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.
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
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Commentary for Genesis 21:1
Genesis 21:1 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the patriarch Abraham and his wife Sarah. The historical context of this verse is set within the larger story of God's covenant with Abraham, which includes the promise of numerous descendants and a land for his offspring. Despite Sarah's advanced age and barrenness, God had promised Abraham that she would bear a son (Genesis 17:16, 18:10).
The themes present in this verse include:
1. **Fulfillment of Promise**: This verse highlights the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises. Despite natural impediments (Sarah's old age and barrenness), God's word is shown to be reliable and true.
2. **Divine Providence**: The language of God "visiting" Sarah implies a special act of divine intervention and care. It suggests that God is actively involved in the lives of His people, particularly in the life of Sarah.
3. **Miracle of Birth**: The birth of Isaac to Sarah, who was well beyond childbearing years, is presented as a miraculous event, underscoring God's power over nature and human biology.
4. **Faith and Trust**: The verse also touches on the themes of faith and trust in God's promises, as both Abraham and Sarah had to believe in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances.
5. **Covenantal Relationship**: Isaac's birth is a key step in the establishment of God's covenant with Abraham, as Isaac would become the child through whom God's covenantal promises would be passed down.
In summary, Genesis 21:1 encapsulates the themes of divine promise, providence, and faith, set against the backdrop of God's covenant with Abraham. It marks the miraculous fulfillment of God's word, emphasizing His active role in human affairs and His commitment to His covenantal people.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H3068 There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יְהֹוָה Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw' Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
Strong's Number: H6485 There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: פָּקַד Transliteration: pâqad Pronunciation: paw-kad' Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
Strong's Number: H8283 There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׂרָה Transliteration: Sârâh Pronunciation: saw-raw' Description: the same as שָׂרָה; Sarah, Abraham's wife; Sarah.
Strong's Number: H559 There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אָמַר Transliteration: ʼâmar Pronunciation: aw-mar' Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
Strong's Number: H6213 There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עָשָׂה Transliteration: ʻâsâh Pronunciation: aw-saw' Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
Strong's Number: H1696 There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: דָבַר Transliteration: dâbar Pronunciation: daw-bar' Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.