Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

GENESIS 21:10KJV
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Genesis 21:10 (KJV)

What does Genesis 21:10 mean?

Genesis 21:10 records Sarah telling Abraham to send away Hagar, her servant, and Hagar’s son, because Sarah does not want Hagar’s son to share the inheritance with her own son, Isaac. Sarah insists that only Isaac should be recognized as Abraham’s heir.

In this verse, Sarah is speaking directly to Abraham during a tense family situation. Hagar is an Egyptian servant who bore Abraham a son, Ishmael, before Isaac was born. Now that Isaac, the promised child, has arrived, Sarah is concerned about the future and inheritance, so she demands that Abraham remove Hagar and Ishmael from their household to secure Isaac’s position.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 21:10

  • "Cast out" (גָּרֵשׁ, garesh) means to drive away or send out forcefully. Sarah is not just asking Abraham to separate from Hagar and Ishmael, but to expel them decisively from the family circle.
  • "Bondwoman" (אָמָה, ’amah) refers to a female servant or slave. Sarah uses this term for Hagar, emphasizing Hagar’s lower social status and her lack of claim to Abraham’s inheritance.
  • "Heir" (יָרַשׁ, yarash) means to inherit or possess. Sarah’s concern is about who will legally and socially inherit Abraham’s estate and legacy.

Why Genesis 21:10 matters

  • This verse highlights the deep family conflict and the difficult choices Abraham faces between his wife Sarah and his son Ishmael.
  • The verse clarifies that inheritance in this context is not just about property, but about identity, promise, and the future of Abraham’s line.
  • Genesis 21:10 sets up the separation of Ishmael and Isaac, which becomes a turning point in the story of both nations that trace their roots to Abraham.

Where else these words appear

“out” Hebrew H1644 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
  • Leviticus 21:14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
  • 1 Chronicles 17:21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

“bondwoman” Hebrew H519 · used in 49 verses

  • Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
  • Deuteronomy 5:14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.
  • 1 Samuel 25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

“Isaac” Hebrew H3327 · used in 101 verses

  • Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
  • Genesis 26:16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
  • Genesis 35:28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.