Genesis 21:7

Verse

She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should give children suck? for I have borne him a son in his old age.

Bible in Basic English

And she said, Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would have a child at her breast? for see, I have given him a son now when he is old.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And again she said: Who would believe that Abraham should hear that Sara gave suck to a son, whom she bore to him in his old age.

Free Bible Version

She also said, “Would anyone have announced to Abraham that Sarah was going to have children to nurse? But now I have had a son for Abraham even when he was old!”

Geneva Bible 1599

Againe she said, Who would haue saide to Abraham, that Sarah shoulde haue giuen children sucke? for I haue borne him a sonne in his olde age.

King James (Authorized) Version

And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

One Unity Resource Bible

She said, “Who would have said to Abraham [Father of a multitude], that Sarah [Princess] would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Plain English Version

She also said, “Nobody reckoned that I can ever have a kid. But look, Abraham is old now, but I had a baby boy, and Abraham is his father.”

Translation for Translators

Then she also said, “No one would have said to Abraham that some day Sarah would nurse a child, but I have given birth to a son when Abraham is very old.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children, and yet I have borne him a son in his old age!”

Noah Webster Bible

And she said, Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah shall nurse children? for I have borne him a son in his old age.

World English Bible

She said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Young's Literal Translation

She saith also, 'Who hath said to Abraham, Sarah hath suckled sons, that I have born a son for his old age?'

Context

The Birth of Isaac

⁶Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.”⁷She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

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Summary

Genesis 21:7 highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to Sarah and Abraham to give them a son in their old age. This event brings great joy and laughter, as Sarah expresses her gratitude for the miraculous birth of Isaac. The birth of Isaac signifies the faithfulness of God in keeping His word and demonstrates His ability to bring about the impossible. It serves as a reminder that God's timing is perfect and that He is faithful to fulfill His promises to His people.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the child grew, and was weaned,.... He throve under the nursing of its mother, and through the blessing of God upon him; and being healthy and robust, and capable of digesting stronger food, and living upon it, he was weaned from the breast: at what age Isaac was when weaned is not certain, there being no fixed time for such an affair, but it was at the discretion of parents, and as they liked it, and the case of their children required; and in those times, when men lived to a greater age than now, they might not be weaned so early, as we find their marrying and begetting children were when they were more advanced in years. The Jewish writers are not agreed about this matter. Jarchi and Ben Melech say that Isaac was weaned twenty four months after his birth; a chronologer of theirs says (q) it was in the hundred and third year of Abraham, that is, when Isaac was three years old, which agrees with the Apocrypha:"But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my son, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee such three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education.'' (2 Maccabees 7:27)According to Jerom (r), it was the opinion of some of the Hebrews that he was five years old; and at this age Bishop Usher (s) places the weaning of him; for to make him ten or twelve years of age, as some of the Rabbins do (t), when this was done, is very unlikely. Philo the Jew (u) makes him to be seven years of age at this time: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned; because he had now escaped the dangers of infancy, and had gone through or got over those disorders infants are exposed unto, and had his health confirmed, and there was great likelihood of his living and becoming a man, since now he could eat and digest more solid and substantial food; and this was great joy to Abraham, which he expressed by making a grand and sumptuous entertainment for his family, and for his neighbours, whom he might invite upon this occasion. Jarchi says, the great men of that age were at it, even Heber and Abimelech. The Jews very impertinently produce this passage, to show the obligation they lie under to make a feast at the circumcision of their infants (w); for this was not at Isaac's circumcision, but at his weaning. (q) R. Gedaliah, Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 2. 2. (r) Quaestion. in Genesin, fol. 68. K. tom. 3. (s) Annal. Vet Test. p. 9. (t) Pirke Eliezer, c. 30. Vid. Hieron. Quaest. ut supra. (in Genesin, fol. 68. K. tom. 3.) (u) De his Verb. Resipuit. Noe, p. 275. (w) Pirke Eliezer, c. 29. fol. 30. 1.