servant (Ge 16:1; Ru 3:9; Lu 1:48). It is probable that Hagar was Sarah's personal attendant while she was in the house of Pharaoh, and was among those maid-servants whom Abram had brought from Egypt.
Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children. But she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Then he said, "What art thou?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, thine handmaid. Spread thy mantle over thine handmaid, for thou art the next of the kin."
For he hath looked on the poor degree of his handmaiden. Behold, now from henceforth shall all generations call me blessed.