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

And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Genesis 16:16 · 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

The child’s name turns a birth into a declaration: God hears.

THE MEANING

This verse holds Hagar, who bears the child, in view alongside Abram, to whom the child is born. Ishmael’s name carries the claim that God hears, so the life arriving here bears a cry received rather than erased.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that a cry can vanish unheard is undone: Ishmael’s name bears witness that God hears.

THE ROOT

יִשְׁמָעֵאל

Yishmaʿel

GROWS FROM

שמע

Hear, listen

The name joins yishma, “he hears,” with El, “God”: Ishmael means “God hears.” The English keeps this declaration inside a proper name, so the child carries the hearing with him.

ALSO GROWS

shema: Hear and respond

שְׁמַע

This branch shows that the root can hold attentive response as well as hearing, widening the meaning carried in Ishmael’s name.

shomea: One who hears; hearer

שֹׁמֵעַ

This form describes a hearer, making the name’s claim feel present and active: God is the one who hears.

THE PATTERN

God’s hearing brings hidden cries into recognition through a name, an answered voice, or a promise of life.

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Genesis 21:17 · KJVGod hears Ishmael’s voice and answers Hagar, making the name’s declaration tangible.

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 LORD hears the cry beneath affliction and brings it into view.

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 · KJVA heard prayer is joined to the promise of a child, as hearing and birth meet in this verse.

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: “God hears,” because the LORD has heard Hagar’s affliction. That meaning opens the birth in Genesis 16:16 as a declaration carried in the child’s name.

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