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Genesis 16:3

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

So Sarai, Abram's wife, took her Egyptian servant Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. This happened after Abram had been living in Canaan for ten years.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse shows Sarai giving her servant Hagar to Abram as a second wife, hoping to have children through her since she herself couldn't have any.

📚 Historical Context

In the biblical story, God had promised Abram and Sarai that they would have a great nation, but after many years of waiting, Sarai remained barren, leading to frustration and doubt. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, it was customary for a childless wife to give her maidservant to her husband as a concubine to bear children on her behalf, which was seen as a way to secure family lineage. This specific event happened after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, as Sarai attempted to fulfill God's promise through human effort.

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