Genesis 16:2 - Surrogacy's ancient roots

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Hebrew Text

וַתֹּאמֶר שָׂרַי אֶל־אַבְרָם הִנֵּה־נָא עֲצָרַנִי יְהוָה מִלֶּדֶת בֹּא־נָא אֶל־שִׁפְחָתִי אוּלַי אִבָּנֶה מִמֶּנָּה וַיִּשְׁמַע אַבְרָם לְקוֹל שָׂרָי׃

English Translation

And Saray said to Avram, Behold now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in to my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Avram hearkened to the voice of Saray.

Transliteration

Va-tomer Saray el-Avram hine-na atzarni Adonai miledet bo-na el-shifchati ulay ibane mimenah va-yishma Avram lekol Saray.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֜י אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם הִנֵּה־נָ֞א עֲצָרַ֤נִי יְהֹוָה֙ מִלֶּ֔דֶת בֹּא־נָא֙ אֶל־שִׁפְחָתִ֔י אוּלַ֥י אִבָּנֶ֖ה מִמֶּ֑נָּה וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע אַבְרָ֖ם לְק֥וֹל שָׂרָֽי׃

Parasha Commentary

Saray's Proposal to Avram

The verse (Bereishit 16:2) describes Saray's suggestion that Avram take her maidservant, Hagar, as a wife in order to have children. Rashi explains that Saray reasoned, "Perhaps I will be built up through her"—meaning that she hoped to merit children through Hagar's offspring, as if they were her own. This reflects the principle of zeicher yemot olam (considering the ways of earlier generations), where righteous women sought to fulfill the divine promise of progeny even through unconventional means.

Divine Restraint and Human Initiative

Saray acknowledges that "Hashem has restrained me from bearing", indicating her recognition that her barrenness was by divine decree. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 45:4) notes that Saray had previously been able to conceive but was now restrained, suggesting a temporary withholding of fertility for a greater divine plan. Ramban adds that Saray's proposal demonstrated her deep faith in Hashem's promise to Avram of numerous descendants, leading her to take practical steps toward its fulfillment.

Avram's Compliance

The phrase "And Avram hearkened to the voice of Saray" is significant. The Talmud (Yevamot 65b) teaches that Avram acted based on prophetic insight, as Saray's suggestion aligned with divine will. Rashi emphasizes that Avram listened to Saray because she was greater in prophecy than he was at that time, illustrating the principle that one must heed righteous counsel, even from one's spouse. The Rambam (Hilchos Ishus 15:19) later derives from this episode that a husband should honor his wife's wisdom in matters of family and spirituality.

Lessons in Emunah and Bitachon

Trust in Divine Timing: Saray's struggle teaches that even the righteous face delays in receiving blessings, requiring patience and faith.
Active Partnership in Divine Plans: The couple's actions show that human effort (hishtadlus) is necessary alongside trust in Hashem.
Mutual Respect in Marriage: Avram's deference to Saray sets a precedent for valuing a spouse's spiritual intuition.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Yevamot 65b

The verse is discussed in the context of the laws of marriage and the relationship between Sarai and Hagar, illustrating the principle that a wife's advice should be heeded in certain matters.

📖 Sanhedrin 99b

The verse is referenced in a discussion about the righteousness of Abraham and Sarah, and their actions in seeking to fulfill God's promise of descendants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Sarai suggest that Avram have a child with Hagar?
A: Sarai saw that she was unable to conceive (as the verse says, 'Hashem has restrained me from bearing'), so she followed a common practice of the time where a wife could give her maidservant to her husband to bear children in her stead. This was done with the hope that through Hagar, Sarai would 'be built up' with offspring (Rashi on Genesis 16:2).

Q: Why did Avram listen to Sarai's suggestion?
A: Avram listened to Sarai because he recognized her wisdom and righteousness. The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 45:4) explains that Avram had previously received a prophecy that his descendants would come through Sarai, so when she suggested this path, he trusted her judgment (see also Ramban on Genesis 16:2).

Q: What does 'I may be built up through her' mean in this verse?
A: The phrase 'I may be built up through her' (אִבָּנֶה מִמֶּנָּה) means that Sarai hoped to raise and consider any child born from Hagar as her own, thereby building her family through this act. This reflects the ancient understanding that a child born to a maidservant in this context would be considered the child of the mistress (Talmud, Sanhedrin 19b).

Q: Was it common for wives to give their maidservants to their husbands in biblical times?
A: Yes, this was a known practice in the ancient Near East when a wife was unable to bear children. We see a similar situation later with Rachel and Bilhah (Genesis 30:3). However, the Torah does not necessarily endorse this practice—it simply records what happened (see Rambam, Hilchot Ishut 15:4 for later halachic perspective).

Q: What lesson can we learn from Sarai's actions in this verse?
A: We learn about Sarai's deep desire to fulfill the promise of descendants that Hashem made to Avram. Her actions show selflessness in putting the future of the family above personal pride. However, Jewish tradition also learns from the later tension between Yishmael and Yitzchak that human calculations—even with good intentions—don't always align with Hashem's ultimate plan (see Talmud, Nedarim 64b on the challenges of childlessness).