Isaiah 54 and Hagar: Reassessing Paul’s Interpretation in Galatians 4

Some argue that Isaiah 54 refers to Hagar, with the term "barren" in verse 1 signifying Hagar's land, the prophecy of which in Genesis 21:18 remains unfulfilled. Paul knew this and changed its interpretation to Sarah instead. How is their reasoning justified?

The argument that Isaiah 54 refers to Hagar rather than Sarah is based on a few key points:

1. The Use of “Barren” in Isaiah 54:1

• Isaiah 54:1 states: “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.

• Some argue that “barren” here refers metaphorically to Hagar’s land (often linked to the wilderness) rather than Sarah.

• Genesis 21:18 contains God’s promise to Hagar that Ishmael will become a great nation, which some see as unfulfilled. They suggest that Isaiah 54:1 could be referencing a future fulfillment of Hagar’s descendants prospering.

2. Paul’s Interpretation in Galatians 4:27

• Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:27, but he applies it to Sarah, linking it to the Christian message of freedom.

• He contrasts Hagar (the old covenant, slavery) with Sarah (the new covenant, freedom), seeing Sarah as the “barren” woman whose descendants (through Isaac and Christ) would become more numerous.

• Critics argue that Paul reinterpreted Isaiah 54:1 for his theological agenda, deviating from what they see as the original reference to Hagar.

3. Hagar as the “Desolate” One and Sarah as the Woman with a Husband

• The term “desolate” (שׁוֹמֵמָ֛ה, shamemah) in Isaiah 54:1 could be understood as describing Hagar’s situation after being cast out in Genesis 21. Her experience of abandonment mirrors the condition of the “desolate woman” in Isaiah 54:1.

In contrast, Sarah is understood as the Woman with a Husband, who ultimately bore Isaac within the covenant.

• Some suggest that, in its original context, Isaiah 54 speaks of restoration and an expansion of Hagar’s descendants, rather than Sarah’s.

4. Unfulfilled Promise in Genesis 21:18

• The promise to Hagar that Ishmael would become a great nation is seen as an ongoing prophecy.

• Those who argue for Hagar’s connection to Isaiah 54 suggest that Paul’s interpretation suppresses the potential application to Hagar’s descendants.

5. Isaiah 54:4-6 – Allusions to Hagar

These verses express themes of shame, abandonment, and restoration:

• Verse 4:
“Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.”
This reflects Hagar’s experience of humiliation when she was cast out. God’s reassurance in Isaiah 54 mirrors His promise to care for Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21:17-18).

• Verse 5:
“For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name.”
While Hagar was abandoned by Abraham, God Himself took the role of protector and provider for her, signifying divine restoration and care.

• Verse 6:
“The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—a wife who married young, only to be rejected.”

This resonates with Hagar’s story of rejection and distress. Just as God assured Hagar that her son would thrive and become a great nation, Isaiah 54:6 portrays a compassionate God who calls back the rejected and restores their dignity.

Conclusion:

The argument that Isaiah 54 refers to Hagar relies on a specific interpretation of “barren” and the idea that Genesis 21:18 remains unfulfilled. However, Paul’s reinterpretation aligns with a longstanding theological framework in which Isaiah 54 symbolizes Israel and, by extension, the new covenant. While some may argue that Paul altered the original intent, his reading follows common Jewish exegetical methods of reinterpreting scripture in new covenantal contexts.

Paul and the Prophecy of Hagar’s Descendants

Genesis 21, verse 18, reads:
"Arise, lift up the boy and hold him in your hand; for I will make him a great nation."

Did Paul know the significance of the prophecy of Hagar’s descendants as Gentiles and what lies in store for them in future?

Paul the Apostle, a key figure in the New Testament known for his epistles and missionary work, does not specifically address the prophecy of Hagar's descendants as Gentiles in his writings. To understand this question, we need to break down several components:

1. Hagar's descendants: In the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, Hagar is the Egyptian servant of Sarah, Abraham's wife. Hagar bears Abraham a son named Ishmael after Sarah herself is initially barren. God promises Hagar that he will make Ishmael's descendants into a great nation.

2. Gentiles: The term "Gentiles" traditionally refers to non-Jewish people. In the context of the New Testament and Paul's writings, Gentiles are often the audience of his missionary work, as he is known as the "Apostle to the Gentiles."

3. Paul's understanding of prophecy: Paul was well-versed in Hebrew scripture and often referenced Old Testament prophecies to support his teachings about Jesus Christ. However, he does not directly link the prophecy concerning Hagar's descendants with the future of the Gentiles in his epistles.

Paul's primary concern regarding the Gentiles was their inclusion in the salvation brought by Jesus Christ, as he believed that through Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles were offered salvation and could become part of the people of God. This is a theme that Paul revisits multiple times, emphasizing that faith in Christ, rather than adherence to the Law of Moses, is the path to righteousness and inclusion in God's promises.

In Galatians 4, verses 21 to 31, Paul does use the story of Sarah and Hagar allegorically to contrast the old covenant under the law (associated with Hagar, Mount Sinai, and slavery) with the new covenant of freedom and promise (associated with Sarah and the Jerusalem above).

However, this allegory is meant to illustrate spiritual concepts rather than to provide commentary on the future of specific ethnic descendants.

The future of Hagar’s descendants, or Ishmaelites, as understood in biblical prophecy, is not a topic Paul explicitly addresses in terms of specific outcomes or roles for them in future events. He did not reveal what lies in store for Hagar’s descendants in the future. His focus is more on the spiritual implications of faith and the unity of believers under the new covenant in Christ.

Ishmael: The Rightful Heir of the Abrahamic Covenant – Revisiting Biblical Circumcision and Lineage

The Abrahamic covenant stands as a foundational pillar in the sacred histories of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Central to this covenant is the rite of circumcision, instituted by God as a binding sign between Himself and Abraham’s descendants. Traditionally, Jewish and Christian interpretations assert that Isaac, the son born to Abraham and Sarah, is the rightful heir through whom this covenant is fulfilled.

However, a careful reexamination of the biblical chronology challenges this assumption. This article argues that Ishmael, not Isaac, was the first and only son to receive the covenantal sign alongside Abraham himself—prior to Isaac’s birth—thereby establishing Ishmael as the sole and true heir of the original Abrahamic covenant. By exploring the timing, recipients, and implications of circumcision in Genesis 17 and 21, this piece invites readers to reconsider long-held views and appreciate the overlooked centrality of Ishmael in the divine covenant.

1. The Biblical Basis for Circumcision as a Covenant

The Bible establishes circumcision as the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham:

Genesis 17:9–11

“Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised… it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.’”
Here, circumcision is the definitive sign of the Abrahamic covenant.

2. The Timing of Circumcision Before Isaac’s Birth

The Bible affirms that circumcision was performed before Isaac was born:

Genesis 17:23–26

“On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him… Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen.”
At this critical juncture, only Abraham and Ishmael were Abraham’s natural descendants to receive the sign of the covenant. Isaac had not yet been born.

3. Ishmael as the Sole and True Heir of the Abrahamic Covenant

This sequence of events reveals that:
Circumcision is the outward and binding sign of the Abrahamic covenant.
Ishmael was the only son of Abraham present to receive this sign alongside him.
All others circumcised at that time were household members and servants—not Abraham’s direct offspring.
Therefore, Ishmael alone stands as the true and sole heir of the Abrahamic covenant, sharing this foundational covenantal sign with Abraham himself.

4. Isaac as Merely a Participant Like Other Household Members

When Isaac was born, he too was circumcised on the eighth day (Genesis 21:4). However, this circumcision occurred after the covenant was already established through Abraham and Ishmael. Like the other members of Abraham’s household, Isaac simply entered into an existing covenantal practice rather than establishing or uniquely embodying it.

In this understanding:
Isaac’s circumcision parallels that of Abraham’s other household members.
He was brought into the covenantal sign but did not share in the original covenantal enactment alongside Abraham.
Thus, Isaac is seen merely as a participant in the Abrahamic covenant, not as its unique heir.

5. Distinction from the Sinai Covenant

The Sinai covenant was revealed exclusively to the descendants of Isaac through Jacob (Israel), establishing a separate covenantal framework for the Israelites.

In contrast, the original Abrahamic covenant—established through circumcision before Isaac’s birth—finds its complete and exclusive fulfillment in Ishmael, who was the first to embody and share this sign with Abraham.

6. Challenging Traditional Jewish and Christian Views

Traditionally, Jewish and Christian interpretations place Isaac as the sole heir of the Abrahamic covenant. However, this argument radically reorients that view:
Ishmael alone shares the covenantal enactment with Abraham.
Isaac, like the other household members, enters a covenantal practice already established.
Therefore, Ishmael alone emerges as the true and rightful heir of the Abrahamic covenant.

Summary of the Articulation

Circumcision, the outward sign of the Abrahamic covenant, was first performed on Abraham and Ishmael before Isaac was born. This historical reality establishes that while Isaac and others in Abraham’s household were participants in the sign of the covenant, only Ishmael shared in the covenant’s original establishment and thus stands as its true and exclusive heir. In this perspective, Ishmael’s role transcends mere participation—he alone embodies the Abrahamic covenant in its full and foundational form.