El Roi () is one of the

names of God There are various names of God, many of which enumerate the various Quality (philosophy), qualities of a Supreme Being. The English word ''God (word), god'' (and its equivalent in other languages) is used by multiple religions as a noun to ref ...

in the

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. '' Rashi Shlomo Yitzchaki (; ; ; 13 July 1105) was a French rabbi who authored comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud and Hebrew Bible. He is commonly known by the List of rabbis known by acronyms, Rabbinic acronym Rashi (). Born in Troyes, Rashi stud ...

translates it "god of sight", Joseph b. Isaac Bekhor Shor translates it "god saw me",

Abraham Ibn Ezra Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra (, often abbreviated as ; ''Ibrāhim al-Mājid ibn Ezra''; also known as Abenezra or simply ibn Ezra, 1089 / 1092 – 27 January 1164 / 23 January 1167)''Jewish Encyclopedia''online; '' Chambers Biographical Dictionar ...

, Bahya b. Asher, and Obadiah b. Jacob Sforno, "god who appears",

David Kimhi ''Cervera Bible'', David Kimhi's Grammar Treatise David Kimhi (, also Kimchi or Qimḥi) (1160–1235), also known by the Hebrew acronym as the RaDaK () (Rabbi David Kimhi), was a medieval rabbi, biblical commentator, philosopher, and grammarian ...

, "god I saw" or "visible god", and Levi b. Gershon as "all-seeing god". This name appears in the Book of Genesis, specifically in Genesis 16:13, and is unique because it is spoken by Hagar, an Egyptian servant of Sarai (Sarah), Abraham's wife.

Context in Genesis 16

Hagar, after becoming pregnant by Abraham (at Sarai’s urging, because Sarai was barren), begins to experience mistreatment and jealousy from Sarai. Feeling oppressed, Hagar flees into the wilderness. There, an angel of the Lord appears to her near a spring and tells her to return to Sarai, while also delivering a prophecy that her son, Ishmael, will become the father of a great nation. After this encounter, Hagar is deeply moved, and she says: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13, NIV) She then calls the name of the Lord who spoke to her El Roi, recognizing that even as a lowly, mistreated servant, she was seen and acknowledged by God. This is profound because it shows a deeply personal and intimate understanding of God’s attention and care—even for someone on the margins.

References

Book of Genesis Deities in the Hebrew Bible Names of God in Christianity Names of God in Judaism Hagar El (deity) {{Hebrew-Bible-stub