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

10Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 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?” 13Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, 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 18:13Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’
• Genesis 17:17Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”
• Genesis 21:6And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.
• Psalms 126:2We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
• Luke 1:18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
• Hebrews 11:11It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.
• Ephesians 5:33So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
• 1 Peter 3:6For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.

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