Genesis 21:1

The Birth of Isaac

1 Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.

Genesis 21:1 in Other Translations

KJV
1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
ESV
1 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised.
NLT
1 The LORD kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.
MSG
1 God visited Sarah exactly as he said he would; God did to Sarah what he promised:
CSB
1 The Lord came to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised.

Genesis 21:1 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:1

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said
To Abraham, ( Genesis 17:16 Genesis 17:19 Genesis 17:21 ) ( Genesis 18:10 Genesis 18:14 ) ; in a way of mercy and kindness, by fulfilling his promise, giving strength to conceive and bear a child; see ( 1 Samuel 2:21 ) : and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken;
which intends the same thing in different words; and the repetition is made to cause attention to God's fulfilment of his promise, who is always faithful to his word, even in things very difficult and seemingly impossible, as in the present case: hence the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it, God did a wonder or wonders for Sarah in causing her to conceive when she was so old, and in such circumstances as she was.

Genesis 21:1 In-Context

1 Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.
2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.
3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.
4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him.
5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 1 Samuel 2:21
  • 2. S Genesis 8:1; S Genesis 17:16,21; Genesis 18:14; Galatians 4:23; Hebrews 11:11
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