Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Now Sarai ... had an handmaid - [Hebrew, shipchaah (H8198)]. This word, which defines her position in Abram's family, designates a maid-servant who is devoted to the special service (Genesis 29:24), and under the exclusive authority, of the mistress (see the note at Genesis 21:10; 1 Samuel 25:41). She had been a female slave, probably one of those obtained in Egypt (Genesis 12:16).
Hagar - [Hebrew, haagaar (H1904), flight; Septuagint, Hagar.] Her Egyptian name is not given; and this, which is purely Shemitic, was that bestowed upon her after her introduction into Abram's household probably in reference to a remarkable incident in her life.