Genesis 18:14

14 ¹Is anything too hard^[a] for the Lord? ²At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah 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.

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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 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure? ”

13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old? ’

14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son. ”

15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh, ” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh. ”

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.

Cross References

• 1. 18:14 Job 42:2; Jer. 32:17, 27; Zech. 8:6; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37
• 2. 18:14 ver. 10

Footnotes

• [a] 18:14 Or 'wonderful'