well

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “well” in English is translated in Cherokee as ama atlvhdiyi or “where you fill it with water.” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 16)

complete verse (Genesis 16:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 16:14:

  • Kankanaey: “That is the reason that-aforementioned spring in the area-between Kades and Bered is named Beer-lahai or Spring of the Living-One who Sees-me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So the people named the spring located between Kadesh and Bered, Beer-lahai-roi.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “That is why the spring there between Kadesh and Bered was-called Beer-Lahai-Roi.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “That is why people call the well there ‘Beer-Lahai-Roi’, which means, ‘The well of the living one who sees us’! It is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 16:14

Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi: Therefore signals a concluding explanation. The form is similar to the explanation of the term “Babel” in 11.9. We may need to say something like “That is why” or “That is the reason.” The well refers to what was called a “spring” in Gen 16.7. Was called does not necessarily mean that Hagar gave the well this name. If the passive is not suitable, it may be acceptable to use an impersonal pronoun; for example, “they call the well,” “people say this well’s name is,” “people know this well by the name.” One example of the way this part of the verse may be rendered is “That is why, up to this very day, people call that spring….”

Beer-lahai-roi: Revised Standard Version transliterates the Hebrew for this word and supplies a translation in the footnote. On the other hand Good News Translation gives a translation only. As noted in connection with the previous verse, some translations retain the Hebrew for “a God of seeing” in the form of El Roi, in order to associate the name Hagar gave to the LORD and the name of the well given here. For example, in verse 13 Bible en français courant says “You are El-Roi, the God who sees me,” and in verse 14 “That is why the well is called the well of Lahai-Roi, or well of the Living One who sees me.” Translators who find little evident connection between the name Hagar gave the LORD in verse 13 and the name of the well in verse 14 are advised to follow Good News Translation. See “Names in Genesis” in “Translating Genesis,” page 8.

It lies between Kadesh and Bered: this sentence is placed before the name of the well in Good News Translation. For the location of Kadesh see 14.7. The location of Bered is not known, and the name is mentioned only here.

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 .

Hagar's story

The following is an oral presentation in a dialog style of Hagar’s story to a female audience in Kako:

 

—That many sheep and goats to buy wives and only one wife?—

“Well, Sara couldn’t have children. They laid down together but she never got a belly [pregnant].”

—A sigh of pain—

“But Sara had a work-girl from another tribe and she being Nya Tou [woman of the house] told her work-girl to go lie down with Abram, the rich man.”

—Clicks of agreement—

“So, work-girl named Hagar got a belly

—Yes, yes, yes, Hagar got a belly—

“Well, what do you think? Hagar lifted up her heart [became proud] and turned her head away from Sara.”

—Oh, Oh, Oh, Hagar makes trouble for Nya Tou. Sara’s head will get hot—

“Yes, Sara’s head got hot and she made Hagar work harder and harder. Sara had a leopard’s heart [was cruel] toward Hagar and so one night Hagar ran away from the rich man’s camp.”

—Yi, yi yi, Hagar running to the bush with a belly—

“After going a long way, Hagar got thirsty and knelt down by a spring to drink when she heard the voice of Ndjambie [God] speaking to her.

—Silence—

“Where you going, Hagar?’
“Hagar answered, ‘I am running away from Nya Tou; she has a leopard’s heart.’”

—Go back home, Hagar, take care of your belly—

“Ndjambie told her just that. ‘You will have a male child and you must name him Ndjambie-hears-you (Ishmael).”
“Ndjambie has heard your cries, Hagar.’”

—Silence again—

“Then Hagar asked herself, ‘Have I seen Ndjambie and I am still alive and well?’”
“Hagar named that spring Ndjambie is one who sees me.”

—Did you hear this, Ndjambie hears the cries of a second wife, goes to the bush to find a second wife, hears and sees work-girl with a belly. Oh, sisters, did we ever think such a thing of Ndjambie?—

 

Source: Reyburn 2002, p. 194f.