Hagar Interprets Her Own Promise: Exploring A Hopeful Reading of Genesis 16:12

Genesis 16:12 contains three clauses that have been widely interpreted as predicting prolonged conflict between Ishmael’s descendants and their relatives within the Abrahamic family. While there is agreement among contemporary commentators that the wording of these clauses is ambiguous, negative renderings are far more prevalent than positive or neutral renderings in popular English translations, as well as in expositions of the text. This article argues that Hagar’s response to her own promise, in concert with other elements in the wider narrative of Genesis, should be prioritized in deciding between negative or positive interpretations of the ambiguous wording therein. It also reexamines the level of ambiguity of the wording itself to show that it may not be as obscure as has often been proposed.