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YHWHיְהוָהsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto Abraham,אֶל אַבְרָהָם“Whyלָמָּהdid Sarahשָׂרָהlaugh like this,זֶּה צָחֲקָהsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Will I reallyהַאַף אֻמְנָםgive birth,אֵלֵדwhen Iוַאֲנִיam old?’זָקַנְתִּי
Genesis 18:13
Study it in the app“YHWH said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh like this, saying, ‘Will I really give birth, when I am old?’”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 18:13, word by word
- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- to Abrahamאַבְרָהָםavraham
Abraham
Abraham, the name God gave to Abram; it sounds like "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5). The father of the people of Israel, to whom God promised the land and blessing for all the families of the earth.
Where else “avraham” appears- did Sarahשָׂרָהsara
Sarah
Sarah, the name God gave to Sarai, wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. It means "princess".
Where else “sara” appears- laugh like thisצָחֲקָהtsachaka
laugh
To laugh, like Sarah at the promise.
Where else “tsachaka” appears- ‘Will I reallyאֻמְנָםumnam
truly, indeed
Truly, really, indeed.
Where else “umnam” appears- give birthאֵלֵדeled
bear
To bring a child into the world, giving birth after pregnancy.
Where else “eled” appears- am old?’זָקַנְתִּיzakanti
grow old
Grow old, be old.
Where else “zakanti” appears
The context
12So Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I am worn out, will I have pleasure, and my lord is old?”
13 · This verse (above)
14Is anything too hard for YHWH? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
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?