And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

GENESIS 21:14KJV
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Genesis 21:14 (KJV)

What does Genesis 21:14 mean?

Genesis 21:14 describes Abraham sending Hagar and her son Ishmael away early in the morning, giving them bread and a bottle of water, and Hagar wandering with the child in the wilderness of Beersheba. The verse shows Abraham’s obedience to God’s instruction and the difficult separation of Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham’s household.

In this scene, Abraham acts after God tells him to listen to Sarah and send Hagar and Ishmael away. The verse highlights the practical details: Abraham rises early, prepares simple provisions (bread and water), and places them on Hagar’s shoulder along with her child. Hagar then leaves and wanders in the wilderness, setting up the next part of their story.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 21:14

  • The word for "wandered" (תָּעָה, ta’ah) often means to stray or lose one’s way, suggesting that Hagar was not just traveling but was lost or uncertain about where to go in the wilderness.
  • The term for "wilderness" (מִדְבָּר, midbar) refers to a dry, uncultivated land, emphasizing the harsh and dangerous environment Hagar and Ishmael faced after leaving Abraham’s home.
  • "Bottle" (חֵמֶת, chemet) here means a skin container for water, not a modern bottle, indicating the limited and fragile nature of their supplies.

Why Genesis 21:14 matters

  • Genesis 21:14 clarifies that Abraham provided only basic necessities, showing both care and the limits of what he could do for Hagar and Ishmael as they left.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of God’s promise to Abraham about Ishmael, setting up how God will care for Hagar and her son even outside Abraham’s household.
  • The detail that Hagar "wandered" in the wilderness highlights her vulnerability and the uncertainty of her situation, which is important for understanding the challenges she and Ishmael faced.

Where else these words appear

“bottle” Hebrew H2573 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
  • Genesis 21:19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
  • Habakkuk 2:15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

“Hagar” Hebrew H1904 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
  • Genesis 16:8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
  • Genesis 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

“shoulder” Hebrew H7926 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
  • Judges 9:48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
  • Isaiah 9:4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

“Beersheba” Hebrew H884 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 21:31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.
  • Joshua 19:2 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
  • 2 Kings 12:1 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.