Discovery BoxGenesis 16:11 
Context16:11 Then the Lord’s angel said to her,
“You are now 1 pregnant
and are about to give birth 2 to a son.
You are to name him Ishmael, 3
for the Lord has heard your painful groans. 4
Genesis 38:24
Context38:24 After three months Judah was told, 5 “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution, 6 and as a result she has become pregnant.” 7 Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”
1 tn The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) focuses on her immediate situation: “Here you are pregnant.”
2 tn The active participle refers here to something that is about to happen.
3 sn The name Ishmael consists of the imperfect or jussive form of the Hebrew verb with the theophoric element added as the subject. It means “God hears” or “may God hear.”
4 tn Heb “affliction,” which must refer here to Hagar’s painful groans of anguish.
sn This clause gives the explanation of the name Ishmael, using a wordplay. Ishmael’s name will be a reminder that “God hears” Hagar’s painful cries.
5 tn Heb “it was told to Judah, saying.”
6 tn Or “has been sexually promiscuous.” The verb may refer here to loose or promiscuous activity, not necessarily prostitution.
7 tn Heb “and also look, she is with child by prostitution.”
