Hagar, maid of Sarai: the angel, who apparently causes Hagar no fright, does not give a special greeting to Hagar, nor does he tell her not to be frightened. He addresses her by name and status. In some languages the expression maid of Sarai must be rendered “Hagar, you who are Sarai’s maid.” In some languages the greeting form in this context must be fuller in order to be natural. For discussion of maid see Gen 16.1.

Where have you come from and where are you going?: the questions are asked in preparation for the angel’s next speech, which will be a command to go back where she came from. In some languages and cultures these very questions are asked as the regular form of greeting exchanged between people who meet each other walking along the road. But it is important to note that they have a literal meaning here in the context of the angel’s address to Hagar.

I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai: Hagar’s reply is related not to the place she came from but rather to the person she is running away from. Fleeing, the same verb as in verse 6, tells the angel why she is there. For mistress see Gen 16.4.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .