Beer-lahai-roi
Beer-lahai-roi is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as Ain Muweileh. It appears across 3 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Beer-lahai-roi, meaning "the well of the Living One who sees me," holds a singular place in the patriarchal narratives as the site of divine encounter and mercy in the wilderness. The place first appears in Genesis 16 when Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarai, fled into the desert after harsh treatment from her mistress. At a spring on the road to Shur, the Angel of the LORD found her and addressed her by name — a remarkable moment of divine condescension. After receiving the promise that her son Ishmael would become a great nation, Hagar named God "El Roi," the God who sees, and the well was named in commemoration. The site appears again in the story of Isaac: following Abraham's death, Isaac settled near Beer-lahai-roi (Genesis 24:62; 25:11), suggesting it held deep spiritual significance for the patriarchal family. Its association with divine seeing and Hagar's salvation makes it a testament to God's care extending beyond Israel's immediate ancestors to all who cry out in affliction.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Beer-lahai-roi is traditionally identified with Ain Muweileh, a spring located in the central Negev of modern Israel, southeast of Beersheba near the ancient road to Shur and Egypt. The site lies in a harsh semi-arid landscape consistent with the Genesis account of Hagar's flight. While no formal excavation has been published specifically confirming this identification, the spring's location along a well-traveled ancient caravan route lends plausibility to the association. The broader Negev region contains numerous Bronze Age sites attesting to sporadic settlement and nomadic movement during the patriarchal period, supporting the historical plausibility of the Genesis narrative.
Verse Appearances (3)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →