Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
12. Sarah laughed within herself ] This is the laughter, according to J, which furnished a reason for the name “Isaac”; and on that account it is here emphasized. See, for the reason in P, Gen 17:17.
waxed old ] The word in the original is forcible, and is used elsewhere for worn-out raiment, e.g. “shall wax old like a garment,” Psa 102:26.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 12. Sarah laughed] Partly through pleasure at the bare idea of the possibility of the thing, and partly from a conviction that it was extremely improbable. She appears to have been in the same spirit, and to have had the same feelings of those who, unexpectedly hearing of something of great consequence to themselves, smile and say, “The news is too good to be true;”, see Ge 21:6. There is a case very similar to this mentioned Ps 126:1-2. On Abraham’s laughing, See Clarke on Ge 17:17.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Sarah laughed within herself; not from joy and admiration, but from distrust and contempt, as if it were incredible. Heb. In her heart, i.e. she secretly derided it, though none but herself, as she thought, knew it.
Shall I have pleasure? Not so much in the conception, as in the education and fruition of a child.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. Therefore Sarah laughed withinherselfLong delay seems to have weakened faith. Sarah treatedthe announcement as incredible, and when taxed with the silent sneer,she added falsehood to distrust. It was an aggravated offense (Ac5:4), and nothing but grace saved her (Ro9:18).
Ge18:16-22. DISCLOSURE OFSODOM’S DOOM.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself,…. Not for joy of a son, and as pleased with it, believing so it would be; but as disbelieving it, and perhaps deriding it, and confuting it with a laugh, which, though it did not appear in her countenance, was secretly in her heart:
saying, not with her mouth, but in her mind,
after I am waxed old, being almost ninety years of age,
shall I have pleasure? in conception, or rather in having a son, and in suckling and nursing him, and bringing him up; for in bearing and bringing forth is sorrow:
and my Lord being old also; which increased the difficulty and her unbelief: the Apostle Peter seems to have respect to this in 1Pe 3:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself Abraham had laughed before, as appears in the preceding chapter Gen 17:1 : but the laughter of both was, by no means, similar. For Sarah is not transported with admiration and joy, on receiving the promise of God; but foolishly sets her own age and that of her husband in opposition to the word of God; that she may withhold confidence from God, when he speaks. Yet she does not, avowedly, charge God with falsehood or vanity; but because, having her mind fixed on the contemplation of the thing proposed, she only weighs what might be accomplished by natural means, without raising her thoughts to the consideration of the power of God, and thus rashly casts discredit on God who speaks to her. Thus, as often as we measure the promises and the works of God, by our own reason, and by the laws of nature, we act reproachfully towards him, though we may intend nothing of the sort. For we do not pay him his due honor, except we regard every obstacle which presents itself in heaven and on earth, as placed under subjection to his word. But although the incredulity of Sarah is not to be excused; she, nevertheless, does not directly reject the favor of God; but is only so kept back by shame and modesty, that she does not altogether believe what she hears. Even her very words declare the greatest modesty; ‘After we are grown old shall we give ourselves up to lust?’ Wherefore, let us observe, that nothing was less in Sarah’s mind, than to make God a liar. But herein consisted in this alone, that, having fixed her thoughts too much on the accustomed order of nature, she did not give glory to God, by expecting from him a miracle which she was unable to conceive in her mind. We must here notice the admonition which the Apostle gathers from this passage, because Sarah here calls Abraham her lord. (1Pe 3:6.) For he exhorts women, after her example, to be obedient and well-behaved towards their own husbands. Many women, indeed, without difficulty, give their husbands this title, when yet they do not scruple to bring them under rule, by their imperious pride: but the Apostle takes it for granted that Sarah testifies, from her heart, what she feels, respecting her husband: nor is it doubtful that she gave proof, by actual services, of the modesty which she had professed in words.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) Sarah laughed.See Note on Gen. 17:17. The laughter of both husband and wife brings into prominence the inconceivable character of the fact. Sarahs conduct has been very unjustly condemned. Though Abraham may have begun to guess that his visitors were more than men, she probably had no such suspicions. Sitting inside the tent, and catching their words only occasionally, listening, perhaps, now only because she heard her own name mentioned, when she hears them talk of her having a child she naturally laughs. thinking possibly that they did not know how old she was.
After I am waxed old.The Hebrew word is stronger and more lively. It means to be worn out like an old garment.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Sarah laughed The context here shows that Sarah’s laugh was that of incredulity, as the context of Gen 17:17, shows that Abraham’s laughing was that of joyful wonder . Sarah laughed within herself, not aloud, nor with prostration, as yielding confidently to the joy of the promise, but with secret incredulity . My lord See 1Pe 3:5-6.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “When I have grown old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”.’
The words she overhears make Sarah laugh to herself. The idea is preposterous. The pleasure refers to the pleasure of birth, the joy when a child comes into the world (compare Psa 113:9; Joh 16:21). Her laugh is a mark of unbelief. The promises previously given have been quite clear (Gen 17:19; Gen 17:21).
It is probable that Sarah is not yet aware of who the visitor is. But her expression may have been enough to give away her amusement. There is a poignancy in her words. The word for ‘grown old’ means ‘worn out’. She is beyond usefulness. But with God no one is ever ‘too old’ to be used.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 18:12. Sarah laughed, &c. It is universally agreed, that Sarah’s was not a laugh of joy arising from the Divine promise, but a laughing springing from incredulity, as we think it appears that Abraham’s was also. See note on ch. Gen 17:17. She, however, supposing herself concealed from her guests, as she stood in the tent-door, to which the backs of her guests were turned, was greatly terrified at finding her incredulity detected; and therefore denied it: but the Divine Visitant shewed his knowledge of her thoughts; and thereby proved himself to be, what he is called, the LORD, the JEHOVAH, Gen 17:13. To demonstrate, in the fullest manner, the Divine interposition her incapability of conception in a natural way, is modestly expressed, Gen 17:11.
REFLECTIONS.Now Abraham begins to find he has lost nothing by his guests. He invited men, but he finds among them his Lord. Note; They who do good to the least of Christ’s little ones, do it unto him. Observe,
1. Their inquiries after Sarah. The women, according to the eastern custom, sat not down with the men to meat. But the guests shewed by their inquiring, that they were no strangers to his family. Civil inquiries are kind.
2. Abraham’s answer. She is where she should be, in the tent. The duty of a wife is to be a keeper at home; and when we are in the way of duty, we may expect to find a blessing.
3. The promise made to Sarah. Now the Lord begins to appear. He speaks more than man, who can say, “I will, Thou shalt.” Blessed be his name! not only all his promises, but his commands run thus to the believer: he makes the believer what he wills him to be.
4. Sarah’s unbelief. Though out of sight, not out of hearing: she laughed at an event so improbable. Note; (1.) Reason is a bad guide in matters of faith. (2.) The same appearances may arise from different causes: a smile may bespeak contemptuous unbelief, or satisfied confidence. (3.) If Sarah called her husband Lord, let her daughters remember and imitate her respect.
5. The rebuke given her. Why did Sarah laugh? Is any thing too hard for God? Learn, (1.) Suspicions of God’s power or grace, or both, are very displeasing to him. (2.) Rebuke is one of the kindest instances of friendship, and one of the best returns for favours received. Let the righteous smite me friendly. (3.) Unwillingness to give, and backwardness to receive reproof, are sure signs of a perverse or cold heart.
6. Sarah’s denial. To conceal one fault, she makes two. One sin seldom comes alone. Nothing leads us into a lie sooner than fear. Fools that we are, not to place that fear on the proper object. Can man’s rebukes be equal to those which God hath appointed for lying lips? O that we feared him more, and man less! Yet this rebuke wrought good effects: though unbelief prevailed before, faith triumphs now: he that knew her heart, could give the son. Note; When we might expect chastisement for our sin, God oftentimes overwhelms us and humbles us with mercies.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
Ver. 12. Sarah laughed. ] God’s promises seem absurd and ridiculous, many of them, to human reason, which therefore must be silenced, and shut out, as Hagar was; for it will argue carnally, as that unbelieving lord 2Ki 7:2 storms at God’s offers, as Naaman at the message 2Ki 5:11 looks upon God’s Jordan with Syrian eyes, as he, and after all, cries out with Nicodemus, “How can these things be?” Joh 3:4 measuring God by its own model; and casting him into its own mould.
After I am waxed old, shall I lust?
My lord being old also?
a P, et
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
laughed. See note on Gen 17:17.
After. Figure of speech Erotesis.
my lord. Hebrew. Adon. See App-4 and compare 1Pe 3:6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
laughed: Gen 18:13, Gen 17:17, Gen 21:6, Gen 21:7, Psa 126:2, Luk 1:18-20, Luk 1:34, Luk 1:35, Heb 11:11, Heb 11:12
my: Eph 5:33, 1Pe 3:6
Reciprocal: Gen 11:30 – barren Gen 23:6 – my lord Gen 31:35 – my lord Jdg 19:26 – her lord was 1Ki 1:17 – My lord 1Ki 18:7 – my lord Elijah 2Ki 4:16 – do not lie 2Ki 7:2 – if the Lord Psa 78:20 – can he give
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 18:12. Sarah laughed within herself It was not a laughter of faith, like Abrahams, (Gen 17:17,) but a laughter of doubting and distrust. The great objection which Sarah could not get over was her age. I am waxed old And past child-bearing in a course of nature, especially having been hitherto barren, and, which magnifies the difficulty, My lord is old also. Observe here, that Sarah calls Abraham her lord, and the Holy Ghost takes notice of it to her honour, and recommends it to the imitation of all Christian wives, 1Pe 3:6, Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, in token of respect and subjection.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
18:12 Therefore Sarah {g} laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
(g) For she believed the order of nature, rather than believing the promise of God.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Sarah’s laugh sprang from a spirit of unbelief due to long disappointment, as is clear from the Lord’s response to it (Gen 18:14). Abraham’s laugh (Gen 17:17) did not draw such a response.