Genesis 16:4

16:4 He had sexual relations with ¹  Hagar, and she became pregnant. ²  Once Hagar realized she was pregnant, she despised Sarai. ³ 

Genesis 16:8-9

16:8 He said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from ⁴  my mistress, Sarai.”

16:9 Then the Lord’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit ⁵  to her authority.

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¹ tn Heb “entered to.” See the note on the same expression in v. 2.

² tn Or “she conceived” (also in v. 5)

³ tn Heb “and she saw that she was pregnant and her mistress was despised in her eyes.” The Hebrew verb קָלַל (qalal) means “to despise, to treat lightly, to treat with contempt.” In Hagar’s opinion Sarai had been demoted.

⁴ tn Heb “from the presence of.”

⁵ tn The imperative וְהִתְעַנִּי (vÿhit’anni) is the Hitpael of עָנָה (’anah, here translated “submit”), the same word used for Sarai’s harsh treatment of her. Hagar is instructed not only to submit to Sarai’s authority, but to whatever mistreatment that involves. God calls for Hagar to humble herself.