Genesis – Chapter 21

Old Testament34 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken." — so begins Genesis 21. The chapter centers on Abraham, Abimelech and Sarah. Across its 34 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and God's covenant promises. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken.

2And she conceived and bore a son in her old age, at the time that God had foretold her.

3And Abraham called the name of his son, whom Sara bore him, Isaac.

4And he circumcised him the eighth day, as God had commanded him,

5When he was a hundred years old: for at this age of his father, was Isaac born.

6And Sara said: God hath made a laughter for me: whosoever shall hear of it will laugh with me.

7And again she said: Who would believe that Abraham should hear that Sara gave suck to a son, whom she bore to him in his old age?

8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day of his weaning.

9And when Sara had seen the son of Agar, the Egyptian, playing with Isaac, her son, she said to Abraham:

10Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.

11Abraham took this grievously for his son.

12And God said to him: Let it not seem grievous to thee for the boy, and for thy bondwoman: in all that Sara hath said to thee, hearken to her voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

13But I will make the son also of the bondwoman a great nation, because he is thy seed.

14So Abraham rose up in the morning, and taking bread and a bottle of water, put it upon her shoulder, and delivered the boy, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Bersabee.

15And when the water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy under one of the trees that were there.

16And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off, as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die: and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept.

17And God heard the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called to Agar from heaven, saying: What art thou doing, Agar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherein he is.

18Arise, take up the boy, and hold him by the hand, for I will make him a great nation.

19And God opened her eyes: and she saw a well of water, and went and filled the bottle, and gave the boy to drink.

20And God was with him: and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became a young man, an archer.

21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan, and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.

22At the same time Abimelech, and Phicol the general of his army, said to Abraham: God is with thee in all that thou dost.

23Swear therefore by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, nor my posterity, nor my stock: but according to the kindness that I have done to thee, thou shalt do to me, and to the land wherein thou hast lived a stranger.

24And Abraham said: I will swear.

25And he reproved Abimelech for a well of water, which his servants had taken away by force.

26And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: and thou didst not tell me, and I heard not of it till today.

27Then Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech: and both of them made a league.

28And Abraham set apart seven ewelambs of the flock.

29And Abimelech said to him: What mean these seven ewelambs which thou hast set apart?

30But he said: Thou shalt take seven ewelambs at my hand: that they may be a testimony for me, that I dug this well.

31Therefore that place was called Bersabee; because there both of them did swear.

32And they made a league for the well of oath.

33And Abimelech and Phicol, the general of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Palestines. But Abraham planted a grove in Bersabee, and there called upon the name of the Lord God eternal.

34And he was a sojourner in the land of the Palestines many days.

Important Verses in Genesis 21

And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken.

Genesis 21:1

And he circumcised him the eighth day, as God had commanded him,

Genesis 21:4

And God heard the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called to Agar from heaven, saying: What art thou doing, Agar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherein he is.

Genesis 21:17

And Abimelech and Phicol, the general of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Palestines. But Abraham planted a grove in Bersabee, and there called upon the name of the Lord God eternal.

Genesis 21:33

Historical Context

Genesis addresses the people of Israel, to root their identity in God's creation and the covenant with the patriarchs within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 21 of 50 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 34 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Abraham, Abimelech, Sarah and Isaac, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The chapter begins: "And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken." The final verse reads: "And he was a sojourner in the land of the Palestines many days. " In terms of historical background, Genesis was composed to give Israel its foundational identity: one God created all things good, sin entered through human choice, and God responded with a plan of salvation beginning with Abraham. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions

When It Was Written

Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

In this 34-verse narrative, the sacred author records events that advance the story of creation, covenant, and the patriarchs. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1700). Here, the Catechism teaches that Genesis reveals God's plan of salvation from the beginning (CIC 54-64). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.
  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.

People in This Chapter

Abraham11 mentionsAbimelech6 mentionsSarah6 mentionsIsaac5 mentionsHagar3 mentions

Reflection for Today

Genesis Chapter 21 celebrates the birth of Isaac, the child of promise, whose arrival demonstrates that nothing is impossible with God. The Catechism teaches that Isaac's miraculous birth to elderly parents prefigures the even greater miracle of Christ's virgin birth (CIC 489). Sarah's laughter of joy replaces her earlier laughter of disbelief, showing how God transforms our doubts into delight.

The expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, while troubling to modern readers, is interpreted by St. Paul as an allegory of the two covenants (Galatians 4:21-31). Catholic theology recognizes the complexity of this narrative while affirming God's care for both Ishmael and Isaac. The angel's rescue of Hagar and the promise regarding Ishmael show that God's mercy extends beyond the covenant line.

The covenant between Abraham and Abimelech at Beersheba establishes peaceful relations and demonstrates that the patriarch could live at peace with his neighbors. The Catechism teaches that Christians are called to be peacemakers and to seek the common good with all people (CIC 2304-2305). This chapter reminds us that God's promises are sure, even when they seem impossible, and that His blessings overflow to touch all who encounter His people.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Genesis Chapter 21 about?

Genesis 21 contains 34 verses. It opens with "And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken." and closes with "And he was a sojourner in the land of the Palestines many days. ". The book as a whole is narrative with genealogies and covenant accounts.

What is a key verse in Genesis 21?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Genesis Chapter 21?

This chapter mentions Abraham, Abimelech, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar.

Who wrote Genesis and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions. Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

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