Genesis 18:14

“Is 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.””
Genesis 18:14 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

Is anythingהֲ דָּבָרtoo hardיִפָּלֵאfor YHWH?מֵיְהוָהAt the appointed timeלַמּוֹעֵדI will returnאָשׁוּבto you,אֵלֶיךָat this timeכָּעֵתnext year,חַיָּהand Sarahוּלְשָׂרָהwill have a son.”בֵן

Allusion · Luke 1:37

Go to Luke 1:37

Genesis 18:14 asks “Is anything too difficult for YHWH?” in the announcement of the birth of Isaac; Luke 1:37 says that “no word that comes from God will be impossible” in the announcement to Mary.

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

יִפָּלֵאyipaleH6381ἀδυνατήσειadynatēseiG101“be wonderful, difficult”
דָּבָרdavarH1697ῥῆμαrhēmaG4487“word, matter, thing”

Genesis 18:14, word by word

Is anythingדָּבָרdavar

thing

A matter, a thing; with "not", nothing.

Where else “davar” appears

too hardיִפָּלֵאyipale

be too hard

To be beyond reach: "is anything impossible for YHWH?".

Where else “yipale” appears

for 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

At the appointed timeמּוֹעֵדmoed

appointed time

A date fixed beforehand.

Where else “moed” appears

I will returnאָשׁוּבashuv

return

To go back to a place.

Where else “ashuv” appears

at this timeעֵתet

time

The moment at which something happens; also "at that time".

Where else “et” appears

next yearחַיָּהchaya

life

The span and strength of being alive, which come from God.

Where else “chaya” appears

and Sarahשָׂרָהsara

Sarah

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

Where else “sara” appears

will have a sonבֵןven

son

The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.

Where else “ven” appears

The context

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

14 · This verse (above)

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

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