Genesis 18:12

12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

Genesis 18:12 in Other Translations

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

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

12 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?”

12 Sarah laughed within herself, "An old woman like me? Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?"

12 And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

12 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!"

12 So she laughed to herself: "After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old, will I have delight?"

12 So she laughed to herself. She thought, "I'm worn out, and my husband is old. Can I really know the joy of having a baby?"

Genesis 18:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:12

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself
Not for joy of a son, and as pleased with it, believing so it would be; but as disbelieving it, and perhaps deriding it, and confuting it with a laugh, which, though it did not appear in her countenance, was secretly in her heart: saying,
not with her mouth, but in her mind, after I am waxed old,
being almost ninety years of age, shall I have pleasure?
in conception, or rather in having a son, and in suckling and nursing him, and bringing him up; for in bearing and bringing forth is sorrow: and my Lord being old also;
which increased the difficulty and her unbelief: the Apostle Peter seems to have respect to this in ( 1 Peter 3:6 ) .

Genesis 18:12 In-Context

10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’

14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 17:17; Genesis 21:6
• 2. 1 Peter 3:6