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Genesis 16:16

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse records that Abram became a father to Ishmael when he was 86 years old, through his servant Hagar.

📚 Historical Context

This birth occurred about 13 years before God's covenant promise of Isaac would be fulfilled. Abram and Sarai had grown impatient waiting for God's promise of a son, so they followed the cultural practice of having children through a servant when the wife was barren. This decision, though culturally acceptable, created complications that would affect their family for generations.

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