Genesis 18 · Verse 10

Genesis 18:10

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.
Genesis 18:10, King James Version

Genesis 18:10 in other translations

BSBThen the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.
WEBHe said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
ASVAnd he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
YLTand he saith, ‘returning I return unto thee, about the time of life, and lo, to Sarah thy wife a son.'
DARBYAnd he said, I will certainly return to thee at this time of the year, and behold, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent-door, which was behind him.
BBEAnd he said, I will certainly come back to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife will have a son. And his words came to the ears of Sarah who was at the back of the tent-door.
WebsterAnd he said, I will certainly return to 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.

What does Genesis 18:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ge 18:9-15. Reproof of Sarah. An inquiry about his wife, so surprising in strangers, the subject of conversation, and the fulfilment of the fondly cherished promise within a specified time, showed Abraham that he had been entertaining more than ordinary travellers (He 13:2).

10. Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him--The women's apartment is in the back of the tent, divided by a thin partition from the men's.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 I will certainly return - Abraham was now ninety-nine years of age, and this promise was fulfilled when he was a hundred; so that the phrase according to the time of life must mean either a complete year, or nine months from the present time, the ordinary time of pregnancy. Taken in this latter sense, Abraham was now in the ninety-ninth year of his age, and Isaac was born when he was in his hundredth year.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 18:9-15

Where is Sarah thy wife? was asked. Note the answer, In the tent. Just at hand, in her proper place, occupied in her household concerns. There is nothing got by gadding. Those are most likely to receive comfort from God and his promises, who are in their proper place, and in the way of their duty, Lu 2:8. We are slow of heart to believe, and need line upon line to the same purport. The blessings others have from…

Read the full comment on Genesis 18:9-15 →

Genesis 18:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
שׁ֣וֹבShovcertainly <to return>H7725
אָשׁ֤וּב'a.ShuvI will returnH7725
אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙'e.Lei.khato youH413
כָּעֵ֣תka.'Etabout the timeH6256
חַיָּ֔הchai.YahlivingH2416
וְהִנֵּה\־ve.hi.neh-and there!H2009
בֵ֖ןvena sonH1121
לְשָׂרָ֣הle.sa.Rah[will belong] to SarahH8283
אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ'ish.Te.khawife yourH802
וְשָׂרָ֥הve.sa.Rahand SarahH8283
שֹׁמַ֛עַתsho.Ma.'at[was] listeningH8085
פֶּ֥תַחPe.tach[the] opening ofH6607
הָאֹ֖הֶלha.'O.helthe tentH168
וְה֥וּאve.Hu'and itH1931
אַחֲרָֽיו\׃'a.cha.Rav[was] behind himH310

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 18:10

  • 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.

  • Genesis 17:21

    But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

  • Romans 9:8-9

    That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.

  • Genesis 17:19

    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.

  • 2 Kings 4:16-17

    And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

  • Genesis 17:16

    And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

  • Galatians 4:23

    But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

  • Galatians 4:28

    Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

  • Genesis 18:13-14

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

  • Genesis 16:10

    And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

  • Genesis 22:15-16

    And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

  • Luke 1:13

    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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he said.
13,14; 16:10; 22:15,16
according.
17:21; 21:2; 2Ki 4:16,17
lo, Sarah.
17:16,19,21; 21:2; Jud 13:3-5; Lu 1:13; Ro 9:8,9; Ga 4:23,28

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 18:9

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

  • Genesis 18:10

    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.

  • Genesis 18:11

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

Read all of Genesis 18

Genesis 18:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces dijo: De cierto volveré á ti según el tiempo de la vida, y he aquí, tendrá un hijo Sara tu mujer. Y Sara escuchaba á la puerta de la tienda, que estaba detrás de él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il dit: Je reviendrai certainement vers toi quand son terme sera là, et voici, Sara, ta femme, aura un fils. Et Sara écoutait à l’entrée de la tente, qui était derrière lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sprach: Gewißlich werde ich übers Jahr wieder zu dir kommen, und siehe, Sara, dein Weib, wird einen Sohn haben. Und Sara horchte am Eingang des Zeltes, der hinter ihm war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cui dixit: Revertens veniam ad te tempore isto, vita comite, et habebit filium Sara uxor tua. Quo audito, Sara risit post ostium tabernaculi.