Bible Strands
Genesis 18:13
And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses Abraham immediately after Sarah’s private laughter about bearing a child in old age (Genesis 18:12). The inquiry follows the divine announcement that Sarah will have a son.
The words — The Hebrew verb צָחֲקָה (tza.cha.Kah) literally means "did she laugh," directly naming Sarah’s reaction in the preceding verse. The interrogative לָ֣/מָּה (La./mah) translates to "why?" framing the divine question as a direct challenge to that reaction.
The thread — This pattern of divine knowledge regarding human interiority appears in John 2:25, where Jesus perceives what is in a person without needing testimony. The motif of God questioning human doubt in the face of promised fulfillment recurs in the surrounding narrative of Genesis 18:14.
Why it lands — The text presents a direct confrontation between human skepticism and divine declaration. It requires the reader to recognize that God’s questions expose internal doubt rather than seek information from the speaker.
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
And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Cross-references
- John 2:25 He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.