Genesis 16:11-13
Complete Jewish Bible
11 The angel of Adonai said to her, “Look, you are pregnant, and you will give birth to a son. You are to call him Yishma‘el [God pays attention] because Adonai has paid attention to your misery. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man, with his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, living his life at odds with all his kinsmen.”
13 So she named Adonai who had spoken with her El Ro’i [God of seeing], because she said, “Have I really seen the One who sees me [and stayed alive]?”
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Genesis 16:11-13
English Standard Version
11 And the angel of the Lord said to her,
“Behold, you are pregnant
and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,[a]
(A)because the Lord has listened to your affliction.
12 He shall be (B)a wild donkey of a man,
his hand against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he shall dwell (C)over against all his kinsmen.”
13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,”[b] for she said, (D)“Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”[c]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 16:11 Ishmael means God hears
- Genesis 16:13 Or You are a God who sees me
- Genesis 16:13 Hebrew Have I really seen him here who sees me? or Would I have looked here for the one who sees me?
Genesis 16:11-13
New King James Version
11 And the Angel of the Lord said to her:
“Behold, you are with child,
(A)And you shall bear a son.
You shall call his name [a]Ishmael,
Because the Lord has heard your affliction.
12 (B)He shall be a wild man;
His hand shall be against every man,
And every man’s hand against him.
(C)And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-[b]the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here [c]seen Him (D)who sees me?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 16:11 Lit. God Hears
- Genesis 16:13 Heb. El Roi
- Genesis 16:13 Seen the back of
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

