Bible Strands
Genesis 18:11
And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes Abraham and Sarah's physical condition immediately after God promises a son to Abraham and notes Sarah listening at the tent entrance.
The words — זְקֵנִים (ze.ke.Nim) translates literally as '[were] old,' and חָדַל (cha.Dal) renders as 'it had ceased.'
The thread — This pattern of advanced age preceding a divine promise runs through Genesis 17:17, Hebrews 11:11, and Luke 1:36.
Why it lands — The text states that human reproductive capacity had ceased before the promise is given, requiring the reader to weigh biological limitation against the stated divine action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Cross-references
- Genesis 17:17 Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”
- Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
- Luke 1:36 Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
- Romans 4:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
- Genesis 17:24 So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised,
- Leviticus 15:19 When a woman has a discharge consisting of blood from her body, she will be unclean due to her menstruation for seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening.
- Luke 1:7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
- Luke 1:18 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
- Hebrews 11:19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
- Genesis 31:35 Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched but could not find the household idols.