Who was Hagar in the bible?
Hagar was an Egyptian servant of Sarai who bore Ishmael to Abram, appearing in Genesis 16; 21; and 25.
Key Events
Sarai “took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant… and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.” (Genesis 16:3, WEB) Later, “Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness.” (Genesis 16:7, WEB)
Learn More →Ishmael’s Mother
“Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.” (Genesis 16:15, WEB) She is called “Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant.” (Genesis 25:12, WEB)
Learn More →Hagar (הָגָר, Hagar) is presented in Genesis as an Egyptian servant in Sarai’s household and, later, the mother of Ishmael by Abram. Lexicon tradition describes the name’s derivation as uncertain, perhaps foreign.
Hagar in Scripture
Genesis introduces Hagar within Sarai and Abram’s household: Sarai “had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar” (Genesis 16:1). In the same setting, Sarai proposed that Abram father a child through her servant: “Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” The narrative adds, “Abram listened to the voice of Sarai” (Genesis 16:2).
“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.” (Genesis 16:1)
“Sarai said to Abram, ‘See now, Yahweh 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.” (Genesis 16:2)
Sarai then arranged for Hagar to be given to Abram. The narrative states that Sarai “took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant… and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife” (Genesis 16:3). Abram “went in to Hagar, and she conceived” (Genesis 16:4). After Hagar conceived, conflict arose in Sarai’s household: “When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes” (Genesis 16:4). Sarai protested to Abram, saying, “This wrong is your fault… May Yahweh judge between me and you” (Genesis 16:5). Abram replied that Hagar remained under Sarai’s authority: “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes” (Genesis 16:6). The outcome was that “Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face” (Genesis 16:6).
“Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant… and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.” (Genesis 16:3)
“He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.” (Genesis 16:4)
“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.” (Genesis 16:6)
After Hagar fled, “Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur” (Genesis 16:7). The angel addressed her directly by name and position: “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?” (Genesis 16:8). Hagar answered plainly, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai” (Genesis 16:8). The angel then instructed her to return: “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands” (Genesis 16:9).
“Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.” (Genesis 16:7)
“He said, ‘Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?’ She said, ‘I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.’” (Genesis 16:8)
“Yahweh’s angel said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.’” (Genesis 16:9)
The angel’s speech also included promises and predictions concerning Hagar’s offspring. First came a promise of multiplication: “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude” (Genesis 16:10). Then Hagar was told of the imminent birth and instructed concerning the child’s name: “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction” (Genesis 16:11). The angel further described the future character and relational posture of Ishmael: “He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers” (Genesis 16:12).
“Yahweh’s angel said to her, ‘I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude.’” (Genesis 16:10)
“Yahweh’s angel said to her, ‘Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.’” (Genesis 16:11)
“He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers.” (Genesis 16:12)
Hagar’s response is recorded in a statement about God’s seeing. The text says, “She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, ‘You are a God who sees,’ for she said, ‘Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?’” (Genesis 16:13). A place-name is then attached to the scene: “Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered” (Genesis 16:14). The narrative returns to Abram’s household for the birth: “Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael” (Genesis 16:15). It also marks Abram’s age at that time: “Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram” (Genesis 16:16).
“She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, ‘You are a God who sees,’ for she said, ‘Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?’” (Genesis 16:13)
“Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.” (Genesis 16:15)
“Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.” (Genesis 16:16)
Later references continue to identify Hagar as Egyptian and as the mother of Abraham’s son Ishmael. In Genesis 21, Sarah observed Ishmael’s behavior: “Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking” (Genesis 21:9). Shortly after, Abraham provided Hagar with provisions and sent her away: “Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba” (Genesis 21:14).
“Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.” (Genesis 21:9)
“Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.” (Genesis 21:14)
In that wilderness episode, divine attention again comes to Hagar and her child. The account states: “God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, ‘What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.’” (Genesis 21:17). Here, as in Genesis 16, Hagar is personally addressed and reassured in connection with God’s hearing.
“God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, ‘What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.’” (Genesis 21:17)
Genesis later summarizes Hagar’s place in the family line connected with Ishmael. Introducing Ishmael’s generations, it says: “Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham” (Genesis 25:12). This statement gathers key identifiers used throughout the narrative: Hagar is Egyptian, she is Sarah’s servant, and she bore Ishmael to Abraham.
“Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham.” (Genesis 25:12)
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Hebrew as הָגָר and transliterated Hagar (pronounced haw-gawr’). Strong’s lexicon describes its derivation as uncertain and perhaps foreign, and it identifies Hagar as the mother of Ishmael.
Closing observation
Across the cited passages, Hagar is repeatedly identified by her status (“Sarai’s servant,” Genesis 16:8; “Sarah’s servant,” Genesis 25:12), her origin (“the Egyptian,” Genesis 16:3; Genesis 21:9), and her connection to Ishmael, while the narrative also records that “Yahweh has heard your affliction” (Genesis 16:11) and “God has heard the voice of the boy” (Genesis 21:17).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Hagar mean?
The name Hagar has an uncertain origin, possibly foreign.
How many times does Hagar appear in the Bible?
Hagar appears 9 times.
Who was Hagar?
Hagar was the mother of Ishmael. She is described as Sarai (Sarah)’s servant and as an Egyptian (Genesis 16:8; 21:9).
What happened when Hagar conceived?
Abram went in to Hagar, and she conceived; afterward, “her mistress was despised in her eyes” (Genesis 16:4).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Hagar interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
