Welcome back to The Life of H: Sarah, Reimagined, where I translate Sarah’s story from biblical Hebrew into poetic and restorative English.
Today I present my translation of Genesis chapter 21: 19-21, three concluding verses that describe Hagar and Ishmael’s redemption in the desert following an excruciating exile.
In contemplating the original Hebrew, word by word, I discovered the power and strength of these two characters: an Egyptian mother and her teenaged son, as they find sustenance — not only in the water that springs from the earth to save them — but also in the deities and the land that support them.
I found hints here of the Egyptian goddess Neith, who ruled over war and the hunt among other things. Which makes sense, because Hagar’s homeland, Egypt, was the birthplace of archery and was known for its skillful warriors.
Based on the derivations of place names of the desert regions they traveled, my translation also connects Hagar and Ishmael to enlivening qualities of the land itself.
Today’s translation is part of The Life of H: Sarah, Reimagined, which uses poetry and translation to restore the power of the divine feminine and rebalance what’s generally known as a patriarchal origin story. Learn more here.
To access more verses, and to get the big picture, visit the Table of (Evolving) Contents with links to the completed verses and notes on what’s to come.
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