בראשית, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ט״ו

After fleeing into the desert, Hagar returns to Abraham's household following the guidance of the angel she encountered, and back in the safety of her home, she gives birth to a son [ביאור יש״ר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The mention of Abraham's age at this specific moment paints a picture of his stage in life, laying the necessary groundwork for the commandment of circumcision that will soon follow [ר׳ סעדיה גאון]. The naming of the child carries a deep, dual significance that perfectly aligns with the experiences of both parents. For Hagar, the name is a direct result of the promise delivered by the angel in the wilderness. For Abraham, it serves as a profound expression of his long-held prayers to God for a child [ספורנו].

A central question arises regarding how Abraham knew to give the child this specific name, considering the angel had originally given the instruction to Hagar. The most straightforward explanation is that Hagar simply shared the details of her miraculous encounter and the angel's command with Abraham. Trusting her account completely, Abraham proceeded to name his son accordingly [רד״ק, ר׳ סעדיה גאון, ביאור יש״ר]. It is highly unlikely that the two would not have discussed such a dramatic and life-altering event upon her return, making any supernatural explanation unnecessary [ברכת אשר על התורה]. Furthermore, the involvement of both parents in naming a child is not an unusual occurrence, mirroring other biblical figures like Adam and Eve, or Jacob and Rachel, who both participated in naming their children [רד״ק].

In contrast to this natural sequence of events, another perspective suggests that Abraham never heard the story from Hagar at all. According to this view, had she shared the angel's message, the text would have explicitly recorded their conversation before the naming took place [מזרחי]. Since the angel gave the command directly to Hagar, she was technically the one expected to give the name [גור אריה, שפתי חכמים]. Because Abraham ultimately named the child, it indicates that he was guided by divine inspiration. Through this spiritual connection, he was able to perfectly match the exact name decreed by the angel [רש״י]. It is even possible that Abraham, moved by this divine insight, simply spoke the name before Hagar had the chance, even though she fully intended to carry out the angel's instruction herself [משכיל לדוד].

A third approach offers a completely different understanding, suggesting that Abraham chose the name entirely on his own initiative. In this view, his choice was not driven by the angel's command to Hagar or by divine inspiration. Instead, it was a pure, personal expression of gratitude. By choosing this name, Abraham simply wanted to acknowledge that God had heard his prayers and seen his longing by finally blessing him with a firstborn son [ביאור שטיינזלץ].