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Genesis 18:13 And the LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really bear a child when I am old?'
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 18:13 And the LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really bear a child when I am old?'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/18-13.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/01_Gen_18_13.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 18:13 - Sarah Laughs at the Promise" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And the LORD asked Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really bear a child when I am old?'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/18-13.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/18-13.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 13</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad13.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/18-12.htm" title="Genesis 18:12">◄</a> Genesis 18:13 <a href="/genesis/18-14.htm" title="Genesis 18:14">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/18.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear <i>a child,</i> since I am old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I actually give birth <i>to a child,</i> when I am <i>so</i> old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear <i>a child,</i> when I am <i>so</i> old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear <i>a son</i>, when I am <i>so</i> old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh [to herself], saying, ‘Shall I really give birth [to a child] when I am so old?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old? ’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jehovah said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really have a child now that I'm old?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really have a child when I am so old?' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and think, 'Am I really going to bear a child, since I'm so old?' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD asked Abraham, ?Why did Sarah laugh and say, ?Can I really bear a child when I am old??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child when I am old?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />God said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Will I really bear a child when I am old?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I certainly bear a child, who am old?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And YHWH says to Abraham, “Why [is] this? Sarah has laughed, saying, Is it really true—I bear—and I am aged?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Sarah laugheth in her heart, saying, 'After I have waxed old I have had pleasure! -- my lord also is old!'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jehovah will say to Abraham, For what did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall truly even I bring forth, and I have become old?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sera laugh, saying: Shall I who am an old woman bear a child indeed ? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then the Lord said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh, saying: ‘How can I, an old woman, actually give birth?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But the LORD said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really bear a child, old as I am?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I truly bear a child, when I am so old?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And LORD JEHOVAH said to Abraham: “Why did Sara laugh and say, ‘Truly, shall I give birth when I am old?’<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the LORD said unto Abraham: 'Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the Lord said to Abraam, Why is it that Sarrha has laughed in herself, saying, Shall I then indeed bear? but I am grown old.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/18-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=3803" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm">Sarah Laughs at the Promise</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">12</span>So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” <span class="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">And the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">asked</a> <a href="/hebrew/85.htm" title="85: ’aḇ·rā·hām (N-proper-ms) -- Contracted from 'ab and an unused root; father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram.">Abraham,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: lām·māh (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“Why</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8283.htm" title="8283: śā·rāh (N-proper-fs) -- Princess, a wife of Abraham. The same as sarah; Sarah, Abraham's wife.">did Sarah</a> <a href="/hebrew/6711.htm" title="6711: ṣā·ḥă·qāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To laugh. A primitive root; to laugh outright; by implication, to sport.">laugh</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and say,</a> <a href="/hebrew/637.htm" title="637: ha·’ap̄ (Conj) -- Also, yea. A primitive particle; meaning accession; also or yea; adversatively though.">‘Can I really</a> <a href="/hebrew/552.htm" title="552: ’um·nām (Conj) -- Verily, truly, indeed. An orthographical variation of 'omnam."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: ’ê·lêḏ (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">bear a child</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: wa·’ă·nî (Conj-w:: Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">when I am</a> <a href="/hebrew/2204.htm" title="2204: zā·qan·tî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To be or become old. A primitive root; to be old.">old?’</a> </span><span class="reftext">14</span>Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-37.htm">Luke 1:37</a></span><br />For no word from God will ever fail.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-11.htm">Hebrews 11:11</a></span><br />By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-19.htm">Romans 4:19-21</a></span><br />Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. / Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, / being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-26.htm">Matthew 19:26</a></span><br />Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/32-17.htm">Jeremiah 32:17</a></span><br />“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/32-27.htm">Jeremiah 32:27</a></span><br />“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/42-2.htm">Job 42:2</a></span><br />“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/11-23.htm">Numbers 11:23</a></span><br />The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/46-10.htm">Isaiah 46:10</a></span><br />I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-8.htm">Isaiah 55:8-9</a></span><br />“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/115-3.htm">Psalm 115:3</a></span><br />Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/135-6.htm">Psalm 135:6</a></span><br />The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/3-20.htm">Ephesians 3:20</a></span><br />Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-27.htm">Mark 10:27</a></span><br />Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/18-27.htm">Luke 18:27</a></span><br />But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?</p><p class="hdg">Wherefore.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/2-25.htm">John 2:25</a></b></br> And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/18-12.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/17-21.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/genesis/17-27.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/genesis/17-17.htm">Child</a> <a href="/genesis/18-5.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/genesis/17-19.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/luke/6-26.htm">Laugh</a> <a href="/psalms/37-13.htm">Laugheth</a> <a href="/genesis/18-12.htm">Pleasure</a> <a href="/genesis/11-6.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/genesis/16-13.htm">Really</a> <a href="/genesis/18-12.htm">Sarah</a> <a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Surety</a> <a href="/genesis/18-12.htm">Waxed</a> <a href="/genesis/16-14.htm">Wherefore</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/genesis/21-3.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Child</a> <a href="/genesis/20-5.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/genesis/18-18.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/genesis/18-15.htm">Laugh</a> <a href="/genesis/21-6.htm">Laugheth</a> <a href="/genesis/19-5.htm">Pleasure</a> <a href="/genesis/24-40.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Really</a> <a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Sarah</a> <a href="/genesis/26-9.htm">Surety</a> <a href="/genesis/19-13.htm">Waxed</a> <a href="/genesis/21-10.htm">Wherefore</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 18</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/18-1.htm">The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/18-9.htm">Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/18-16.htm">The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Abraham makes intercession for its inhabitants.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/18.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/18.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And the LORD asked Abraham,</b><br>This phrase indicates a direct communication between God and Abraham, highlighting the personal relationship they share. In the context of Genesis, God frequently speaks to Abraham, establishing him as a key patriarch in the biblical narrative. This interaction underscores the covenant relationship God has with Abraham, which is foundational for the nation of Israel. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies the covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and sovereignty. This moment occurs at Mamre, a significant location where Abraham often encounters God (<a href="/genesis/13-18.htm">Genesis 13:18</a>).<p><b>“Why did Sarah laugh and say,</b><br>Sarah's laughter is a reaction of disbelief and surprise, reflecting her human doubt in the face of divine promise. This moment is pivotal as it reveals the natural skepticism that can accompany faith. Sarah's laughter is internal, yet God addresses it, demonstrating His omniscience. This incident parallels the earlier laughter of Abraham in <a href="/genesis/17-17.htm">Genesis 17:17</a>, showing a consistent theme of initial doubt followed by faith. The question posed by God is rhetorical, meant to provoke reflection and faith in His promises.<p><b>‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’”</b><br>Sarah's question highlights the human perspective of impossibility due to her advanced age, which is emphasized in <a href="/genesis/17-17.htm">Genesis 17:17</a> where Abraham also questions the feasibility of having a child at such an age. This reflects the cultural understanding of barrenness and the significance of offspring in ancient times. The miraculous nature of Isaac's birth prefigures other miraculous births in Scripture, such as that of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, where divine intervention overcomes natural limitations. This event is a testament to God's power to fulfill His promises despite human limitations, reinforcing the theme of faith and divine capability.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>In this passage, the LORD refers to God Himself, who is speaking directly to Abraham. This highlights the personal relationship and communication between God and Abraham.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a></b><br>The patriarch of the Israelites, Abraham is a central figure in this account. He is known for his faith and obedience to God, and here he is being addressed by God regarding Sarah's reaction.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sarah.htm">Sarah</a></b><br>Abraham's wife, who laughed in disbelief at the promise of bearing a child in her old age. Her reaction is a focal point of this passage, illustrating human doubt in the face of divine promises.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_tent.htm">The Tent</a></b><br>The setting where Sarah overhears the conversation between the LORD and Abraham. It symbolizes the domestic and intimate setting of this divine encounter.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/promise_of_a_son.htm">Promise of a Son</a></b><br>The event revolves around the promise that Sarah will bear a son, Isaac, despite her old age, which is a pivotal moment in the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_omniscience.htm">God's Omniscience</a></b><br>God knows our thoughts and reactions, even those we do not express openly. This should encourage us to be honest with God about our doubts and fears.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_promises.htm">Faith in God's Promises</a></b><br>Like Sarah, we may struggle with doubt, but God is faithful to fulfill His promises. We are called to trust in His timing and power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_timing.htm">Divine Timing</a></b><br>God's plans often defy human logic and timing. We should remain patient and hopeful, knowing that God's timing is perfect.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/human_doubt_and_divine_assurance.htm">Human Doubt and Divine Assurance</a></b><br>Doubt is a natural human response, but God provides assurance and evidence of His faithfulness throughout Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_laughter.htm">The Role of Laughter</a></b><br>Sarah's laughter can be seen as a mix of disbelief and joy. It reminds us that God can turn our skepticism into joy when His promises are fulfilled.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 18</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_'h'_in_jesus_h._christ_mean.htm">Why did Sarah refer to Abraham as lord?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_lessons_from_sarah_and_hagar.htm">What lessons does the Sarah and Hagar story teach?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_visited_abraham_in_genesis_18.htm">Who were the three men visiting Abraham in Genesis 18?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_sarah_refer_to_abraham_as_lord.htm">Why did Sarah refer to Abraham as lord?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh</span>, - a question which must have convinced Abraham of the Speaker's omniscience. Not only had he heard the silent, inaudible, inward cachinnation of Sarah's spirit, but he knew the tenor of her thoughts, and the purport of her dubitations - <span class="cmt_word">saying, Shall I of a surely bear a child, whilst</span> (literally, and I) <span class="cmt_word">am old?</span> Sarah s mental cogitations clearly showed that the temporary obscuration of her faith proceeded from a strong realization of the weakness of nature, which made conception and pregnancy impossible to one like her, who was advanced in years; and accordingly her attention, as well as that of her husband, was directed to the Divine omnipotence as the all-sufficient guarantee for the accomplishment of the promise. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/18-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">asked</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֥אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Abraham,</span><br /><span class="heb">אַבְרָהָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(’aḇ·rā·hām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_85.htm">Strong's 85: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Why</span><br /><span class="heb">לָ֣מָּה</span> <span class="translit">(lām·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">did Sarah</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂרָ֜ה</span> <span class="translit">(śā·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8283.htm">Strong's 8283: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham</span><br /><br /><span class="word">laugh</span><br /><span class="heb">צָחֲקָ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(ṣā·ḥă·qāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6711.htm">Strong's 6711: </a> </span><span class="str2">To laugh outright, to sport</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and say,</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵאמֹ֗ר</span> <span class="translit">(lê·mōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Can I really</span><br /><span class="heb">הַאַ֥ף</span> <span class="translit">(ha·’ap̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_637.htm">Strong's 637: </a> </span><span class="str2">Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bear a child</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלֵ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lêḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">when I am</span><br /><span class="heb">וַאֲנִ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(wa·’ă·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">old?’</span><br /><span class="heb">זָקַֽנְתִּי׃</span> <span class="translit">(zā·qan·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2204.htm">Strong's 2204: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become old</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/18-13.htm">OT Law: Genesis 18:13 Yahweh said to Abraham Why did Sarah (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/18-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 18:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/18-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 18:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>