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Genesi 21
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
Genesi 21
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
Nascita di Isacco
21 Il Signore visitò Sara, come aveva detto, e fece a Sara come aveva promesso. 2 Sara concepì e partorì ad Abramo un figlio nella vecchiaia, nel tempo che Dio aveva fissato. 3 Abramo chiamò Isacco il figlio che gli era nato, che Sara gli aveva partorito. 4 Abramo circoncise suo figlio Isacco, quando questi ebbe otto giorni, come Dio gli aveva comandato. 5 Abramo aveva cento anni, quando gli nacque il figlio Isacco. 6 Allora Sara disse: «Motivo di lieto riso mi ha dato Dio: chiunque lo saprà sorriderà di me!». 7 Poi disse: «Chi avrebbe mai detto ad Abramo: Sara deve allattare figli! Eppure gli ho partorito un figlio nella sua vecchiaia!».
Agar e Ismaele cacciati
8 Il bambino crebbe e fu svezzato e Abramo fece un grande banchetto quando Isacco fu svezzato. 9 Ma Sara vide che il figlio di Agar l'Egiziana, quello che essa aveva partorito ad Abramo, scherzava con il figlio Isacco. 10 Disse allora ad Abramo: «Scaccia questa schiava e suo figlio, perché il figlio di questa schiava non deve essere erede con mio figlio Isacco». 11 La cosa dispiacque molto ad Abramo per riguardo a suo figlio. 12 Ma Dio disse ad Abramo: «Non ti dispiaccia questo, per il fanciullo e la tua schiava: ascolta la parola di Sara in quanto ti dice, ascolta la sua voce, perché attraverso Isacco da te prenderà nome una stirpe. 13 Ma io farò diventare una grande nazione anche il figlio della schiava, perché è tua prole». 14 Abramo si alzò di buon mattino, prese il pane e un otre di acqua e li diede ad Agar, caricandoli sulle sue spalle; le consegnò il fanciullo e la mandò via. Essa se ne andò e si smarrì per il deserto di Bersabea. 15 Tutta l'acqua dell'otre era venuta a mancare. Allora essa depose il fanciullo sotto un cespuglio 16 e andò a sedersi di fronte, alla distanza di un tiro d'arco, perché diceva: «Non voglio veder morire il fanciullo!». Quando gli si fu seduta di fronte, egli alzò la voce e pianse. 17 Ma Dio udì la voce del fanciullo e un angelo di Dio chiamò Agar dal cielo e le disse: «Che hai, Agar? Non temere, perché Dio ha udito la voce del fanciullo là dove si trova. 18 Alzati, prendi il fanciullo e tienilo per mano, perché io ne farò una grande nazione». 19 Dio le aprì gli occhi ed essa vide un pozzo d'acqua. Allora andò a riempire l'otre e fece bere il fanciullo. 20 E Dio fu con il fanciullo, che crebbe e abitò nel deserto e divenne un tiratore d'arco. 21 Egli abitò nel deserto di Paran e sua madre gli prese una moglie del paese d'Egitto.
Abramo e Abimèlech a Bersabea
22 In quel tempo Abimèlech con Picol, capo del suo esercito, disse ad Abramo: «Dio è con te in quanto fai. 23 Ebbene, giurami qui per Dio che tu non ingannerai né me né i miei figli né i miei discendenti: come io ho agito amichevolmente con te, così tu agirai con me e con il paese nel quale sei forestiero». 24 Rispose Abramo: «Io lo giuro». 25 Ma Abramo rimproverò Abimèlech a causa di un pozzo d'acqua, che i servi di Abimèlech avevano usurpato. 26 Abimèlech disse: «Io non so chi abbia fatto questa cosa: né tu me ne hai informato, né io ne ho sentito parlare se non oggi». 27 Allora Abramo prese alcuni capi del gregge e dell'armento, li diede ad Abimèlech: tra loro due conclusero un'alleanza. 28 Poi Abramo mise in disparte sette agnelle del gregge. 29 Abimèlech disse ad Abramo: «Che significano quelle sette agnelle che hai messe in disparte?». 30 Rispose: «Tu accetterai queste sette agnelle dalla mia mano, perché ciò mi valga di testimonianza che io ho scavato questo pozzo». 31 Per questo quel luogo si chiamò Bersabea, perché là fecero giuramento tutti e due. 32 E dopo che ebbero concluso l'alleanza a Bersabea, Abimèlech si alzò con Picol, capo del suo esercito, e ritornarono nel paese dei Filistei. 33 Abramo piantò un tamerice in Bersabea, e lì invocò il nome del Signore, Dio dell'eternità. 34 E fu forestiero nel paese dei Filistei per molto tempo.
Genesis 21
New International Version
Genesis 21
New International Version
The Birth of Isaac
21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah(A) as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.(B) 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son(C) to Abraham in his old age,(D) at the very time God had promised him.(E) 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac[a](F) to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him,(G) as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old(H) when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter,(I) and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 7 And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”(J)
Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away
8 The child grew and was weaned,(K) and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham(L) was mocking,(M) 10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman(N) and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”(O)
11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.(P) 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring[b] will be reckoned.(Q) 13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation(R) also, because he is your offspring.”
14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar.(S) He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.(T)
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she[c] began to sob.(U)
17 God heard the boy crying,(V) and the angel of God(W) called to Hagar from heaven(X) and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid;(Y) God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.(Z)”
19 Then God opened her eyes(AA) and she saw a well of water.(AB) So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy(AC) as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran,(AD) his mother got a wife for him(AE) from Egypt.
The Treaty at Beersheba
22 At that time Abimelek(AF) and Phicol the commander of his forces(AG) said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.(AH) 23 Now swear(AI) to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants.(AJ) Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.”(AK)
24 Abraham said, “I swear it.”
25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized.(AL) 26 But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.”
27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty.(AM) 28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”
30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness(AN) that I dug this well.(AO)”
31 So that place was called Beersheba,[d](AP) because the two men swore an oath(AQ) there.
32 After the treaty(AR) had been made at Beersheba,(AS) Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces(AT) returned to the land of the Philistines.(AU) 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree(AV) in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord,(AW) the Eternal God.(AX) 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines(AY) for a long time.
Footnotes
- Genesis 21:3 Isaac means he laughs.
- Genesis 21:12 Or seed
- Genesis 21:16 Hebrew; Septuagint the child
- Genesis 21:31 Beersheba can mean well of seven and well of the oath.
Genesis 21
New King James Version
Genesis 21
New King James Version
Isaac Is Born(A)
21 And the Lord (B)visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah (C)as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah (D)conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, (E)at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—(F)Isaac.[a] 4 Then Abraham (G)circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, (H)as God had commanded him. 5 Now (I)Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, (J)“God has [b]made me laugh, and all who hear (K)will laugh with me.” 7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? (L)For I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Hagar and Ishmael Depart(M)
8 So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar (N)the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, (O)scoffing.[c] 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, (P)“Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” 11 And the matter was very [d]displeasing in Abraham’s sight (Q)because of his son.
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for (R)in Isaac your seed shall be called. 13 Yet I will also make (S)a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your [e]seed.”
14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and [f]a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and (T)sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. 15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.
17 And (U)God heard the voice of the lad. Then the (V)angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for (W)I will make him a great nation.”
19 Then (X)God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 So God (Y)was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, (Z)and became an archer. 21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother (AA)took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
A Covenant with Abimelech
22 And it came to pass at that time that (AB)Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, (AC)“God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore, (AD)swear[g] to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.”
24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25 Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants (AE)had seized. 26 And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them (AF)made a [h]covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham, (AG)“What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?”
30 And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that (AH)they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” 31 Therefore he (AI)called that place [i]Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and (AJ)there called on the name of the Lord, (AK)the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.
Footnotes
- Genesis 21:3 Lit. Laughter
- Genesis 21:6 Lit. made laughter for me
- Genesis 21:9 Lit. laughing
- Genesis 21:11 distressing
- Genesis 21:13 descendant
- Genesis 21:14 A water bottle made of skins
- Genesis 21:23 take an oath
- Genesis 21:27 treaty
- Genesis 21:31 Lit. Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven
Genesis 21
English Standard Version
Genesis 21
English Standard Version
The Birth of Isaac
21 The Lord (A)visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah (B)as he had promised. 2 And Sarah (C)conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age (D)at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, (E)Isaac.[a] 4 And Abraham (F)circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, (G)as God had commanded him. 5 (H)Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, (I)“God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? (J)Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
God Protects Hagar and Ishmael
8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah (K)saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, (L)laughing.[b] 10 So she said to Abraham, (M)“Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for (N)through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13 And I will make (O)a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of (P)Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then (Q)God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness (R)and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
A Treaty with Abimelech
22 At that time (S)Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, (T)“God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but (U)as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants (V)had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men (W)made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this[c] may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore (X)that place was called Beersheba,[d] because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and (Y)called there on the name of the Lord, (Z)the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.
Footnotes
- Genesis 21:3 Isaac means he laughs
- Genesis 21:9 Possibly laughing in mockery
- Genesis 21:30 Or you
- Genesis 21:31 Beersheba means well of seven or well of the oath
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.