KJV ORIGINAL
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The angel of the LORD said to her, 'Listen, you are pregnant and will give birth to a son. You should name him Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your suffering.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The angel is telling Hagar that God has noticed her pain and will bless her with a son whose name means 'God hears.'
📚 Historical Context
This occurs when Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian servant, fled into the wilderness after being mistreated by Sarah. Sarah had given Hagar to Abraham to bear a child since Sarah was barren, but jealousy arose when Hagar became pregnant. The name Ishmael literally means 'God hears,' reflecting that God heard Hagar's cries of distress in her vulnerable situation.
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