Genesis - 16:9



9 The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands."

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Genesis 16:9.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand.
And the messenger of Jehovah saith to her, 'Turn back unto thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hands;'
And the angel said to her, Go back, and put yourself under her authority.
Et dixit ei Angelus Jehovae, Revertere ad dominam tuam, et humilia to sub manibus ejus.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, (e) Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
(e) God rejects no estate of people in their misery, but sends them comfort.

And the angel of the Lord said unto her,.... The same angel; though Jarchi thinks that one angel after another was sent, and that at every speech there was a fresh angel; and because this phrase is repeated again and again, some of the Rabbins have fancied there were four angels (r), and others five, but without any reason:
return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands; go back to her, humble thyself before her, acknowledge thy fault, enter into her service again, and be subject to her; do her work and business, bear her corrections and chastisements; and "suffer thyself to be afflicted" (s), by her, as the word may be rendered; take all patiently from her, which will be much more to thy profit and advantage than to pursue the course thou art in: and the more to encourage her to take his advice, he promises the following things, Genesis 16:10.
(r) Bereshit Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 45. fol. 41. 1.) (s) "te patere affligi", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "quid si, patere te affligi?" Drusius.

And the angel said, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hand - Go home and humble thyself for what thou hast done amiss, and resolve for the future to behave thyself better.

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