Genesis 11:30

KJV

But Sarai was barren; she [had] no child.

KJV (with Strong's)

But Sarai {H8297} was barren {H6135}; she had no child {H2056}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Sarai was barren — she had no child.

Berean Standard Bible

But Sarai was barren; she had no children.

American Standard Version

And Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 11:30, declaring "But Sarai was barren; she [had] no child," serves as a pivotal narrative and theological statement at the culmination of Terah's genealogy. This stark pronouncement of Sarai's natural inability to conceive immediately precedes God's extraordinary call to Abram and His seemingly impossible promise of countless descendants, thereby establishing a profound tension that underscores divine power triumphing over human limitation and the essential role of faith in the unfolding of God's covenant purposes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 11:30 concludes the genealogical record of Terah, Abram's father, which traces the lineage from Shem to Abram. The chapter begins with the account of the Tower of Babel, highlighting humanity's rebellion and dispersion, and then shifts to a more focused genealogy leading to Abram. The abrupt declaration of Sarai's barrenness at the end of this genealogy is not merely a biographical detail but a deliberate literary device. It creates an immediate and formidable obstacle to the divine promise of a "great nation" and "numerous offspring" that God is about to make to Abram in [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's Promise to Abram"). This strategic placement sets up a dramatic tension, emphasizing the human impossibility of the covenant's fulfillment and thus magnifying the miraculous nature of God's subsequent intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, fertility was considered a paramount blessing, a sign of divine favor, and essential for family continuity, inheritance, and social standing. Childlessness, particularly for women, was often viewed as a deep misfortune, a source of shame, or even a divine curse. The very identity and purpose of a woman were intrinsically linked to her ability to bear children. Therefore, the statement of Sarai's barrenness would have been understood by the original audience as a profound and seemingly insurmountable barrier to the establishment of a lineage, making God's impending promise to Abram all the more astonishing and counter-cultural. The cultural emphasis on lineage and heirs made Sarai's condition a significant theological and practical problem.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 11:30 introduces and reinforces several key themes that permeate the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It immediately highlights the theme of **human limitation versus divine omnipotence**, demonstrating that God's plans are not constrained by natural human capabilities. This verse also sets the stage for the recurring theme of **God's sovereignty over life and fertility**, a motif seen in the stories of other barren women like [Rebekah](/genesis/25-21 "Rebekah's Barrenness"), [Rachel](/genesis/30-1 "Rachel's Barrenness"), and [Hannah](/1_samuel/1-2 "Hannah's Barrenness"). Furthermore, it underscores the necessity of **faith** as the sole means by which God's promises, especially those that defy natural explanation, are realized, a concept later expounded upon in the New Testament regarding Abraham's faith (e.g., [Romans 4:18-21](/romans/4-18-21 "Romans 4:18-21 - Abraham's Faith and God's Promise")). The declaration of barrenness also serves as an initial point for the theme of **divine election and covenant**, showing that God chooses to work through seemingly impossible circumstances to demonstrate His unique power and faithfulness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 11:30 succinctly states Sarai's condition: "But Sarai was barren; she [had] no child." This seemingly simple declaration carries profound theological weight, setting the stage for the miraculous intervention of God in the life of Abram and Sarai.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sarai (Hebrew, _Sâray'_):** As per H8297, "Sarai" is derived from a root meaning "dominative" or "princely." This name, meaning "my princess" or "my lady," stands in stark contrast to her barren state. It highlights the irony of a woman designated for leadership or nobility who lacks the most fundamental aspect of ancient Near Eastern female fulfillment—offspring to continue a lineage. Her later name change to Sarah, "princess of many," further emphasizes the divine transformation of her status from barrenness to fruitfulness.
* **barren (Hebrew, _ʻâqâr'_):** From H6135, this term describes someone "sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs)." It denotes a physical, permanent inability to conceive children, whether male or female. The use of this specific word leaves no room for ambiguity; Sarai's condition was not temporary or a matter of waiting, but a fundamental biological reality that, from a human perspective, rendered the promise of descendants utterly impossible. This emphasizes the magnitude of the miracle that would eventually occur.
* **child (Hebrew, _vâlâd'_):** From H2056, this word simply means "a boy; child." The phrase "she had no child" (literally "there was not to her a child") explicitly reinforces the previous statement of barrenness. It clarifies that her barrenness had resulted in a complete absence of offspring, not just a delay. This repetition underscores the finality and severity of her condition from a human standpoint, making the subsequent divine promise and its fulfillment unequivocally a work of God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But Sarai was barren":** This initial clause introduces the primary obstacle. The conjunction "But" signals a contrast or a significant turn in the narrative, immediately drawing attention to Sarai's condition as a problem. Her barrenness is stated as a definitive, established fact, not a temporary state. This biological reality, in the cultural context of the time, was a profound personal and familial tragedy, and a direct challenge to any promise of numerous descendants.
* **"she [had] no child":** This second clause functions as an emphatic reiteration and explanation of the first. It clarifies the practical consequence of her barrenness—a complete absence of offspring. The Hebrew construction literally means "there was not to her a child." This phrase removes any ambiguity, confirming that Sarai had never conceived and thus had no heir, reinforcing the human impossibility of the divine promise of a great nation through her lineage. It highlights the utter void that only God could fill.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 11:30 masterfully employs several literary devices to amplify its theological significance. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as Sarai's barrenness immediately sets the stage for the miraculous birth of Isaac, an event that will demonstrate God's power to bring life from what is naturally impossible. This declaration also creates profound **Irony**: a woman whose name, Sarai, means "my princess" or "my lady," is unable to fulfill the most basic expectation of a woman in her culture—to bear children. This ironic contrast highlights the human predicament against the backdrop of divine promise. Furthermore, the verse functions as a stark **Contrast**, juxtaposing human inability with divine omnipotence. The barrenness represents the limit of human capacity, against which God's limitless power to create and sustain life will be dramatically displayed, underscoring that His covenant promises are not contingent on human strength but on His sovereign will.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Sarai's barrenness is not merely a biological fact but a profound theological statement, setting the stage for God to demonstrate His absolute sovereignty and faithfulness. It underscores that God's plans are not contingent on human ability or natural circumstances but on His divine will and power alone. This human impossibility necessitates an act of pure faith from Abram and Sarai, establishing a foundational theme of the Abrahamic narrative: God works through those who are weak or naturally disadvantaged to magnify His glory. The resolution of Sarai's barrenness through the miraculous birth of Isaac becomes a foundational miracle, demonstrating God's ability to create life where none is naturally possible, foreshadowing greater spiritual realities.

* [Romans 4:18-21](/romans/4-18-21 "Romans 4:18-21 - Abraham's Faith in God's Promise")
* [Hebrews 11:11](/hebrews/11-11 "Hebrews 11:11 - Sarah's Faith and Conception")
* [Luke 1:37](/luke/1-37 "Luke 1:37 - For Nothing Will Be Impossible with God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 11:30 offers profound encouragement that God's grand purposes are never thwarted by our human limitations, perceived impossibilities, or the seemingly insurmountable obstacles we face. When confronted with significant challenges, apparent dead ends, or situations where our natural abilities and resources fall woefully short, this verse serves as a powerful reminder to shift our gaze beyond our own finite capabilities and place our trust entirely in God's supernatural power and perfect timing. Our weaknesses, our barren places, and our impossibilities can become the very platforms upon which God chooses to display His immense strength and unwavering faithfulness, leading to outcomes far grander and more glorious than we could ever conceive, much like the [miraculous birth of Isaac](/genesis/21-2 "The Birth of Isaac, Son of Promise"). It compels us to surrender our perceived limitations to a God who specializes in bringing life from death, fruitfulness from barrenness, and hope from despair.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "barren" areas or seemingly impossible situations in your life are you currently trusting God to transform?**
* **How does Sarai's story encourage you to exercise faith when faced with circumstances that defy natural explanation?**
* **In what ways might God be using your limitations to highlight His power and faithfulness in your life or in the lives of others?**

### FAQ
**Why was Sarai's barrenness significant to God's plan?**

Answer: Sarai's barrenness was not an oversight or a mere biographical detail, but a deliberate and crucial element of God's sovereign plan. Its significance lies in its role as the ultimate human obstacle to the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant's central promise: the multiplication of descendants. By making His promise to a couple who were naturally incapable of having children, God ensured that the eventual birth of Isaac would be unequivocally understood as a divine miracle, a testament to His power alone, not human strength or natural ability. This compelled Abram and Sarai to exercise profound faith, demonstrating that God's promises are fulfilled not by human means but by His supernatural intervention, thereby magnifying His glory throughout salvation history (see [Romans 4:18-21](/romans/4-18-21 "Romans 4:18-21 - Abraham's Faith")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Sarai's barrenness and the subsequent miraculous birth of Isaac serve as a profound Old Testament type, foreshadowing the ultimate act of divine intervention in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as physical life sprang forth from a physically barren womb through God's power, spiritual life and new creation emerge from humanity's spiritually barren and dead condition through Christ. Humanity, by nature "dead in trespasses and sins" ([Ephesians 2:1](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1 - Dead in Sins")), is utterly incapable of producing spiritual life or righteousness on its own. Yet, through the virgin birth of Jesus, God Himself entered human history, and through His atoning death and resurrection, He brings forth a new spiritual lineage—a multitude of believers, a "holy nation" ([1_peter/2-9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood")), from a spiritually dead world. Christ's resurrection, like Isaac's birth, is the ultimate testament to God's power to bring life from death, fulfilling the promise of a spiritual seed that is "as the stars of the sky and as the sand on the seashore" through faith in Him ([Romans 4:16](/romans/4-16 "Romans 4:16 - Abraham, Father of All Who Believe"); [Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")). He is the true "seed" through whom all the families of the earth are blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed is Christ")), bringing spiritual fruitfulness where there was only spiritual barrenness.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 1:2

And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

Genesis 21:1

¶ And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

Genesis 21:2

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Luke 1:36

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Genesis 29:31

¶ And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.

Genesis 15:2

¶ And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house [is] this Eliezer of Damascus?

Genesis 15:3

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.