Gen 16:7 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 7. The angel of the Lord ] That Jesus Christ, in a body suited to the dignity of his nature, frequently appeared to the patriarchs, has been already intimated. That the person mentioned here was greater than any created being is sufficiently evident from the following particulars:- 1. From his promising to perform what God alone could do , and foretelling what God alone could know; "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly," &c. , ; "Thou art with child, and shalt bear a son," &c. , ; "He will be a wild man," &c. , . All this shows a prescience which is proper to God alone. 2. Hagar considers the person who spoke to her as God , calls him El , and addresses him in the way of worship , which, had he been a created angel, he would have refused. See . 3. Moses, who relates the transaction, calls this angel expressly JEHOVAH; for, says he , she called shem Yehovah , the NAME of the LORD that spake to her, . Now this is a name never given to any created being. 4. This person, who is here called malach Yehovah , the Angel of the Lord, is the same who is called hammalach haggoel , the redeeming Angel or the Angel the Redeemer , ; malach panaiv , the Angel of God's presence, ; and malach habberith , the Angel of the Covenant, ; and is the same person which the Septuagint, , term μεγαλησβουλησαγγελοσ, the Angel of the Great Counsel or Design , viz., of redeeming man, and filling the earth with righteousness. 5. These things cannot be spoken of any human or created being, for the knowledge, works, &c. , attributed to this person are such as belong to God; and as in all these cases there is a most evident personal appearance , Jesus Christ alone can be meant; for of God the Father it has been ever true that no man hath at any time seen his shape , nor has he ever limited himself to any definable personal appearance. In the way to Shur. ] As this was the road from Hebron to Egypt, it is probable she was now returning to her own country.

‏ Genesis 16:7

Verse 7. The angel of the Lord] That Jesus Christ, in a body suited to the dignity of his nature, frequently appeared to the patriarchs, has been already intimated. That the person mentioned here was greater than any created being is sufficiently evident from the following particulars:-

1. From his promising to perform what God alone could do, and foretelling what God alone could know; "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly," &c., Ge 16:10; "Thou art with child, and shalt bear a son," &c., Ge 16:11; "He will be a wild man," &c., Ge 16:12. All this shows a prescience which is proper to God alone.

2. Hagar considers the person who spoke to her as God, calls him El, and addresses him in the way of worship, which, had he been a created angel, he would have refused. See Re 19:10; 22:9.

3. Moses, who relates the transaction, calls this angel expressly JEHOVAH; for, says he, she called shem Yehovah, the NAME of the LORD that spake to her, Ge 16:13. Now this is a name never given to any created being.

4. This person, who is here called malach Yehovah, the Angel of the Lord, is the same who is called hammalach haggoel, the redeeming Angel or the Angel the Redeemer, Ge 48:16; malach panaiv, the Angel of God's presence, Isa 63:9; and malach habberith, the Angel of the Covenant, Mal 3:1; and is the same person which the Septuagint, Isa 9:6, term μεγαλησβουλησαγγελοσ, the Angel of the Great Counsel or Design, viz., of redeeming man, and filling the earth with righteousness.

5. These things cannot be spoken of any human or created being, for the knowledge, works, &c., attributed to this person are such as belong to God; and as in all these cases there is a most evident personal appearance, Jesus Christ alone can be meant; for of God the Father it has been ever true that no man hath at any time seen his shape, nor has he ever limited himself to any definable personal appearance.

In the way to Shur.] As this was the road from Hebron to Egypt, it is probable she was now returning to her own country.