Bible Strands
Genesis 21:2
So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the fulfillment of God's prior declaration to Abraham and Sarah at the exact moment the promised child is born. This event follows immediately after the Lord attends to Sarah as He had spoken.
The words — וַתֵּ֨לֶד (va.te.led) means "and she bore," and לַ/מּוֹעֵ֕ד (la./mo.'Ed) translates to "to the appointed time." These terms anchor the birth to a fixed divine schedule rather than natural expectation.
The thread — The birth fulfills the covenant announcement in Genesis 17:19 and is cited in Galatians 4:22 as the origin of the free woman's son. Hebrews 11:11 references the same event to illustrate faith overcoming barrenness and advanced age.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to recognize the birth as a direct fulfillment of a specific divine timeline. It demands acknowledgment that the promised outcome occurred precisely when declared, not when human circumstances allowed.
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
For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
Cross-references
- Galatians 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
- 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.
- Genesis 17:19 But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
- Genesis 17:21 But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”
- Genesis 18:10 Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.
- Genesis 18:14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
- Luke 1:24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
- 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.
- Acts 7:8 Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
- 2 Kings 4:16 And Elisha declared, “At this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she said. “Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.”