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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And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

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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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And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

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