Genesis 16:12 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

He will be like a wild donkey of a man. He will fight against everyone, and everyone will fight against him. But he will live near all his relatives.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse predicts that Ishmael will be a fierce, independent person who will have conflicts with others but still remain connected to his family.

📚 Historical Context

This prophecy about Ishmael was spoken by an angel to his mother Hagar when she fled from Sarah's harsh treatment. Ishmael would become the father of twelve tribes and is considered an ancestor of many Arab peoples. The prediction describes the nomadic, warrior-like lifestyle that would characterize his descendants.

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