Genesis 18 · Verse 14

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.
Genesis 18:14, King James Version

Genesis 18:14 in other translations

BSBIs anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
WEBIs anything too hard for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”
ASVIs anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.
YLTAnd Jehovah saith unto Abraham, ‘Why is this? Sarah hath laughed, saying, Is it true really--I bear--and I am aged? Is any thing too wonderful for Jehovah? at the appointed time I return unto thee, about the time of life, and Sarah hath a son.'
DARBYIs any matter too wonderful for Jehovah? At the time appointed I will return to thee, at this time of the year, and Sarah shall have a son.
BBEIs there any wonder which the Lord is not able to do? At the time I said, in the spring, I will come back to you, and Sarah will have a child.
WebsterIs any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return to thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

What does Genesis 18:14 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? - היפלא מיהוה דבר hayippale meihovah dabar, shall a word (or thing) be wonderful from the Lord? i.e., Can any thing be too great a miracle for him to effect? The Septuagint translate the passage, Μη αδυνατησει παρα τῳ Θεῳ ῥημα; which St. Luke adopts almost literatim, only making it an affirmative position instead of a question: Ουκ αδυνατησει παρα τῳ Θεῳ παν ῥημα, which we translate, "With God nothing shall be impossible," Luk 1:37. Many copies of the Septuagint insert the word παν before ῥημα, as in St. Luke; but it makes little difference in the sense. It was to correct Sarah's unbelief, and to strengthen her faith, that God spoke these most important words; words which state that where human wisdom, prudence, and energy fall, and where nature herself ceases to be an agent, through lack of energy to act, or laws to direct and regulate energy, there also God has full sway, and by his own omnific power works all things after the counsel of his own will. Is there an effect to be produced? God can produce it as well without as with means. He produced nature, the whole system of causes and effects, when in the whole compass of his own eternity there was neither means nor being. He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. How great and wonderful is God!

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 18:14 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.

הֲיִפָּלֵ֥אha.yi.pa.Le'¿ is it [too] difficultH6381
מֵיְהוָ֖הme.Yah.wehfor YahwehH3068
דָּבָ֑רda.VaranythingH1697
לַמּוֹעֵ֞דla.mo.'Edto the appointed timeH4150
אָשׁ֥וּב'a.ShuvI will returnH7725
אֵלֶ֛יךָ'e.Lei.khato youH413
כָּעֵ֥תka.'Etabout the timeH6256
חַיָּ֖הchai.YahlivingH2416
וּלְשָׂרָ֥הu.le.sa.Rahand [will belong] to SarahH8283
בֵֽן\׃Vena sonH1121

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

Cross references for Genesis 18:14

  • Luke 1:37

    For with God nothing shall be impossible.

  • Matthew 19:26

    But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

  • Mark 10:27

    And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

  • Jeremiah 32:27

    Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

  • Ephesians 3:20

    Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

  • Job 42:2

    I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

  • Philippians 4:13

    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

  • Jeremiah 32:17

    Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

  • Romans 4:21

    And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

  • Numbers 11:23

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

  • 2 Kings 4:16

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 7:21

    Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Is.
Nu 11:23; De 7:21; 1Sa 14:6; 2Ki 7:1,2; Job 36:5; 42:2; Ps 93:1; 95:3
Jer 32:17; Mic 7:18; Zec 8:6; Mt 3:9; 14:31; 19:26; Mr 10:27
Lu 1:13,37; 8:50; Eph 3:20; Php 3:21; 4:13; Heb 11:19
I will.
10; 17:21; De 30:3; 2Ki 4:16; Ps 90:13; Mic 7:18; Lu 1:13,18

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Genesis 18:15

    Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Read all of Genesis 18

Genesis 18:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Hay para Dios alguna cosa difícil? Al tiempo señalado volveré á ti, según el tiempo de la vida, y Sara tendrá un hijo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Y a-t-il quelque chose qui soit trop difficile pour l’ Éternel? Au temps fixé je reviendrai vers toi, quand son terme sera là, et Sara aura un fils.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ist für Jehova eine Sache zu wunderbar? Zur bestimmten Zeit übers Jahr werde ich wieder zu dir kommen, und Sara wird einen Sohn haben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Numquid Deo quidquam est difficile? juxta condictum revertar ad te hoc eodem tempore, vita comite, et habebit Sara filium.