Genesis 18:12

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?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have 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?”

Context of Genesis 18:12

10The Lord said, “I promise I’ll come back to you next year at this time, and your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah happened to be listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him. 11Abraham and Sarah were old. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. And so Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “Now that I’ve become old, will I enjoy myself again? What’s more, my husband is old!” 13The Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child now that I’m old?’ 14Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will come back to you next year at this time, and Sarah will have a son.”

Genesis 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 asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child now that I’m old?’
• Genesis 17:17Immediately, Abraham bowed with his face touching the ground. He laughed as he thought to himself, “Can a son be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, have a child?”
• Genesis 21:6Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.
• Psalms 126:2Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said, “The Lord has done spectacular things for them.”
• Luke 1:18Zechariah said to the angel, “What proof is there for this? I’m an old man, and my wife is beyond her childbearing years.”
• Hebrews 11:11Faith enabled Abraham to become a father, even though he was old and Sarah had never been able to have children. Abraham trusted that God would keep his promise.
• Ephesians 5:33But every husband must love his wife as he loves himself, and wives should respect their husbands.
• 1 Peter 3:6as Sarah did. Sarah obeyed Abraham and spoke to him respectfully. You became Sarah’s daughters by not letting anything make you afraid to do good.

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

• Abraham
• Communion
• Condescension of God
• Derision
• Doubting
• God
• Isaac
• Mamre
• Miracles
• Sarah

In the dictionaries

• Sarah
• Sarah; Sarai
• Angel
• Ashes
• Certainly
• Comfort
• Command
• Cry
• Grievous
• Hard

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