Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” New Living Translation Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” English Standard Version The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” Berean Standard Bible Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.” King James Bible And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. New King James Version Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” New American Standard Bible The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” NASB 1995 Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” NASB 1977 Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they shall be too many to count.” Legacy Standard Bible Moreover, the angel of Yahweh said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed so that they will be too many to be counted.” Amplified Bible Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” Christian Standard Bible The angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count.” Holman Christian Standard Bible The Angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count.” American Standard Version And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. English Revised Version And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. GOD'S WORD® Translation The Messenger of the LORD also said to her, "I will give you many descendants. No one will be able to count them because there will be so many." Good News Translation Then he said, "I will give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them. International Standard Version The angel of the LORD also told her, "I will greatly multiply your offspring, who will be too many to count. NET Bible I will greatly multiply your descendants," the LORD's angel added, "so that they will be too numerous to count." New Heart English Bible The angel of the LORD said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants, so that they will be too numerous to count." Webster's Bible Translation And the angel of the LORD said to her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.” World English Bible Yahweh’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the Messenger of YHWH says to her, “Multiplying I multiply your seed, and it is not numbered from multitude”; Young's Literal Translation and the messenger of Jehovah saith to her, 'Multiplying I multiply thy seed, and it is not numbered from multitude;' Smith's Literal Translation And the messenger of Jehovah will say to her, Multiplying, I will multiply thy seed, and it shall not be counted for multitude. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it shall not be numbered for multitude. Catholic Public Domain Version And again he said, “I will multiply your offspring continuously, and they will not be numbered because of their multitude.” New American Bible I will make your descendants so numerous,” added the LORD’s angel, “that they will be too many to count.” New Revised Standard Version The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd again the angel of the LORD said to her, I will greatly multiply your descendants, that they can not be numbered because of their multitude. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he said to her, “Multiplying I shall multiply your seed and it will not be counted because of its immensity.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the angel of the LORD said unto her: 'I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the angel of the Lord said to her, I will surely multiply thy seed, and it shall not be numbered for multitude. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Birth of Ishmael…9So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” 10Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.” 11The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction.… Cross References Genesis 17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. Genesis 21:18 Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Genesis 25:12-18 This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. / These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, / Mishma, Dumah, Massa, ... Genesis 12:2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 13:16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. Genesis 15:5 And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” Genesis 22:17 I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. Genesis 28:14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Exodus 32:13 Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” Deuteronomy 1:10 The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. Deuteronomy 10:22 Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky. 1 Kings 4:20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. 1 Chronicles 1:29-31 These are their genealogies: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, / Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, / Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael. Psalm 105:8-11 He remembers His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations— / the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac. / He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: ... Isaiah 60:22 The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it quickly. Treasury of Scripture And the angel of the LORD said to her, I will multiply your seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. the angel. Genesis 22:15-18 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, … Genesis 31:11-13 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I… Genesis 32:24-30 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day… I will. Genesis 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. Genesis 21:13,16 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed… Genesis 25:12-18 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: … Jump to Previous Added Angel Count Descendants Exceedingly Greatly Increase Increased Messenger Moreover Multiply Multiplying Multitude Numbered Numerous SeedJump to Next Added Angel Count Descendants Exceedingly Greatly Increase Increased Messenger Moreover Multiply Multiplying Multitude Numbered Numerous SeedGenesis 16 1. Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar to Abram.4. Hagar, being afflicted for despising her mistress, runs away. 7. An angel commands her to return and submit herself, 10. promises her a numerous posterity, 12. and shows their character and condition. 13. Hagar names the place, and returns to Sarai. 15. Ishmael is born. 16. The age of Abram. Then the angel added In this passage, the "angel" is often understood to be the Angel of the Lord, a divine messenger who appears at critical moments in the biblical narrative. This figure is sometimes interpreted as a theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, due to the authority and divine promises given. The angel's presence signifies a direct intervention from God, emphasizing the importance of the message being delivered. I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count Persons / Places / Events 1. HagarAn Egyptian maidservant of Sarai, given to Abram to bear a child. She is the mother of Ishmael. 2. The Angel of the LORD A divine messenger who appears to Hagar in the wilderness, offering her guidance and promises. 3. Abram The patriarch to whom God promised numerous descendants. He is the husband of Sarai and father of Ishmael through Hagar. 4. Sarai Abram's wife, who, due to her barrenness, gives Hagar to Abram as a surrogate to bear a child. 5. The Wilderness The place where Hagar encounters the Angel of the LORD after fleeing from Sarai. Teaching Points God's Faithfulness to His PromisesDespite human actions that deviate from His plan, God remains faithful to His promises, as seen in His assurance to Hagar. Divine Intervention in Times of Distress Hagar's encounter with the Angel of the LORD demonstrates that God sees and responds to our afflictions. The Value of Every Life God's promise to Hagar about her descendants highlights the value and purpose He places on every life, regardless of circumstances. Trusting God's Timing Abram and Sarai's decision to have a child through Hagar shows the consequences of not waiting on God's timing, encouraging us to trust in His perfect plan. God's Omnipresence and Care Just as God found Hagar in the wilderness, He is present in our lives, aware of our struggles, and ready to guide us. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 16:10?2. How does Genesis 16:10 demonstrate God's promise and faithfulness to Hagar's descendants? 3. What can we learn about God's character from His promise in Genesis 16:10? 4. How does Genesis 16:10 connect to God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12? 5. In what ways can we trust God's promises in our own lives today? 6. How should Genesis 16:10 influence our understanding of God's plans for all nations? 7. How does Genesis 16:10 reflect God's promise and its implications for Hagar's descendants? 8. Why does God choose to bless Hagar's offspring despite her status as a servant? 9. What is the significance of the angel's message in Genesis 16:10? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 16? 11. Is there historical or archaeological evidence supporting the lineage claim of Ishmael (Genesis 16:10–11)? 12. Is Ishmael metaphorically a wild donkey of a man? 13. Why would an angel instruct Hagar to return to an abusive situation (Genesis 16:9)? 14. Is Ishmael metaphorically a wild donkey of a man? What Does Genesis 16:10 Mean Then the angel added• Scripture places Hagar in flight and despair (Genesis 16:6–8). Into that wilderness the “angel of the LORD” speaks, demonstrating that God sees and pursues the hurting (Psalm 34:18). • The phrase “Then the angel added” signals a continuation of divine dialogue, not mere human counsel. Similar moments appear when the angel of the LORD guides Abraham (Genesis 22:11–18) or meets Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:2–6), underscoring that this messenger reliably conveys God’s own word. • Because God’s messengers speak with His authority (Judges 13:18–20), Hagar can trust every promise about her future. I will greatly multiply your offspring • This pledge echoes God’s earlier covenant words to Abram: “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth” (Genesis 13:16) and “Look toward the heavens and count the stars… so shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5). Although Hagar is not the covenant bearer, God still pours out abundant mercy. • The verb “multiply” reminds us that fruitfulness is God’s blessing from creation onward (Genesis 1:28). It is never mere biology; it is divine intention. • The focus on “your offspring” dignifies Hagar personally. While society viewed her as a servant, God addresses her as a mother of nations (Genesis 17:20). • Other women hear similar assurances: Rebekah (Genesis 24:60) and Leah (Genesis 29:31–35). God consistently champions the marginalized and fulfills His purposes through them. so that they will be too numerous to count • The promise of innumerable descendants surfaces repeatedly: as sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17), as the stars (Genesis 26:4), as the dust (Genesis 28:14). The imagery communicates both sheer quantity and divine impossibility—only God can keep track (Psalm 147:4). • History bears out this multiplication; Ishmael’s twelve sons become tribal princes (Genesis 25:12–18), and Ishmaelites appear throughout Scripture (Judges 8:24; 1 Chronicles 27:30). • The vastness foretold here also foreshadows God’s later inclusion of Gentile multitudes in salvation (Isaiah 60:3–5; Galatians 3:8). Though Genesis 16 centers on physical lineage, the pattern hints at God’s grand design to bless “all nations” through Abraham’s line (Genesis 12:3). • The phrase “too numerous to count” assures Hagar that her story, presently lonely, will expand far beyond her sight—God is writing a future she cannot yet imagine (Jeremiah 29:11). summary Genesis 16:10 shows God meeting an outcast woman with the same creative, covenant-making power He shows patriarchs. The angel of the LORD speaks with divine authority, pledging to “greatly multiply” Hagar’s lineage until it is uncountable. The verse affirms God’s faithfulness, His concern for the marginalized, and His unstoppable plan to raise up nations according to His promise. (10) I will multiply thy seed.--We have here the purpose of the Divine manifestation. Abram's son must not be mixed up with and lost among the debased population of Egypt, but must be the father of a free people; and Hagar will now submit to her lot as a slave, that she may secure liberty for her offspring.Verse 10. - And the angel of the Lord said unto her (after duty, promise), I will multiply thy seed exceedingly (literally, multiplying I will multiply thy seed; language altogether inappropriate in the lips of a creature), that (literally, and) it shall not be numbered for multitude.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then the Angelמַלְאַ֣ךְ (mal·’aḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel added, וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “I will greatly multiply הַרְבָּ֥ה (har·bāh) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great your offspring זַרְעֵ֑ךְ (zar·‘êḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity so that וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no they will be too numerous מֵרֹֽב׃ (mê·rōḇ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness to count.” יִסָּפֵ֖ר (yis·sā·p̄êr) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate Links Genesis 16:10 NIVGenesis 16:10 NLT Genesis 16:10 ESV Genesis 16:10 NASB Genesis 16:10 KJV Genesis 16:10 BibleApps.com Genesis 16:10 Biblia Paralela Genesis 16:10 Chinese Bible Genesis 16:10 French Bible Genesis 16:10 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 16:10 The angel of Yahweh said to her (Gen. 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