The form of verses 15 and 16 is thought by some interpreters to be from a different writer than the preceding narrative. Translators may find the repetitious style of these verses requires some adjustments to achieve a suitable style.

And Hagar bore Abram a son: it is assumed that Hagar obeyed the angel and returned to Abram’s camp before giving birth. In some languages it may be necessary to make this clear by saying, for example, “Hagar returned to her mistress, and then…” or “After Hagar had gone back….” Bore Abram a son: that is, “gave birth to Abram’s son” or “gave birth to a son. Abram was its father.”

Abram called the name of his son: here it is the father, not the mother, who names the child. Whom Hagar bore is repeated from the first line of this verse, and it may not be suitable stylistically to repeat this. For Ishmael see verse 11.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .