Genesis 21:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

NIV: And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

NASB: And she said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given birth to a son in his old age.'

CSB: She also said, "Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him in his old age."

NLT: Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!'

KJV: And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

NKJV: She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Sarah, 90 years old, continues to express her joyful response to the birth of Isaac. In the previous verse, she says that everyone who hears will laugh with her, or perhaps "at" her, since her situation is so unusual.

Now she asks, who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? The implied answer is that nobody would have said such a thing. The truth, though, is that the Lord said exactly that thing to Abraham. He is the only one who could have predicted this moment, because He is the one who made it come to pass. Despite Abraham and Sarah's own doubts (Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:12), and their schemes (Genesis 16:1–2), God has faithfully provided exactly what He said He would, in the time He said He would provide it (Genesis 18:14).

Sarah concludes her expression of joy by saying that though nobody could ever have predicted it, she has indeed borne Abraham a son in his old age.

Genesis 21:1–7 describes the moment Abraham and Sarah have been waiting on for many, many years. Ever since leaving their home to begin to wander in the land of Canaan, this is a promise they have wished to see fulfilled. God had promised to make Abraham a great nation, by giving him and Sarah a naturally-born son. Finally, their first child together is born. Isaac's name means ''laughter,'' and Sarah expresses her joy at his birth. God has done the unbelievable. He has made laughter for her.

The Lord did as He had promised. Sarah, now 90 years old, gives birth to Isaac, the long-awaited child. Her joy sours, though, over a fear that Isaac might have to share an inheritance with Ishmael. In obedience to the Lord, who promises to safeguard Ishmael, Abraham sends him and his mother, Hagar, into the wilderness. God rescues them and renews His promise to make Ishmael a great nation in his own right. Meanwhile, Abimelech, king of Gerar, approaches Abraham to make a permanent treaty between them and their descendants. The agreement includes Abraham's possession of a well, at a place which will become known as Beersheba.

In the prior chapter, Abraham managed to get Sarah back from Abimelech, following his own deception and God's intervention. Here, Abraham and Sarah finally conceive a natural child. Isaac, the long-awaited child of the promise, is born. In obedience to God, Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away. Abimelech approaches Abraham to make a treaty, giving Abraham a permanent home in a place that becomes known as Beersheba. In the following chapter, God will test Abraham's faith and obedience, in one of Scripture's ultimate examples of trust.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 12/21/2024 11:04:12 PM