Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
he will be a wild man—literally, "a wild ass man," expressing how the wildness of Ishmael and his descendants resembles that of the wild ass.
his hand will be against every man—descriptive of the rude, turbulent, and plundering character of the Arabs.
dwell in the presence of all his brethren—dwell, that is, pitch tents; and the meaning is that they maintain their independence in spite of all attempts to extirpate or subdue them.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Genesis 16:12:
Genesis 21:20-21
Genesis 25:18
Job 1:15
Job 11:12
Job 24:5
Daniel 11:41
Galatians 4:22
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.