Genesis 21:7
New International Version
And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

New Living Translation
Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

English Standard Version
And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

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

King James Bible
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.

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

New American Standard Bible
And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given birth to a son in his old age.”

NASB 1995
And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

NASB 1977
And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Amplified Bible
And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have given birth to a son by him in his old age.”

Christian Standard Bible
She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him in his old age.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him in his old age.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Who would have dared to tell Abraham that someday I would have a child? But in his old age, I have given him a son."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who would have predicted to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet, I have given him a son in his old age."

Good News Translation
Then she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

International Standard Version
She also said, "Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse sons? Yet I have given birth to a son in my husband's old age!"

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

NET Bible
She went on to say, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given birth to a son for him in his old age!"

New Heart 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."

Webster's Bible Translation
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.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
She also says, “Who has said to Abraham, Sarah has suckled sons, that I have born a son for 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?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will say, Who spake to Abraham, Sarah suckles sons? for I brought forth a son in his old age.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And again, she said: “Hearing this, who would believe Abraham, that Sarah breast-fed a son, to whom she gave birth, despite being elderly?”

New American Bible
Who would ever have told Abraham,” she added, “that Sarah would nurse children! Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

New Revised Standard Version
And she said, “Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And she said, Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would give suck to children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she said, “Who said to Abraham that Sara will breastfeed children? For I have given birth to a son for him in his old age.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she said, Who shall say to Abraam that Sarrha suckles a child? for I have born a child in my old age.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



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.” 8So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.…

Cross References
Genesis 18:12-14
So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” / And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ / 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.”

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.

Romans 4:19-21
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. / Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, / being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

Luke 1:36-37
Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. / For no word from God will ever fail.”

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?”

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

Galatians 4:22-23
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. / His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

Genesis 15:4-6
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.” / And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” / Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Genesis 22:1-2
Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. / “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Genesis 30:22-24
Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb, / and she conceived and gave birth to a son. “God has taken away my shame,” she said. / She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”

1 Samuel 1:19-20
The next morning they got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then they returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. / So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

Psalm 113:9
He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 54:1
“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.

Luke 1:57-58
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. / Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Who.

Numbers 23:23
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

Deuteronomy 4:32-34
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? …

Psalm 86:8,10
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works…

for I.

Genesis 18:11,12
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women…

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Abraham Added Age Born Borne Breast Child Children Nurse Sarah Suck Suckle
Genesis 21
1. Isaac is born, and circumcised.
6. Sarah's joy.
8. Isaac is weaned.
9. Hagar and Ishmael sent away.
15. Hagar in distress.
17. The angel relieves and comforts her.
23. Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba.














Who would have told Abraham
This phrase reflects the incredulity and surprise at the fulfillment of God's promise. The Hebrew root for "told" is "נָגַד" (nagad), which means to declare or make known. This rhetorical question emphasizes the miraculous nature of Isaac's birth, highlighting that it was beyond human expectation or prediction. In the cultural and historical context, the birth of a child, especially a son, was a significant event, and the idea that Sarah, in her old age, could bear a child was astonishing. This underscores the theme of divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's promises against all odds.

that Sarah would nurse children?
The focus here is on "nurse children," which in Hebrew is "הֵינִיקָה בָּנִים" (henikah banim). The act of nursing signifies not only the birth but the nurturing and sustaining of life. In ancient times, a woman's ability to nurse was a sign of her fertility and the continuation of her lineage. Sarah's ability to nurse Isaac is a testament to God's power to restore and renew, as she was well past the age of childbearing. This phrase also reflects the joy and fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and Sarah, as they not only have a son but Sarah is able to care for him in a way that seemed impossible.

Yet I have borne him a son
The word "borne" comes from the Hebrew "יָלַד" (yalad), meaning to give birth. This is a declaration of the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and Sarah. The emphasis on "a son" is significant in the patriarchal society of the time, where sons were seen as heirs and carriers of the family name and legacy. This birth is not just a personal joy for Sarah but a pivotal moment in the unfolding of God's covenant with Abraham, marking the continuation of the lineage through which God would bless all nations.

in his old age
The phrase "in his old age" highlights the miraculous nature of the event. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born, as noted earlier in Genesis 21:5. The Hebrew word for "old age" is "זָקֵן" (zaqen), which denotes advanced age and the wisdom and experience that come with it. This underscores the theme of God's timing and sovereignty, as He fulfills His promises in ways that defy human limitations and expectations. It serves as a reminder that God's plans are not hindered by human constraints, and His purposes are accomplished in His perfect timing.

Verse 7. - And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, - מִלֶּל, the poetic word for דּבֵּר, is introduced by מִי in order to express astonishment; the meaning being that what had happened was altogether out of the ordinary course of nature, was, in fact, God's work alone (Vatablus, Calvin, Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, 'Speaker's Commentary'). Less happy are τίς ἀναγγελεῖ τῳ Ἀβραὰμ (LXX.); quis auditurum crederet Abraham quod (Vulgate); quam fidelis est ille qui dixit Abrahamo (Onkelos) - that Sarah should have given children suck? Literally, Sarah suckleth sons. "Many of the greatest saints in Holy Scripture, and even our Lord himself, were nursed by their own mothers" (Wordsworth). For I have born him a son in his old age. Literally, I have born a son to his old age. The LXX. incorrectly render ἐν τῶ γήρᾳ μου.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
She added,
וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (wat·tō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Who
מִ֤י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

would have told
מִלֵּל֙ (mil·lêl)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4448: To speak, utter, say

Abraham
לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם (lə·’aḇ·rā·hām)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

that Sarah
שָׂרָ֑ה (śā·rāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8283: Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham

would nurse
הֵינִ֥יקָה (hê·nî·qāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3243: To suck, to give milk

children?
בָנִ֖ים (ḇā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

Yet
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I have borne him
יָלַ֥דְתִּי (yā·laḏ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

a son
בֵ֖ן (ḇên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

in his old age.”
לִזְקֻנָֽיו׃ (liz·qu·nāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2208: Old age


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OT Law: Genesis 21:7 She said Who would have said (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 21:6
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