Genesis 18:9-15

9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife? ” And he said, “She is ¹in the tent. ”

10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you ²about this time next year, and ³Sarah your wife shall have a son. ” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

11 Now ⁴Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.

12 ⁵So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ⁶“After I am worn out, and ⁷my 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 ⁸Is anything too hard^[a] for the Lord? ⁹At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son. ”

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

Genesis 18:9-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 18

Another appearance of God to Abraham is here recorded; three persons are seen by him in an human form, whom he kindly invites to stop with him, and generously entertains them, Ge 18:1-8; they inquire concerning Sarah his wife, and one of them renews the promise of her bearing a son to him, which occasions laughter in her, for which she is reproved, Ge 18:9-15; upon their departure the Lord thought fit, for reasons given, to make known to Abraham his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 18:16-22; when Abraham intercedes for the preservation of those cities in a most importunate and affectionate manner, Ge 18:23-33.

Cross References

• 1. 18:9 ch. 24:67
• 2. 18:10 ver. 14; 2 Kgs. 4:16
• 3. 18:10 ch. 17:19, 21; 21:2; Cited Rom. 9:9
• 4. 18:11 ch. 17:17; Rom. 4:19; Heb. 11:11, 12
• 5. 18:12 [ch. 17:17]
• 6. 18:12 [Luke 1:18]
• 7. 18:12 1 Pet. 3:6
• 8. 18:14 Job 42:2; Jer. 32:17, 27; Zech. 8:6; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37
• 9. 18:14 ver. 10

Footnotes

• [a] 18:14 Or 'wonderful'
• [b] 18:15 Or 'acted falsely'