And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham: the thing, meaning matter or affair, refers to Sarah’s plea for Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. It must often be translated with more content; for example, “The thought of sending them away pained Abraham,” “What Sarah said hurt Abraham very much.” Was very displeasing to Abraham is literally “displeasing in Abraham’s eyes.” The verb means to cause emotional pain or hurt; as some translations say, “made Abraham feel very bad [sad].”

On account of his son means “because of the relationship between Abraham and his son” or “because Abraham cared very much for his son.” Good News Translation says “because Ishmael was also his son.”

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 .