What was the relationship between Sarah and Hagar?
Hagar was Sarah’s Egyptian slave. When Hagar became pregnant, she looked on Sarah with contempt, and Sarah mistreated her. Genesis 16:1, 4-6
They are connected in 2 ways:
1. Her mistress
What the Bible says
Genesis 16:1
Now Sarai the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children; but having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar,
Genesis 16:6
And Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in thy own hand, use her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted her, she ran away.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
2. Two covenants
Saint Paul uses Sarah and Hagar as an image of two covenants. Those who believe in Christ are, like Isaac, children of the promise. Galatians 4:22-28
What the Bible says
Galatians 4:22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman.
Galatians 4:28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Did you know?
A note in the NAB explains that Paul uses this allegory only within his arguments to the Galatians. Genesis, for its part, tells how God saw Hagar and heard her son. NAB note on Gal 4, 21-31; Genesis 16:13; Genesis 21:17