Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Genesis 21:11 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 11. 11And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Sarah's demand deeply distresses Abraham because Ishmael is his son. The verse refuses to let status language erase the father-son bond or make the coming separation emotionally trivial.
Read It With
- Genesis 21:8–21
Read verses 10–13. Sarah calls Ishmael the bondwoman's son; Abraham experiences him as his son; God then calls him Abraham's seed and promises him a nation. Together those descriptions prevent reduction to status alone.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The narrator immediately counters status reduction by disclosing Abraham's grief for Ishmael as his son.
Read Genesis 21:11–13 together
Why these verses belong together: Abraham's grief, Isaac's called seed, and Ishmael's nation promise hold sonship, covenant distinction, and continuing future together.
Verse 11. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
Verse 12. 12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Verse 13. 13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
What Remains True
Powerful family decisions carry real grief and responsibility even when distinct callings or legal outcomes must be recognized.
How It Can Shape Life
- Before making a painful family decision, name the relationships and human costs honestly rather than hiding them behind legal or religious labels.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 21:8–21 — Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away but PreservedSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? very strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed wording, narrative sequence, family relations, wilderness crisis, promises, growth, and canonical reception.
Exact location: Genesis 21:8–21 in the pinned eng-kjv2006 source; compared with Genesis 16; 17:18–21; 21:1–7, 22–34; 22; 25:9, 12–18; and Galatians 4:21–31
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Weaning, ambiguous conduct, enslavement, expulsion, inheritance, sonship, distress, hearing, age-flexible nouns, opened eyes, and bowman wording.
Exact location: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, wlc/Gen.xml, Genesis 21:8–21; lemmas and morphology for gamal, metsaheq, amah, garash, zera, qara, ra'a, shama, yeled, na'ar, paqach, and roveh qashshat
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Weaning context, metsaheq alternatives, Abraham's distress, Isaac's called seed, verse 14 syntax, cast language, bowshot, Hagar and boy voices, Ishmael wordplay, opened eyes, Paran, and Egyptian wife.
Exact location: NET Bible, Genesis 21 and translator notes 15–39, especially notes on 21:8–20
Open NET Genesis 21 ↗