
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Read in context
Genesis 24:10
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.
Read in context
Exodus 2:15
When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well.
Read in context