Who is Hagar in the Bible? A Brief Biography

Published June 3, 2023

When we talk about Abraham’s wife and the mother of His children, we often think about Sarah. But only very few would think of Hagar.

Though she was not an actual wife, Hagar bore Abraham a son. She is also a very strong woman and a matriarch in her own right. For this, she deserves her own spotlight too.

That’s why, in this post, we’re shining the spotlight on the story of Hagar in the Bible. We will also talk about her strength as a woman, and why she’s proof that God really does make good on His promises.

Who is Hagar?

Hagar was Sarah’s Egyptian slave. Many agree that she was gifted to Abraham by the pharaoh when they fled to Egypt during a famine in their land (Genesis 12:16).

There are various theories about her origin. Some sources say that she’s an Egyptian princess, the daughter of the pharaoh. After seeing how God favors Abraham, the pharaoh deemed that it was better for his daughter to join Abraham’s household as a slave than continue living in the palace.

While another tradition claims that Hagar was the pharaoh’s daughter but not a princess, she was born to one of his concubines. The pharaoh gave her to Sarah as part of the latter’s dowry.

The Bible, however, did not give any explanation as to her origin other than she’s Egyptian and Sarah’s handmaiden.

Though, based on the stories about her in the Bible, it’s likely that she was born in Egypt but has adapted to Abraham’s cultural and religious beliefs.

Today, she is considered the matriarch of the Arabs and Bedouins who claim to have descended from her son Ishmael.

What Life Was Like in Hagar’s Time

There are certain parts of Hagar’s story in the Bible that would not sit well with our modern sensibilities. So before we dig into her story, I think it’s essential to get a little background of the world she was living in.

During Hagar’s time, slavery was common. Rich men like Abraham tend to have hundreds or even thousands of slaves. They did not have bank accounts back then. So wealth was measured in terms of slaves and livestock.

It was also common for wives to give their slaves to their husbands for procreation. This usually happens if the wife can’t bear a child. The children that will result from such a union will legally belong to the wife. Though the slave that bore the child also tend to enjoy an elevated status in the household.

Keeping these things in mind will help you better understand her story and learn from her actions.

The Story of Hagar in the Bible

Hagar’s name first appeared in the Bible when Sarah gave her to Abraham to be his wife.

At that time, Sarah and Abraham had been married for many years but have not yet borne a child. By giving Hagar to Abraham, Sarah hopes that she can bear a child through her.

In those days, childbearing was considered a favor from God. If a woman is unable to conceive, she is considered to have not been favored by the Lord. But if their slave bore a child for them, they can claim that child to be legally theirs.

Before long, Hagar became pregnant with Abraham’s first child. While pregnant, Hagar became proud and she started to despise Sarah. In retaliation, Sarah mistreated Hagar which caused her to run away.

While on the run, she came upon a spring in a desert. There, an angel of the Lord appeared to her and asked, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

Hagar answered that she fled from her mistress. The angel then told her to go back and submit to Sarah again.

Then, the angel prophesied that Hagar will give birth to a son. She will call him Ishmael or “God hears” because the Lord has heard of her misery. He further added that the child will grow up strong and will have descendants that are too many to count. But he also warned that he will not have a peaceful life as he will always quarrel with his brothers.

So Hagar went back and soon after gave birth to Ishmael.

When Ishmael was thirteen, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. In the heat of an argument between the two women Sarah had Hagar and Ishmael banished. They were sent away with nothing but some food and a skin of water.

Hagar wandered for days into the desert with her son. When their water ran out, she put her son under one of the bushes and sat down a short distance away. She was sobbing because she cannot bear to see her son die.

Then an angel appeared before her and told her that God has heard her cries and that of the boy. He told her to lift the boy up and take him by the hand.

When Hagar opened her eyes, she suddenly saw a well of water and she gave her son a drink.

As the angel prophesied, Ishmael did grow up to be a strong man and God was with Him. He lived in the desert and became an archer. When He was old enough, Hagar brought him a wife from Egypt. Through his descendants he became the patriarch of many people alive today.