Genesis 18:14

14 Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I will return to thee at this same time, life accompanying, and Sara shall have a son.

Genesis 18:14 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:14

Is anything too hard for the Lord?
&c.] Whose power is infinite; or "too wonderful" F24, so wonderful and beyond all belief, that it can never be thought it will be done by him; and why then should it be thought incredible or impossible that Sarah should have a child, though she is old? Or, is "anything hidden from the Lord" F25? Nothing can be, not Sarah's laughter. At the time appointed will I return to thee, according to the time of
life, and Sarah shall have a son;
which words are repeated not merely for the confirmation of Abraham's faith, which staggered not, but to remove Sarah's unbelief, and to encourage her faith in the divine promise.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (alpyh) "nunquid mirabile vel mirificabitur", Munster, Piscator, Schmidt.
F25 "Nunquid abscondetur", Pagninus, Cartwright; "an potest occultari", Junius & Tremellius, Fagius; so the Targum of Jonathan and Aben Ezra.

Genesis 18:14 In-Context

12 And she laughed secretly, saying: After I am grown old, and my lord is an old man, shall I give myself to pleasure?
13 And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara laugh, saying: Shall I, who am an old woman, bear a child indeed?
14 Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I will return to thee at this same time, life accompanying, and Sara shall have a son.
15 Sara denied, saying: I did not laugh: for she was afraid. But the Lord said: Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16 And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes towards Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way.
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