Genesis 21:18
Arise, take up the boy, and hold him by the hand: for I will make him a great nation.
Open Genesis 21:18 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Surge, tolle puerum, et tene manum illius : quia in gentem magnam faciam eum.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- ἀνάστηθι καὶ λάβε τὸ παιδίον, καὶ κράτησον τῇ χειρί σου αὐτό· εἰς γάρ ἔθνος μέγα ποιήσω αὐτόν.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- ק֚וּמִי שְׂאִ֣י אֶת הַנַּ֔עַר וְהַחֲזִ֥יקִי אֶת יָדֵ֖ךְ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִׂימֶֽנּוּ
The Fathers on this verse
Novatian A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity, Chapter XVIII
And lest this should occur to the injury of human eyes, the darkness is broken up and scattered by degrees; and the rising of that luminary, mounting by small and unperceived increments, gently accustoms men’s eyes to bear its full orb by the gentle increase of its rays. Thus, therefore, Christ also, that is, the image of God, and the Son of God, is looked upon by men, inasmuch as He could be seen. And thus the weakness and imperfection of the human destiny is nourished, led up, and educated by Him; so that, being accustomed to look upon the Son, it may one day be able to see God the Father Himself also as He is, that it may not be stricken by His sudden and intolerable brightness, and be hindered from being able to see God the Father, whom it has always desired. …
St Augustine On Marriage and Concupiscence, The Censuring of Lust is Not a Condemnation of Marriage; Whence Comes Shame in the Human Body. Adam and Eve Were Not Created Blind; Meaning of Their 'Eyes Being Opened.'
Now, this being the real state of the question, they undoubtedly err who suppose that, when fleshly lust is censured, marriage is condemned; as if the malady of concupiscence was the outcome of marriage and not of sin. Were not those first spouses, whose nuptials God blessed with the words, “Be fruitful and multiply,” naked, and yet not ashamed? Why, then, did shame arise out of their members after sin, except because an indecent motion arose from them, which, if men had not sinned, would certainly never have existed in marriage? Or was it, forsooth, as some hold (who give little heed to what they read), that human beings were, like dogs, at first created blind; and, absurder still, obtained sight, not as dogs do, by growing, but by sinning? Far be it from us to entertain such an opinion. …
St Hilary of Poitiers De Trinitate or On the Trinity, Book IV
25. In another instance the Scripture reveals through Abraham that it was God Who spoke. He receives the further promise of a son, Isaac. Afterwards there appear to him three men. Abraham, though he sees three, worships One, and acknowledges Him as Lord. Three were standing before him, Scripture says, but he knew well Which it was that he must worship and confess. There was nothing in outward appearance to distinguish them, but by the eye of faith, the vision of the soul, he knew his Lord. Then the Scripture goes on, And He said unto him, I will certainly return unto thee at this time hereafter, and Sarah thy wife shall have a son ; and afterwards the Lord said to Him, I will not conceal from Abraham My servant the things that I will do ; and again, Moreover the Lord said, The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is filled up, and their sins are exceeding great . …