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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 ancient Near Eastern culture, it was legally and socially acceptable for a barren wife to give her female servant to her husband to bear children on her behalf. The children born would legally belong to the primary wife. This practice was a common solution when couples struggled with infertility, which was seen as a serious problem in a culture that highly valued offspring and family lineage.

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