Genesis 18:12

12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "¹After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my ²lord being old also?"

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 He said, "I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing .

12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"

13 And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?'

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

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 17:17; Luke 1:18
• 2. 1 Peter 3:6

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "within"