**Who Appeared to Hagar at the Spring?
A Detailed Study of Genesis 16:7–14**
The story of Hagar’s encounter in the wilderness is one of the most extraordinary divine revelations in the Old Testament. As she fled from Sarai’s harsh treatment, Hagar stopped at a spring along the road to Shur—likely on the route back to Egypt, her homeland.
It was there that a mysterious and majestic figure appeared to her, forever changing her life and the course of biblical history.
This article explores who appeared to Hagar, why this figure is significant, and what the encounter reveals about God’s character.
1. The Biblical Statement: “The Angel of the LORD”
Genesis 16:7 says:
“The Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness.”
This title—“the Angel of the LORD”—appears repeatedly in the Old Testament and often describes a figure who speaks as God, carries God’s authority, and receives worship.
This is not a typical angelic messenger. Something far more profound is happening.
2. What Makes This Angel Unique?
Throughout Scripture, ordinary angels:
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deliver messages
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refuse worship
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clearly distinguish themselves from God
But the Angel of the LORD behaves differently.
In Hagar’s story, this figure:
1. Speaks as God Himself
Genesis 16:10:
“I will multiply your descendants…”
No angel in Scripture possesses the authority to give covenant-level promises.
This is something only God can say.
2. Knows Hagar intimately
He calls her by name:
“Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?”
This divine knowledge reflects God’s omniscience.
3. Receives a divine name from Hagar
After speaking to Him, Hagar declares:
“You are the God who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13)
Hagar identifies this being as God, not merely a messenger.
4. The narrator confirms her interpretation
The text says:
“She had spoken with the LORD who spoke to her.”
This establishes beyond doubt that the Angel of the LORD is deeply associated with the LORD’s own presence.
3. Who, Then, Is the “Angel of the LORD”?
There are two main interpretations, both rooted in biblical scholarship.
Interpretation 1: The Angel of the LORD is a Theophany (God Himself Appearing)
A theophany is a visible manifestation of God in human or angelic form.
Many theologians believe that:
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The Angel of the LORD
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is not a created angel
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but a manifestation of Yahweh Himself
Why?
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He speaks as God
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He makes divine promises
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He accepts being called God
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Scripture refers to Him interchangeably with “the LORD”
This means Hagar encountered God in visible form, a rare and awe-inspiring event.
Interpretation 2: A Pre-Incarnate Appearance of Christ (Christophany)
Many Christian scholars identify the Angel of the LORD as:
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the pre-incarnate Son of God
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appearing before His incarnation as Jesus
Evidence supporting this view:
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Christ is the member of the Trinity who reveals God to humanity
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The Angel speaks with divine authority
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Other Old Testament appearances of this figure resemble Christ’s nature and mission (guiding, saving, intervening)
If this view is accepted, then Hagar is the first person in Scripture to meet the pre-incarnate Christ.
4. Why Would God Appear to Hagar?
Hagar was:
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A servant
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A foreigner
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A woman
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Oppressed
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Alone
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Pregnant
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In crisis
Yet God chose her for one of the most intimate revelations in early Scripture.
This shows:
1. God sees the vulnerable
Hagar is not a patriarch, prophet, or king.
She is a mistreated servant woman—yet God pursues her.
2. God values the oppressed
He meets her in her distress, not after she recovers.
3. God is personal
He speaks to her with tenderness and clarity.
4. God gives hope where there is none
He promises:
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A future for her
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A future for her son
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A blessing despite her suffering
5. Hagar’s Response: A New Name for God
In one of the most beautiful lines in Scripture, Hagar declares:
“You are El Roi”—“the God who sees me.”
This is the first time in the Bible a human gives God a name.
This title reflects:
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God’s awareness
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His compassion
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His presence in suffering
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His intimate involvement in human pain
Her encounter transforms her understanding of God from distant to deeply personal.
6. Spiritual and Theological Lessons
a. God seeks out the hurting
Hagar did not go looking for God; God found her.
b. God speaks to individuals, regardless of status
Her position in society did not determine her value to God.
c. The wilderness can become a place of revelation
What seemed like a place of despair became a place of divine encounter.
d. God names and knows people personally
He called Hagar by name—affirming her identity and dignity.
Conclusion
The one who appeared to Hagar at the spring was the Angel of the LORD—a figure who speaks with divine authority, makes divine promises, and is recognized as God Himself.
This was either:
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a theophany—God appearing in visible form, or
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a Christophany—a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ
Hagar’s encounter reveals a God who sees, hears, and cares for the broken and abandoned. Her story continues to inspire countless readers with the truth that God finds us even in the wilderness.