Genesis 21:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in his old age.

Complete Jewish Bible:

And she said, "Who would have said to Avraham that Sarah would nurse children? Nevertheless, I have borne him a son in his old age!"

Berean Standard Bible:

She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

American Standard Version:

And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should give children suck? for I have borne him a son in his old age.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And she said^{H559}, Who would have said^{H4448} unto Abraham^{H85}, that Sarah^{H8283} should have given children^{H1121} suck^{H3243}? for I have born^{H3205} him a son^{H1121} in his old age^{H2208}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 21:7

Genesis 21:7 is part of the narrative concerning the patriarch Abraham and his wife Sarah. The historical context of this verse is set within the broader account of the patriarchs in the Book of Genesis, which is foundational to Jewish and Christian traditions.

**Themes:**

1. **Promise and Fulfillment:** This verse reflects the theme of God's promises being fulfilled. Throughout Genesis, God had promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child, despite their advanced age. The birth of Isaac, mentioned in this verse, is the fulfillment of that divine promise.

2. **Faith and Doubt:** The verse underscores the theme of faith, as Sarah acknowledges the extraordinary nature of her giving birth at such an old age. It also hints at the element of doubt that was present earlier when both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the idea of having a child in their old age (Genesis 17:17, 18:12-15).

3. **Joy and Thanksgiving:** Sarah's rhetorical question expresses amazement and joy at the miraculous birth of her son, which leads to an attitude of thanksgiving and wonder at God's work in their lives.

4. **Divine Timing:** The verse emphasizes the theme of God's timing. Isaac's birth, when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90, demonstrates that God's plans unfold in His own time, which often defies human expectations.

**Historical Context:**

The verse is set in the period when the patriarchal narratives were unfolding, likely during the early 2nd millennium BCE, according to traditional chronology. This period is characterized by the movement of the patriarchs, their interactions with neighboring tribes, and the establishment of the covenant between God and Abraham, which includes the promise of offspring and land.

Sarah's statement in Genesis 21:7 comes after a series of significant events: the visitation of three angels to Abraham (Genesis 18), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19), and the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21:8-21). These events are part of the larger narrative that shapes the religious and cultural identity of the Israelites, who are the descendants of Isaac, and later, the Jewish people.

In summary, Genesis 21:7 encapsulates the themes of divine promise, faith, joy, and God's timing, set against the backdrop of the foundational narratives of the Jewish and Christian faiths, emphasizing God's active role in the lives of the patriarchs and matriarchs.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4448
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָלַל
   Transliteration: mâlal
   Pronunciation: maw-lal'
   Description: a primitive root; to speak (mostly poetical) or say; say, speak, utter.
   
3. Strong's Number: H85
   There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
   Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
   Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
   Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3243
   There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָנַק
   Transliteration: yânaq
   Pronunciation: yaw-nak'
   Description: a primitive root; to suck; causatively, to give milk; milch, nurse(-ing mother), (give, make to) suck(-ing child, -ling).
   
7. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
8. Strong's Number: H2208
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָקֻן
   Transliteration: zâqun
   Pronunciation: zaw-koon'
   Description: lemma זָקֻ missing final nun, corrected to זָקֻן; properly, passive participle of זָקֵן (used only in the plural as a noun); old age; old age.