Genesis 18 · Verse 13

Genesis 18:13

And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Genesis 18:13, King James Version

Genesis 18:13 in other translations

BSBAnd the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’
WEBThe LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
ASVAnd Jehovah said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?
YLTand Sarah laugheth in her heart, saying, ‘After I have waxed old I have had pleasure! --my lord also is old!'
DARBYAnd Jehovah said to Abraham, Why is this, that Sarah laughs, saying, Shall I indeed bear, when I am become old?
BBEAnd the Lord said, Why was Sarah laughing and saying, Is it possible for me, being old, to give birth to a child?
WebsterAnd the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I certainly bear a child, who am old?

What does Genesis 18:13 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 And the Lord (Jehovah) said, etc. - So it appears that one of those three persons was Jehovah, and as this name is never given to any created being, consequently the ever-blessed God is intended; and as he was never seen in any bodily shape, consequently the great Angel of the covenant, Jesus Christ, must be meant. See note on Gen 16:7.

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 18:13 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.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamAbrahamH85
לָ֣מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
זֶּה֩zehthisH2088
צָחֲקָ֨הtza.cha.Kahdid she laughH6711
שָׂרָ֜הsa.RahSarahH8283
לֵאמֹ֗רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
הַאַ֥ףha.'Af¿ alsoH637
אֻמְנָ֛ם'um.NamreallyH552
אֵלֵ֖ד'e.Ledwill I bear a childH3205
וַאֲנִ֥יva.'a.Niand IH589
זָקַֽנְתִּי\׃za.Kan.tiI am oldH2204

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

Cross references for Genesis 18:13

  • John 2:25

    And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Wherefore.
Joh 2:25

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

Context

  • Genesis 18:12

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

  • Genesis 18:13

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

  • Genesis 18:14

    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.

Read all of Genesis 18

Genesis 18:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Jehová dijo á Abraham: ¿Por qué se ha reído Sara diciendo: Será cierto que he de parir siendo ya vieja?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’ Éternel dit à Abraham: Pourquoi Sara a-t-elle ri, disant: Est-ce que vraiment j’aurai un enfant, moi qui suis vieille?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jehova sprach zu Abraham: Warum hat Sara denn gelacht und gesagt: Sollte ich auch wirklich gebären, da ich doch alt bin?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit autem Dominus ad Abraham: Quare risit Sara, dicens: Num vere paritura sum anus?