Genesis 18:12

“So Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I am worn out, will I have pleasure, and my lord is old?””
Genesis 18:12 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

So Sarahוַ שָׂרָהlaughedתִּצְחַקwithin herself,בְּקִרְבָּהּsaying,לֵאמֹר“AfterאַחֲרֵיI am worn out,בְלֹתִיwill I haveהָיְתָה לִּיpleasure,עֶדְנָהand my lordוַאדֹנִיis old?”זָקֵן

Allusion · 1 Peter 3:6

Go to 1 Peter 3:6

Peter recalls that Sarah called Abraham “lord”; in Genesis 18:12 she says it to herself: “and my lord is old.”

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

שָׂרָהsaraH8283ΣάρραSarraG4564“Sarah”
אדֹנִdoniH113κύριονkyrionG2962“lord, master”

Genesis 18:12, word by word

So Sarahשָׂרָהsara

Sarah

Sarah, the name God gave to Sarai, wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. It means "princess".

Where else “sara” appears

laughedתִּצְחַקtitschak

laugh

To laugh, like Sarah at the promise.

Where else “titschak” appears

within herselfקִרְבָּkirba

inside

One's inner part, one's inmost self.

Where else “kirba” appears

sayingאמֹרmor

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “mor” appears

I am worn outבְלֹתִveloti

wear out

To become old and worn out through use or time, like clothing.

Where else “veloti” appears

will I haveהָיְתָהhayta

exist

To exist: "let there be light".

Where else “hayta” appears

pleasureעֶדְנָהedna

delight, pleasure

Pleasure, delight; luxury.

Where else “edna” appears

and my lordאדֹנִdoni

lord

The one with authority over another; or a respectful title.

Where else “doni” appears

is oldזָקֵןzaken

grow old

Grow old, be old.

Where else “zaken” appears

The context

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in days; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12 · This verse (above)

13YHWH said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh like this, saying, ‘Will I really give birth, when I am old?’

Read all of Genesis 18

To study Genesis 18 in a group

1. What it says
What did Abraham do when he saw the three men, and what did they announce about Sarah (vv. 2-10)?
2. What it means
What does the question “Is anything too difficult for YHWH?” teach (v. 14)?
3. How I live it
Whom can you welcome this week to your home or table with Abraham’s generosity?

How to use it