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Genesis 21:7
And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have bornhim a son in his old age.

Genesis 25:6,19
But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country…

Genesis 17:19,21
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant,and with his seed after him…

Genesis 20:11
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of Godis not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

heir.

John 8:35
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever:but the Son abideth ever.

Galatians 3:18
For if the inheritancebe of the law,it is no more of promise: but God gaveit to Abraham by promise.

Galatians 4:7
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

“Expel the slave woman and her son
The "slave woman" refers to Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian maidservant, and her son, Ishmael, whom she bore to Abraham. This request highlights the tension between Sarah and Hagar, which began when Hagar conceived Ishmael (Genesis 16). The expulsion is a pivotal moment, emphasizing the separation of Isaac, the child of promise, from Ishmael. This act also foreshadows the eventual separation of Israel from other nations.

for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance
In ancient Near Eastern culture, inheritance was a crucial aspect of family life, often determining one's future and status. Ishmael, though Abraham's firstborn, was not the child of promise. This statement underscores the divine promise that Isaac would be the heir through whom God's covenant would be fulfilled (Genesis 17:19-21). It reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereign choice.

with my son Isaac!”
Isaac is the child of promise, born to Sarah and Abraham in their old age, fulfilling God's promise to them (Genesis 21:1-3). His name, meaning "laughter," signifies joy and fulfillment of God's word. The distinction between Isaac and Ishmael is not just familial but theological, as Isaac represents the line through which the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would eventually come (Matthew 1:1-2). This separation is a type of the distinction between those who are heirs according to the flesh and those according to the promise, as elaborated inGalatians 4:28-31.

Sarah has just watched Ishmael “mocking” (21:9), and she turns to her husband.

• She addresses the covenant head of the household, showing proper order (Genesis 18:12;1 Peter 3:6).

• Her words echo an earlier moment when she first spoke about Hagar (Genesis 16:2), but this time she speaks in light of God’s explicit promise that “through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned” (Genesis 21:12).

• The scene reminds us that a spouse’s counsel can align with God’s will; the Lord will soon tell Abraham, “Listen to whatever Sarah tells you” (Genesis 21:12).

Sarah’s command is blunt: drive them out.

• The verb matches Paul’s citation, “Expel the slave woman and her son” (Galatians 4:30), where the apostle sees a picture of law and grace.

• Separation safeguards the covenant line; Ishmael’s presence could blur the question of rightful heir.

• Earlier, Abraham had allowed Sarah to “do to her as you think best” when Hagar fled (Genesis 16:6), but this time the parting will be permanent, not temporary.

Ishmael is repeatedly identified by his status, not his name.

• Scripture stresses the contrast between “slave” and “free” (John 8:34–36;Galatians 4:22–23).

• God still cares for Ishmael—He will make him “a great nation” (Genesis 17:20)—yet Ishmael represents what is born of human effort, not divine promise (Romans 9:7–9).

• The label underlines that lineage alone does not secure covenant standing; spiritual birth does.

Inheritance here is both material (Abraham’s wealth) and, more importantly, the covenant blessings sworn by God.

• “The promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace” (Romans 4:16; cf.Hebrews 11:9).

• Two sons stand for two paths: one cannot mix works and promise, flesh and Spirit (Galatians 4:29).

• Abraham’s distress (Genesis 21:11) shows a father’s heart, yet God clarifies the line of inheritance so redemption history stays on course.

Sarah finishes with the name that means “he laughs,” the child of miracle birth.

• God had said, “I will establish My covenant with him” (Genesis 17:19; 26:24).

• Isaac foreshadows the greater promised Son, Christ, through whom the nations are blessed (Galatians 3:16).

• The exclusivity of the inheritance points to the exclusivity of salvation: it rests in the promised Seed, not in human schemes.

Genesis 21:10 captures a decisive moment: Sarah insists that the slave family depart so the covenant line remains pure. Scripture interprets this event as a living parable—law versus grace, flesh versus promise, slavery versus freedom. God affirms Sarah’s demand, providing for Ishmael yet reserving inheritance for Isaac, the child of promise who prefigures the ultimate heir, Jesus Christ.