Sarah Hears the Promise

The words

1. Aged

   Genesis describes both Abraham and Sarah as old when the visitors announce a son, making Sarah question how she could bear a child.

   Genesis 18:11–12 (opens a new tab)

2. Barren

   Long before the visitors arrive, Genesis says Sarai had no child; the announcement at Mamre promises that Sarah herself will have a son.

   Genesis 11:30 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 18:10 (opens a new tab)

3. Cakes

   Bread, as the NET Bible renders the KJV’s cakes.

   Abraham hurries into the tent and asks Sarah to knead fine meal and make cakes for the three visitors.

   Genesis 18:6 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 18:6 (opens a new tab)

4. Fine Meal

   Finely ground flour.

   Abraham asks Sarah to prepare three measures of fine meal, kneading it into the bread served during the visitors’ stay.

   Genesis 18:6 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 18:6 (opens a new tab)

5. Hearth

   In the KJV, Abraham tells Sarah to make the cakes upon the hearth, placing bread preparation inside the scene of hospitality.

   Genesis 18:6 (opens a new tab)

6. Laughed

   Sarah laughs within herself on hearing the promise, then denies laughing because she is afraid; the reply says she did laugh.

   Did you know?

   After Isaac’s birth, Sarah speaks of laughter again, saying God has made her laugh and others will laugh with her.

   Genesis 18:12–15 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 21:6 (opens a new tab)

7. Mamre

   The LORD appears at Mamre while Abraham sits at his tent entrance in the heat of the day, before he sees three men.

   Did you know?

   Earlier, Genesis places Mamre in Hebron and describes Abram moving his tent there and building an altar to the LORD.

   Genesis 18:1–2 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 13:18 (opens a new tab)

8. Measures

   Units of dry volume used to measure flour.

   Sarah is told to take three measures of fine meal; the quantity belongs to Abraham’s hurried preparations for the visitors’ food.

   Genesis 18:6 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Genesis 18:6 (opens a new tab)

9. Ninety

   In the preceding chapter, Abraham asks whether Sarah can bear a child at ninety, before the visitors repeat the announcement at Mamre.

   Did you know?

   Abraham laughs at the earlier announcement too; Genesis describes him falling on his face and asking the question in his heart.

   Genesis 17:17 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 18:10 (opens a new tab)

10. Promise

    The visitor announces that Sarah will have a son and repeats the assurance when the LORD asks why she laughed.

    Did you know?

    Before this visit, God has already told Abraham to name the promised son Isaac, giving the child a name before his birth.

    Genesis 18:10; Genesis 18:13–14 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 17:19 (opens a new tab)

11. Sarah

    God gives Sarai the name Sarah in the preceding chapter, then promises Abraham a son by her before the visitors arrive.

    Did you know?

    The announcement accompanying Sarah’s new name looks beyond one child: God says nations and kings will come from her.

    Genesis 17:15–16 (opens a new tab)

12. Sarai

    Sarai is the name used in the earlier notice that she had no child; God later tells Abraham to call her Sarah.

    Genesis 11:30 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 17:15 (opens a new tab)

13. Tent Door

    Sarah hears the announcement from the tent door behind the speaker, while Abraham has earlier run from the entrance to greet the visitors.

    Genesis 18:2 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 18:10 (opens a new tab)

14. Three Men

    Abraham sees three men standing nearby, runs to greet them and offers water, rest and food before they ask about Sarah.

    Genesis 18:2 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 18:4–8 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 18:9 (opens a new tab)

15. Time Appointed

    The LORD repeats the promise of Sarah’s son at the appointed time, answering her laughter with an assurance of a return.

    Did you know?

    When Genesis later tells of Isaac’s birth, it returns to the timing: Sarah bears the son at the set time God had spoken of.

    Genesis 18:14 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 21:2 (opens a new tab)