And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
She walked away and sat down at a distance from him, about as far as an arrow could be shot. She said to herself, 'I can't bear to watch my child die.' So she sat there facing away from him, and she began to cry loudly.
Hagar, overwhelmed with grief and despair, moves away from her dying son because she cannot bear to watch him die, and breaks down weeping.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, Hagar was Sarah's servant who had a son, Ishmael, with Abraham as part of God's earlier promise. After Sarah gave birth to Isaac, jealousy and family conflict led her to demand that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away to secure Isaac's inheritance. In this verse, Hagar is in the wilderness with Ishmael, desperate and out of water, so she distances herself to avoid watching him die, highlighting her profound grief and isolation.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.