בראשית, פרק ט״ז, פסוק י׳

Hagar receives a profound assurance regarding the unborn child she carries, learning that he is destined to grow into a vast nation. Through this promise, the original blessing of abundant offspring and strength bestowed upon Abram extends to Hagar's child as well [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Although an angel delivers this message, he acts directly as God's messenger, speaking as if God Himself is making the promise [רד״ק, ביאור יש״ר].

Commentators explore why the angel presents this specific vision of the future to Hagar at this moment. One perspective suggests the message serves as a necessary incentive. When Hagar does not immediately respond to the previous demand to return and submit to Sarai's harsh treatment, the angel appeals to her long-term benefit. This relies on the idea that a person is willing to endure present hardship to secure a bright future. The suffering she must face is framed as the necessary price for becoming the mother of a massive nation [מלבי״ם, רש ר הירש].

Another view understands the angel's words as a comforting response to a deep fear. Hagar was terrified that returning to a life of suffering and affliction would cause her to miscarry. To ease this anxiety, the angel assures her that she will not lose her baby; instead, her descendants will flourish and multiply [בכור שור, ביאור יש״ר]. To emphasize the sheer scale of this future nation, the assurance that her offspring will be impossible to count is not meant to be taken literally. Rather, it is a deliberate exaggeration used to convey an unimaginably large population [רד״ק].