Sarah Laughs

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he answered.

10 The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!”(A) Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years.[a] Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.[b](B) 12 So she laughed to herself: “After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old, will I have delight?”(C)

13 But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ 14 Is anything impossible for the Lord?(D) At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 18:11 Lit days
  2. Genesis 18:11 Lit The way of women had ceased for Sarah

“Where is your wife Sarah?”(A) they asked him.

“There, in the tent,(B)” he said.

10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,(C) and Sarah your wife will have a son.”(D)

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old,(E) and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.(F) 12 So Sarah laughed(G) to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord(H) 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?’(I) 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?(J) I will return to you at the appointed time next year,(K) and Sarah will have a son.”(L)

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But they had no children[a] because Elizabeth could not conceive,[b] and both of them were well along in years.[c]

When his division was on duty(A) and he was serving as priest before God, it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.(B) 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord(C) appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.[d] 13 But the angel said to him:

Do not be afraid,(D) Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you will name him John.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:7 Lit child
  2. Luke 1:7 Lit Elizabeth was sterile or barren
  3. Luke 1:7 Lit in their days
  4. Luke 1:12 Lit and fear fell on him

But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,(A) he was chosen by lot,(B) according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.(C) 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.(D)

11 Then an angel(E) of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.(F) 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.(G) 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,(H) Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.(I)

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