Genesis 18:11
New International Version
Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

New Living Translation
Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.

English Standard Version
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.

Berean Standard Bible
And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

King James Bible
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

New King James Version
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

New American Standard Bible
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

NASB 1995
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

NASB 1977
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

Amplified Bible
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; she was past [the age of] childbearing.

Christian Standard Bible
Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

American Standard Version
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

Contemporary English Version
Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children.

English Revised Version
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Abraham and Sarah were old. Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

Good News Translation
Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah had stopped having her monthly periods.

International Standard Version
Abraham and Sarah were old—really old —and Sarah was beyond the age of childbearing.

Majority Standard Bible
And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

NET Bible
Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years; Sarah had long since passed menopause.)

New Heart English Bible
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and far advanced in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

World English Bible
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Abraham and Sarah [are] aged, entering into days—the way of women has ceased to be to Sarah;

Young's Literal Translation
And Sarah is hearkening at the opening of the tent, which is behind him;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abraham and Sarah were old, being gone in days; the way according to women ceased to be to Sarah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now they were both old, and far advanced in years, and it had ceased to be with Sara after the manner of women.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now they were both old, and in an advanced state of life, and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

New American Bible
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her menstrual periods.

New Revised Standard Version
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well advanced in years; and Sarah was beyond the age of childbearing.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abraham and Sara were old and they had advanced in years; the way of women had departed from Sara.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam and Sarrha were old, advanced in days, and the custom of women ceased with Sarrha.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sarah Laughs at the Promise
10Then 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. 11And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”…

Cross References
Romans 4:19
Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

Hebrews 11:11-12
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. / And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

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.”

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?”

Genesis 21:1-2
Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. / So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.

Romans 9:9
For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

Isaiah 51:2
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.

1 Peter 3:6
just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.

Hebrews 6:15
And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

Genesis 15:3-4
Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” / Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

Genesis 21:6-7
Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.” / She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

2 Kings 4:14
So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?” “Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied, “and her husband is old.”

Judges 13:2-3
Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children. / The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.

1 Samuel 1:5-6
But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. / Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her.


Treasury of Scripture

Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

old.

Genesis 17:17,24
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? …

Luke 1:7,18,36
And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years…

Romans 4:18-21
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be…

the.

Genesis 31:35
And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

Leviticus 15:19
And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.

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Abraham Advanced Age Already Ceased Childbearing Far Hearkening Manner Opening Past Sarah Stricken Tent Time Women
Genesis 18
1. The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels.
9. Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son.
16. The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham.
23. Abraham makes intercession for its inhabitants.














And Abraham and Sarah
This phrase introduces the central figures of the narrative, Abraham and Sarah, who are pivotal in the unfolding of God's covenantal promises. Abraham, originally named Abram, is a key patriarch in the Judeo-Christian tradition, known for his faith and obedience to God. Sarah, originally Sarai, is his wife and partner in the divine promise. Their names were changed by God to signify their roles in His plan (Genesis 17:5, 15). The mention of both together underscores the unity and partnership in their journey of faith.

were already old
The Hebrew word for "old" is "zāqēn," which not only refers to age but also carries connotations of wisdom and honor in ancient Near Eastern culture. In the biblical narrative, age often signifies a life of experience and divine favor. Abraham and Sarah's advanced age highlights the miraculous nature of God's promise to them, as it defies natural expectations and emphasizes God's power to fulfill His word.

and well along in years
This phrase further emphasizes their advanced age, reinforcing the human impossibility of the situation. The repetition serves to highlight the miraculous nature of the forthcoming events. In the cultural context of the time, age was often associated with respect and authority, yet here it also underscores the improbability of childbearing, setting the stage for a divine intervention.

Sarah had passed the age of childbearing
The Hebrew phrase here indicates that Sarah was beyond the natural biological ability to conceive, which is a critical point in the narrative. This sets the stage for a miracle, as God's promise to Abraham included descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). The impossibility of Sarah's situation serves to magnify the power and faithfulness of God, who is not limited by human constraints. This moment foreshadows the birth of Isaac, a fulfillment of God's promise and a testament to His sovereignty and grace.

Verse 11. - Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age. Literally, gone into days, i.e. into years. This was the first natural impediment to the accomplishment of Jehovah's premise; the second was peculiar to Sarah. And it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women (vide Leviticus 15:19, 25).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Abraham
וְאַבְרָהָ֤ם (wə·’aḇ·rā·hām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

and Sarah
וְשָׂרָה֙ (wə·śā·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8283: Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham

were already old
זְקֵנִ֔ים (zə·qê·nîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2205: Old

and well along
בָּאִ֖ים (bā·’îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

in years.
בַּיָּמִ֑ים (bay·yā·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

Sarah
לְשָׂרָ֔ה (lə·śā·rāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8283: Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham

had passed
חָדַל֙ (ḥā·ḏal)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2308: To be flabby, desist, be lacking, idle

the age of childbearing.
אֹ֖רַח (’ō·raḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 734: A well-trodden road, a caravan


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OT Law: Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old well (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 18:10
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