Genesis 16:12

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.””

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Genesis 16:12 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.””

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“and he is a wild-ass man, his hand against every one, and every one's hand against him--and before the face of all his brethren he dwelleth.'”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo Genesis 16:12 — 5 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Genesis 21:20And God was with the boy, and he grew up and settled in the wilderness and became a great archer.
  2. Genesis 25:18Ishmael’s descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is near the border of Egypt as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.
  3. Genesis 27:40You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”
  4. Job 11:12But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!
  5. Job 39:5Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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