Genesis 17:17

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Then Abraham {H85} fell {H5307} upon his face {H6440}, and laughed {H6711}, and said {H559} in his heart {H3820}, Shall a child be born {H3205} unto him that is an hundred {H3967} years {H8141} old {H1121}? and shall Sarah {H8283}, that is ninety {H8673} years {H8141} old {H1323}, bear {H3205}?

At this Avraham fell on his face and laughed - he thought to himself, "Will a child be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah give birth at ninety?"

Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, β€œCan a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Commentary

Genesis 17:17 records Abraham's profound reaction to God's renewed covenant promise that he and Sarah, despite their advanced age, would have a son. This moment captures a pivotal intersection of human incredulity and divine omnipotence.

Context of the Promise

This verse immediately follows God's declaration to Abraham (formerly Abram) that he would be the "father of many nations" and that his wife Sarai would become Sarah, the mother of nations. Crucially, God specified that the promised heir would come through Sarah, not Hagar and Ishmael, as Abraham might have presumed. This divine promise of a son through Sarah, who was ninety, and Abraham, who was one hundred, was humanly impossible, setting the stage for Abraham's unique response. The broader context is God establishing His covenant with Abraham, promising land, descendants, and blessing.

Abraham's Laughter and Questioning

Abraham's reaction is multifaceted: he "fell upon his face," an act of reverence and submission to God's presence, indicating awe. However, immediately after, he "laughed." This laughter, expressed along with an internal question, "Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?", reveals a mix of astonishment, disbelief, and perhaps even a sense of the miraculous absurdity from a human perspective. It's not necessarily mocking laughter, but a natural, deeply human response to a promise that defied all natural laws and expectations.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Omnipotence vs. Human Limitations: The verse powerfully illustrates that God's plans and promises are not bound by human age, physical capabilities, or natural laws. What is impossible with man is possible with God.
  • The Nature of Faith: While Abraham laughs, his falling on his face suggests a reverence that undergirds his human doubt. This points to the journey of faith, where trust in God often coexists with questions and human frailty.
  • The Promise of Isaac: This laughter foreshadows the name of the promised son, Isaac, which means "he laughs" or "laughter." This name serves as a perpetual reminder of the extraordinary circumstances of his birth and God's faithfulness.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew word for "laughed" here is tsachaq (Χ¦ΦΈΧ—Φ·Χ§). This root word carries various nuances, including to laugh, to play, or even to mock. In Abraham's case, commentators generally interpret it as a spontaneous expression of incredulous joy or wonder rather than derision. It contrasts subtly with Sarah's more skeptical laughter later recorded in Genesis 18:12, though both contribute to the significance of Isaac's name.

Practical Application

Genesis 17:17 offers profound encouragement. It reminds us that God's promises often challenge our human logic and capabilities. When faced with seemingly impossible situations or divine assurances that defy our understanding, we can relate to Abraham's mixture of reverence and incredulity. The verse teaches us to trust in God's power and faithfulness, even when our minds struggle to comprehend how His promises will be fulfilled. God delights in working beyond what we can imagine, demonstrating His glory and power. His faithfulness ensures that what He has promised, He is also able to perform.

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Cross-References

  • Revelation 11:16 (6 votes)

    And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

  • Genesis 18:12 (6 votes)

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

  • Genesis 17:3 (6 votes)

    And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

  • Genesis 21:6 (6 votes)

    And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, [so that] all that hear will laugh with me.

  • John 8:56 (6 votes)

    Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.

  • Ezekiel 1:28 (4 votes)

    As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so [was] the appearance of the brightness round about. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw [it], I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

  • Romans 4:19 (4 votes)

    And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: