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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 />So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, &#8220After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />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?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, am I to have pleasure, my lord being old also?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Sarah laughed to herself, saying, &#8220After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So Sarah laughed to herself [when she heard the LORD’S words], saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure <i>and</i> delight, my lord (husband) being also old?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So she laughed to herself: &#8220After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old, will I have delight?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />So she laughed and said to herself, "Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, will I really know such happiness?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />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!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So Sarah laughed to herself and said, "Now that I am old and worn out, can I still enjoy sex? And besides, my husband is old too." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />That's why Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "After I'm so old and my husband is old, too, am I going to have sex?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So she laughed to herself, saying, ?After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my husband being old also?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am become old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and Sarah laughs in her heart, saying, “After I have waxed old have I had pleasure? My lord [is] also old!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Abraham and Sarah are aged, entering into days -- the way of women hath ceased to be to Sarah;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Sarah will laugh within her, saying, After it has not been to me till now, and my lord, being 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 she laughed secretly, saying: After I am grown old, and my lord is an old man, shall I give myself to pleasure? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And she laughed secretly, saying, “After I have grown old, and my lord is elderly, shall I give myself to the work of delight?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So Sarah laughed to herself and said, “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am grown old, shall I renew my youth, my lord being old also?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Sara laughed in her heart and she said, “After I am worn out will I have youth, and my Lord is 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 Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Sarrha laughed in herself, saying, The thing has not as yet happened to me, even until now, and my lord is old.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/18-12.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=3795" 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">11</span>And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><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.">So she</a> <a href="/hebrew/6711.htm" title="6711: wat·tiṣ·ḥaq (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To laugh. A primitive root; to laugh outright; by implication, to sport.">laughed</a> <a href="/hebrew/7130.htm" title="7130: bə·qir·bāh (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 3fs) -- Inward part, midst. From qarab; properly, the nearest part, i.e. The center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial.">to herself,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">saying,</a> <a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: ’a·ḥă·rê (Prep) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after.">“After</a> <a href="/hebrew/1086.htm" title="1086: ḇə·lō·ṯî (V-Qal-Inf:: 1cs) -- To become old, wear out. A primitive root; to fail; by implication to wear out, decay.">I am worn out</a> <a href="/hebrew/113.htm" title="113: wa·ḏō·nî (Conj-w:: N-msc:: 1cs) -- Lord. Or adon; from an unused root; sovereign, i.e. Controller.">and my master</a> <a href="/hebrew/2204.htm" title="2204: zā·qên (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To be or become old. A primitive root; to be old.">is old,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yə·ṯāh- (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">will I now have</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5730.htm" title="5730: ‘eḏ·nāh (N-fs) -- A luxury, dainty, delight. Or aednah; from adan; pleasure.">this pleasure?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’…<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="/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="/luke/1-18.htm">Luke 1:18</a></span><br />“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-34.htm">Luke 1:34</a></span><br />“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-6.htm">1 Peter 3:6</a></span><br />just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-9.htm">Romans 9:9</a></span><br />For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-22.htm">Galatians 4:22-23</a></span><br />For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. / His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.<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="/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="/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="/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="/isaiah/54-1.htm">Isaiah 54:1</a></span><br />“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/37-13.htm">Psalm 37:13</a></span><br />but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/126-2.htm">Psalm 126:2</a></span><br />Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?</p><p class="hdg">laughed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/17-17.htm">Genesis 17:17</a></b></br> Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall <i>a child</i> be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/21-6.htm">Genesis 21:6,7</a></b></br> And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, <i>so that</i> all that hear will laugh with me… </p><p class="hdg">my.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/5-33.htm">Ephesians 5:33</a></b></br> Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife <i>see</i> that she reverence <i>her</i> husband.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_peter/3-6.htm">1 Peter 3:6</a></b></br> Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/18-11.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/hebrews/8-13.htm">Aged</a> <a href="/genesis/18-11.htm">Ceased</a> <a href="/genesis/12-14.htm">Entering</a> <a href="/revelation/18-3.htm">Grown</a> <a href="/revelation/19-8.htm">Herself</a> <a href="/genesis/16-3.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/genesis/17-17.htm">Laughed</a> <a href="/genesis/4-7.htm">Master</a> <a href="/genesis/4-5.htm">Pleasure</a> <a href="/genesis/18-11.htm">Sarah</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-1.htm">Thought</a> <a href="/genesis/11-3.htm">Used</a> <a href="/revelation/18-7.htm">Waxed</a> <a href="/genesis/18-5.htm">Way</a> <a href="/genesis/10-32.htm">Within</a> <a href="/genesis/18-11.htm">Women</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-7.htm">Worn</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/18-13.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Aged</a> <a href="/genesis/29-35.htm">Ceased</a> <a href="/genesis/23-10.htm">Entering</a> <a href="/genesis/19-13.htm">Grown</a> <a href="/genesis/20-5.htm">Herself</a> <a href="/genesis/19-31.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-21.htm">Laughed</a> <a href="/genesis/24-9.htm">Master</a> <a href="/genesis/18-13.htm">Pleasure</a> <a href="/genesis/18-13.htm">Sarah</a> <a href="/genesis/19-14.htm">Thought</a> <a href="/genesis/18-18.htm">Used</a> <a href="/genesis/18-13.htm">Waxed</a> <a href="/genesis/18-16.htm">Way</a> <a href="/genesis/18-24.htm">Within</a> <a href="/genesis/20-18.htm">Women</a> <a href="/exodus/35-19.htm">Worn</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'; 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This moment occurs after the Lord promises Abraham that Sarah will bear a son. Her laughter reflects a common human response to seemingly impossible promises. In biblical context, laughter often signifies doubt or surprise, as seen in other instances like <a href="/genesis/17-17.htm">Genesis 17:17</a>, where Abraham also laughs at the promise of a son. This internal laughter contrasts with the joy and fulfillment that comes later when the promise is fulfilled with the birth of Isaac, whose name means "he laughs."<p><b>saying, “After I am worn out</b><br>Sarah refers to her advanced age and the physical decline associated with it. At this point, she is around 90 years old, well past the typical childbearing age. This phrase highlights the human perspective of limitations and the natural impossibility of the situation. It underscores the miraculous nature of God's promise, as He often works beyond human limitations to fulfill His purposes, as seen in other biblical narratives like the birth of John the Baptist to Elizabeth in <a href="/luke/1.htm">Luke 1</a>.<p><b>and my master is old</b><br>Sarah refers to Abraham as "my master," reflecting the cultural norms of respect and hierarchy within marriage during that time. Abraham is about 100 years old, further emphasizing the improbability of the promise from a human standpoint. This phrase also points to the patriarchal structure of ancient Near Eastern societies, where the husband was the head of the household. The use of "master" aligns with <a href="/1_peter/3-6.htm">1 Peter 3:6</a>, where Sarah's respect for Abraham is commended.<p><b>will I now have this pleasure?”</b><br>The "pleasure" Sarah refers to is the joy and fulfillment of bearing a child, a significant desire and honor for women in ancient cultures. Childbearing was often seen as a woman's primary role and a source of social status. This question reflects her doubt and surprise at the possibility of experiencing such joy at her age. The fulfillment of this promise is a testament to God's faithfulness and power, as He brings joy and fulfillment in unexpected ways, foreshadowing the joy of salvation and the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, who brings ultimate fulfillment and joy to humanity.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/sarah.htm">Sarah</a></b><br>The wife of Abraham, who is advanced in age and has been barren. Her laughter reflects disbelief and skepticism about God's promise of a son.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a></b><br>Sarah's husband, who has been promised by God to be the father of many nations. He is also advanced in age.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The divine visitor who, along with two angels, visits Abraham and reiterates the promise of a son to him and Sarah.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/tent.htm">Tent</a></b><br>The setting where Sarah overhears the conversation between Abraham and the visitors, leading to her internal reaction.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/promise_of_isaac.htm">Promise of Isaac</a></b><br>The event where God reaffirms His promise to Abraham that Sarah will bear a son, despite their old age.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_promises.htm">Faith in God's Promises</a></b><br>Despite human limitations and circumstances, God's promises remain true. Sarah's initial disbelief is a reminder to trust in God's timing and power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_patience_and_understanding.htm">God's Patience and Understanding</a></b><br>God understands our doubts and fears. Sarah's laughter did not disqualify her from God's promise, showing His patience and grace.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_god's_word.htm">The Power of God's Word</a></b><br>When God speaks, His word is powerful and effective. Sarah's laughter turned into joy when God's promise was fulfilled with the birth of Isaac.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/transformation_through_faith.htm">Transformation through Faith</a></b><br>Sarah's journey from doubt to faith is an encouragement that God can transform our skepticism into belief and trust.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_listening_to_god.htm">The Importance of Listening to God</a></b><br>Sarah overheard the promise and initially doubted. Actively listening to God's word can strengthen our faith and understanding.<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/does_laughter_bring_joy_to_the_heart.htm">Does laughter bring joy to the heart?</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_defines_isaac's_life_in_the_bible.htm">What key events define Isaac's life in the Bible?</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/ellicott/genesis/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) <span class= "bld">Sarah laughed.</span>--See Note on <a href="/genesis/17-17.htm" title="Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born to him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?">Genesis 17:17</a>. The laughter of both husband and wife brings into prominence the inconceivable character of the fact. Sarah's conduct has been very unjustly condemned. Though Abraham may have begun to guess that his visitors were more than men, she probably had no such suspicions. Sitting inside the tent, and catching their words only occasionally, listening, perhaps, now only because she heard her own name mentioned, when she hears them talk of her having a child she naturally laughs. thinking possibly that they did not know how old she was.<p><span class= "bld">After I am waxed old.</span>--The Hebrew word is stronger and more lively. It means "to be worn out like an old garment."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Therefore</span> (literally, and) <span class="cmt_word">Sarah laughed within herself</span> - Abraham had laughed in joyful amazement, (<a href="/genesis/18-17.htm">Genesis 18:17</a>) at the first mention of Sarah s son; Sarah laughs, if not in unbelief (Calvin, Keil, 'Speaker's Commentary,' Wordsworth), at least with a mingled feeling of doubt and delight (Lange, Murphy) at the announcement of her approaching maternity - <span class="cmt_word">saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? </span> - literally, <span class="accented">and my</span> lord, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> my husband, is old. The reverential submission to Abraham which Sarah here displays is in the New Testament commended as a pattern to Christian wives (<a href="/1_peter/3-6.htm">1 Peter 3:6</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/18-12.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">So [she]</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂרָ֖ה</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">laughed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּצְחַ֥ק</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tiṣ·ḥaq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - 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">to herself,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·qir·bāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7130.htm">Strong's 7130: </a> </span><span class="str2">The nearest part, the center</span><br /><br /><span class="word">saying,</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵאמֹ֑ר</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">“After</span><br /><span class="heb">אַחֲרֵ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(’a·ḥă·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_310.htm">Strong's 310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The hind or following part</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I am worn out</span><br /><span class="heb">בְלֹתִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·lō·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1086.htm">Strong's 1086: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fail, to wear out, decay</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and my master</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽאדֹנִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(wa·ḏō·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_113.htm">Strong's 113: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sovereign, controller</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is old,</span><br /><span class="heb">זָקֵֽן׃</span> <span class="translit">(zā·qên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine 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 /><br /><span class="word">will I now have</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽיְתָה־</span> <span class="translit">(hā·yə·ṯāh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this pleasure?”</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶדְנָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘eḏ·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5730.htm">Strong's 5730: </a> </span><span class="str2">A luxury, dainty, delight</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/18-12.htm">Genesis 18:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/18-12.htm">OT Law: Genesis 18:12 Sarah laughed within herself saying After (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/18-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 18:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/18-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 18:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:13" /></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>