Genesis 16 provides an account of Sarai (Abram's wife), her Egyptian servant Hagar, and the birth of Ishmael.

After ten years in Canaan with no children, Sarai suggested that Abram have a child with her servant Hagar, following a common custom of that time. Abram agreed, and Hagar became pregnant.

Once pregnant, Hagar began to look down on Sarai, who then treated Hagar harshly in response. Hagar ran away to the desert, where an angel of the LORD found her near a spring. The angel told her to return to Sarai and submit to her authority.

The angel also gave Hagar a promise: She would have many descendants through her son, whom she should name Ishmael ("God hears"), because the LORD had heard her affliction. The angel prophesied that Ishmael would be "a wild man" whose hand would be against everyone — and everyone's hand would be against him.

Hagar returned and gave birth to Ishmael when Abram was 86 years old.