Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Childlessness » A reproach
Leah said, “I am happy that the women call me happy,” so she named him Asher.
Verse Concepts
will seize one man,
“We will eat our own bread
and provide our own clothing.
Just let us be called by your name.
Take away our disgrace.”
“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”
Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
Verse Concepts
Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now.”
Verse Concepts
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob [any children], she envied her sister. "Give me sons, or I will die!" she said to Jacob. Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, "Am I in God's place, who has withheld children from you?" Then she said, "Here is my slave Bilhah. Go sleep with her, and she'll bear [children] for me so that through her I too can build [a family]."
Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving.
Verse Concepts
Ishmael » The outcast, life summarized » Born of a bigamous marriage, with a foreigner
So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son Hagar had.
Verse Concepts
Sarai said to Abram, "Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps I can have children by her." And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. [This happened] after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress.
Responsibility » Attempts to shift » Sarah
Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
Verse Concepts
Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you.”
Verse Concepts
Sarah » Also called sarai » Is sterile; gives her handmaiden, hagar, to abraham as a concubine
Abram's wife Sarai had not borne him children. She owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, "Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps I can have children by her." And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. [This happened] after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years.
Servant » Bond » Taken in concubinage
Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your hands; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.
Verse Concepts
Abram's wife Sarai had not borne him children. She owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, "Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps I can have children by her." And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
Then she said, “Here is my slave Bilhah. Go sleep with her, and she’ll bear children for me so that through her I too can build a family.”
When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her slave Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
Verse Concepts