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Genesis 21:17 - Divine compassion for Ishmael's cry

Genesis 21:17 - בראשית 21:17

Hebrew Text

וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶת־קוֹל הַנַּעַר וַיִּקְרָא מַלְאַךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶל־הָגָר מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ מַה־לָּךְ הָגָר אַל־תִּירְאִי כִּי־שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶל־קוֹל הַנַּעַר בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא־שָׁם׃

English Translation

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, What ails thee, Hagar? fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Transliteration

Va'yishma Elohim et kol hana'ar va'yikra mal'ach Elohim el Hagar min hashamayim va'yomer lah mah lakh Hagar al tira'i ki shama Elohim el kol hana'ar ba'asher hu sham.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַנַּ֒עַר֒ וַיִּקְרָא֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ אֱלֹהִ֤ים <small>׀</small> אֶל־הָגָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ מַה־לָּ֣ךְ הָגָ֑ר אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֧ע אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם׃
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַנַּ֒עַר֒ וַיִּקְרָא֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶל־הָגָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ מַה־לָּ֣ךְ הָגָ֑ר אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֧ע אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם׃

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Parasha Commentary

Understanding the Verse in Context

The verse (Bereishit 21:17) describes the moment when Hagar and her son Yishmael are in distress in the wilderness after being sent away by Avraham. Yishmael is near death from thirst, and Hagar cries out in despair. The verse emphasizes that "God heard the voice of the lad", indicating divine compassion even in a seemingly hopeless situation.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi explains that the phrase "the voice of the lad" refers to Yishmael's prayers or cries. He notes that the verse does not say "the voice of Hagar," even though she was also crying, because Yishmael's merit was greater at that moment. Rashi cites the Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 16b), which teaches that the judgment of a person is based on their current state ("ba'asher hu sham"—"where he is"), not their past or future actions.

Rambam on Divine Providence

Rambam (Hilchot Teshuva 3:1) discusses how divine judgment takes into account a person's present spiritual state. This aligns with the phrase "ba'asher hu sham", emphasizing that Yishmael was judged favorably at that moment due to his sincere cries, despite his later negative actions (as described in Midrashic sources).

Midrashic Insights

  • The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 53:14) states that the angels protested to Hashem, questioning why He would save Yishmael, whose descendants would later oppress the Jewish people. Hashem responded that He judges a person based on their current righteousness, not future deeds.
  • Another Midrash (Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 30) highlights that Yishmael's merit at that moment was due to Avraham's influence, as he had been circumcised at Avraham's command (Bereishit 17:23-26).

The Angel's Message to Hagar

The angel's words, "What ails thee, Hagar? Fear not", demonstrate divine reassurance. The Malbim explains that Hagar had lost hope, thinking Yishmael would die, but the angel reminded her that Hashem hears even the silent prayers of those in distress (Tehillim 145:19). The phrase "where he is" reinforces that salvation is not delayed—Hashem responds immediately to sincere repentance or suffering.

Halachic and Ethical Lessons

  • The principle of "ba'asher hu sham" teaches that teshuva (repentance) is always possible, and Hashem judges us based on our present efforts.
  • This episode also underscores the power of a parent's tears, as Hagar's anguish (though not explicitly mentioned here) is implied in the broader narrative (Bereishit 21:16).

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Rosh Hashanah 16b
The verse is referenced in the context of discussing divine judgment and how God hears the cries of the oppressed, particularly in relation to the judgment of individuals on Rosh Hashanah.
📖 Sanhedrin 104b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the merit of the righteous and how God responds to their prayers, using the example of Ishmael's cry being heard by God.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Genesis 21:17 mean when it says 'God heard the voice of the lad'?
A: The verse teaches that God listens to the prayers of all people, including children. According to Rashi, even though Yishmael (the lad) was not righteous at that time, God heard his cry because of his suffering. This shows God's compassion, especially for those in distress.
Q: Why did the angel tell Hagar 'Do not fear' in Genesis 21:17?
A: Hagar was afraid that her son Yishmael would die of thirst in the wilderness. The angel reassured her that God heard Yishmael's cries and would save him. The Midrash explains that this demonstrates how God responds to sincere prayers, even in desperate situations.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Genesis 21:17 about prayer?
A: The verse teaches that God hears prayers from anyone in genuine need, regardless of their spiritual level. The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 16b) derives from this that God judges people based on their current state ('where he is'), not just their past actions. This encourages us to turn to God in prayer at all times.
Q: How does Genesis 21:17 show God's mercy?
A: Despite Yishmael's future conflicts with Yitzchak (Isaac), God showed mercy when he was suffering as a child. Rambam teaches that this reflects God's attribute of compassion - responding to immediate needs even when the person may not deserve it based on their overall behavior. This teaches us about divine mercy in our own lives.
Q: Why is the phrase 'where he is' important in Genesis 21:17?
A: The words 'where he is' (ba'asher hu sham) teach that God judges people according to their current situation and capacity. Rashi explains that God judged Yishmael based on his present suffering, not his past actions or future potential. This principle appears throughout Jewish thought - that divine judgment considers our current circumstances.