What Does Genesis 16:13 Mean in the King James?

And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Genesis 16:13 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The same Hebrew root names both God’s seeing of Hagar and Hagar’s own sight, so being seen becomes the moment she recognizes who sees her.

THE MEANING

The verse speaks into your present “here”: God sees you, and that seeing can open your own perception of the One who sees. The name gives the nature encountered, God as the one who sees.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that an overlooked place proves you are unseen by God loosens here: this verse places God’s seeing in the very “here” she names.

THE ROOT

רֹאִי

ro'i

GROWS FROM

ראה

To see, look, or perceive.

“seest / looked / seeth” in this verse is ro'i. In ⁨אֵל רֳאִי⁩ (El Ro’i, “God who sees me”), the name and Hagar’s “I have seen” echo the same root. The verse holds seeing in both directions: God’s attention meets Hagar, and she recognizes the One who sees her.

ALSO GROWS

ra'iti: I saw / I have seen.

רָאִיתִי

This is the root in Hagar’s own question, linking her sight to God’s seeing.

ro'eh: Seeing / one who sees.

רֹאֶה

This form names the one who sees her, keeping God’s attention inside the same repeated root.

yir'eh: He will see.

יִרְאֶה

The same root appears in Genesis 22:14 in the name Jehovahjireh, joining divine seeing with provision.

THE PATTERN

God’s seeing reaches people in low places and recognizes them there.

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

Exodus 3:7 · KJVGod’s seeing meets people in affliction and holds their condition in view.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:48 · KJVGod’s regard reaches a person in low estate and makes her visible across generations.

THE THREAD

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Genesis 22:14 · KJV

The Hebrew behind “Jehovahjireh” uses the same root for seeing that Hagar uses in naming God. Here, divine seeing also carries the sense of provision, linking the God who sees Hagar with the LORD who sees to provide.

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