What Does Genesis 16:15 Mean in the King James?

And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

Genesis 16:15 · 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.

THE KEY

Ishmael is a sentence held inside a name: God hears.

THE MEANING

The name Ishmael carries the truth that God hears. Hagar’s affliction remains audible in the family story through the name her son bears. The verse speaks to you now: being overlooked by people does not mean your distress is unheard by God.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that if no one around you acknowledges your distress, it has gone unheard altogether.

THE ROOT

יִשְׁמָעֵאל

Yishmaʿel

GROWS FROM

שמע

š-m-ʿ

Hear, listen, heed

“Ishmael, “God hears”” in this verse is Yishmaʿel. The name joins ⁨יִשְׁמַע⁩ (yishmaʿ, “he hears”) with ⁨אֵל⁩ (El, “God”): “God hears.” English presents a proper name where Hebrew leaves a whole sentence audible, so Hagar’s affliction stays carried in her son’s identity.

ALSO GROWS

shemaʿ: Hear; listen and respond

שְׁמַע

This is the root made audible in Ishmael’s name and echoed by “hath heard” in the explanation of the name.

shemuʿah: Report, tidings; something heard

שְׁמוּעָה

The root can name what is heard as well as the act of hearing; Ishmael’s name becomes a lasting report that Hagar’s distress is heard.

THE PATTERN

Scripture presents God’s hearing as an active response that can become a lasting witness in a name.

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 · KJVThe cry of the afflicted reaches God’s hearing and remains present to God.

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:17 · KJVHearing is joined to response: the cry is heard, and deliverance follows.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Luke 1:13 · KJVAs with Ishmael, a child’s name is given in the wake of a prayer being heard.

THE THREAD

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.

Genesis 16:11 · KJV

This verse explains Ishmael’s name through Hagar’s affliction: the LORD has heard it. The shared root ⁨שמע⁩ (shamaʿ, hear and listen) joins the explanation to the name, carrying the hearing of her distress forward.

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