English Standard Version
Genesis 18:12
12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?"
Genesis 18:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
- New International Version (NIV)So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
Context of Genesis 18:12
10The Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?" 13The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' 14Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."
Read all of Genesis 18Genesis 18:12 word by word
וַתִּצְחַ֥ק שָׂרָ֖ה בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ לֵאמֹ֑ר אַחֲרֵ֤י בְלֹתִי֙ הָֽיְתָה־לִּ֣י עֶדְנָ֔ה וַֽאדֹנִ֖י זָקֵֽן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Therefore Sarahשָׂרָהώârâh · SarahH8283
- laughedצָחַקtsâchaq · to laughH6711
- within herselfקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- I am waxed oldבָּלָהbâlâh · to become oldH1086
- shall I have pleasureעֶדְנָה‛êden ‛ednâh · delightH5730
- my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- being old alsoזָקֵןzâqên · be oldH2204
Cross-references for Genesis 18:12
- Genesis 18:13The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'
- Genesis 17:17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"
- Genesis 21:6And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me."
- Psalms 126:2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."
- Luke 1:18And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
- Hebrews 11:11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
- Ephesians 5:33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
- 1 Peter 3:6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
Commentaries on Genesis 18:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Sarah laughed - Partly through pleasure at the bare idea of the possibility of the thing, and partly from a conviction that it was extremely improbable. She appears to have been in the same spirit, and to have had the same feelings of those who, unexpectedly hearing of something of great consequence to themselves, smile and say, "The news is too good to be true;", see Genesis 21:6. There is a case very similar to this mentioned Psalm 126:1, Psalm 126:2…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-33Verses 1-33 - The Visit of the Lord to Abraham 2. השׂתחיה vayı̂śtachû “bow,” or bend the body in token of respect to God or man. The attitude varies from a slight inclination of the body to entire prostration with the forehead touching the ground. 6. סאה se'ah a “seah,” about an English peck, the third part of an ephah. The ephah contained ten omers. The omer held about five pints. This chapter describes Abraham‘s fellowship with God. On the gracious…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 Where is Sarah thy wife? was asked. Note the answer, In the tent. Just at hand, in her proper place, occupied in her household concerns. There is nothing got by gadding. Those are most likely to receive comfort from God and his promises, who are in their proper place, and in the way of their duty, Lu 2:8. We are slow of heart to believe, and need line upon line to the same purport. The blessings others have from common providence, believers…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-15The Lord's visit to Abraham set the time for Isaac's birth. The three visitors were probably the Lord and two angels (see study note on 16:7). Abraham welcomed the visitors peacefully and generously, which contrasted with the chaos and corruption in Sodom (chapter 19). Sharing a meal was important for making or confirming covenants. When God was ready to fulfill the covenant promise, he personally shared a meal with Abraham. Fellowship with God has always…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself--Long delay seems to have weakened faith. Sarah treated the announcement as incredible, and when taxed with the silent sneer, she added falsehood to distrust. It was an aggravated offense (Ac 5:4), and nothing but grace saved her (Ro 9:18).Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 18:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries