Sarah

Who was Sarah in the Bible?

The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, recognized as the primary matriarch of the Hebrew people and a recipient of God's covenantal promise.

Sarah is one of the most prominent women in the biblical narrative, serving as the matriarch of the nation of Israel and a central figure in the Patriarchal Period. Originally named Sarai, she accompanied her husband Abraham (formerly Abram) on his journey from Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of Canaan. Her life is characterized by her long-standing struggle with barrenness, her complex relationship with her husband and her maidservant Hagar, and the eventual miraculous birth of her son Isaac in her old age.

Sarah's significance extends beyond her biological role as a mother; she is the first woman in the Bible to have her name changed by God, symbolizing her new status as a 'mother of nations.' Her story is recorded primarily in the book of Genesis, but her legacy as a woman of faith and the free woman of the covenant is revisited throughout the New Testament, particularly in the writings of Paul and Peter.

Background and Family

Sarah was born into the lineage of Terah in Ur of the Chaldeans. According to the genealogical records in Genesis, she was not only the wife of Abraham but also his half-sister, sharing the same father, Terah, though they had different mothers (Genesis 20:12). This familial connection was a point of contention during their travels, as Abraham twice used this relationship to protect himself from foreign rulers, fearing they would kill him to take his beautiful wife. Sarah grew up in a family that included her brothers-in-law Nahor and Haran, and she was the aunt of Lot.

From her first appearance in the biblical text, Sarah is identified by a significant struggle: she was barren and had no children (Genesis 11:30). This condition defined much of her early life and social standing, as childbearing was the primary expectation for women in her cultural context. Despite this, she remained a loyal partner to Abraham, departing from their homeland at God's call to journey into an unknown land.

Major Life Events

The Sojourn and the Name Change

Sarah’s journey was marked by displacement and risk. During a famine, the couple fled to Egypt, where Abraham asked her to identify as his sister. Pharaoh took her into his palace, but God intervened by afflicting Pharaoh’s household with plagues, leading to her restoration to Abraham (Genesis 12:10-20). A similar event occurred years later with Abimelech, king of Gerar, where God again intervened in a dream to protect Sarah’s purity and the integrity of the coming promise (Genesis 20).

In Genesis 17, God formalized His covenant with Abraham, which included a specific promise regarding his wife. God commanded that her name be changed from Sarai to Sarah (meaning "princess"). God explicitly stated, "I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her; I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her" (Genesis 17:16).

The Promise of Isaac

When three divine visitors arrived at the Oaks of Mamre, they reiterated the promise that Sarah would bear a son within a year. Sarah, who was ninety years old and past the age of childbearing, overheard this while standing at the entrance of the tent and laughed to herself (Genesis 18:12). When questioned by the Lord, she denied laughing out of fear, but the Lord insisted, "No, but you did laugh."

True to the divine word, Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac (whose name means "he laughs") at the appointed time. This event was the fulfillment of decades of waiting and served as a testament to the power of God over the laws of nature. Sarah’s joy was evident in her declaration: "God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me" (Genesis 21:6).

Conflict with Hagar and Ishmael

Prior to Isaac's birth, Sarah had attempted to fulfill God's promise through her own means by giving her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to Abraham as a secondary wife. This resulted in the birth of Ishmael but created deep domestic strife. After Isaac was born, Sarah observed Ishmael mocking her son. Fearing for Isaac's inheritance, she demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be cast out. Although Abraham was distressed, God instructed him to listen to Sarah, affirming that the covenantal offspring would be reckoned through Isaac (Genesis 21:12).

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Sarah's primary relationship was with Abraham, characterized by shared faith and occasional deception for survival. The New Testament, specifically 1 Peter 3:6, highlights her respect for her husband, noting that she "obeyed Abraham and called him lord." Her relationship with her son Isaac was one of profound significance; she nursed him in her old age, and her death deeply grieved him, as he found comfort only after his marriage to Rebekah (Genesis 24:67).

Spiritual Significance

Sarah is uniquely positioned in scripture as the only woman whose age at death (127 years) is recorded (Genesis 23:1). She was buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron, a site that became the ancestral burial ground for the patriarchs.

In the New Testament, Sarah is elevated as a model of faith. Hebrews 11:11 credits her with the faith to conceive despite her physical limitations, because she considered God faithful to His promise. In Galatians 4, the Apostle Paul uses Sarah as an allegory for the "Jerusalem above," representing the New Covenant and the freedom of the children of promise, in contrast to the slavery represented by Hagar. Thus, Sarah stands not just as a historical figure, but as a theological archetype of the grace that brings life out of deadness.

Sarah holds a foundational place in biblical theology as the mother of the covenant people. Her life illustrates the tension between human doubt and divine sovereignty; while she initially laughed at the impossibility of God's promise, she ultimately became the vehicle through which that promise was realized. She represents the shift from the 'old' (barrenness and efforts of the flesh) to the 'new' (miraculous life and the promise of God).

Furthermore, Sarah is the only woman mentioned in the 'Hall of Faith' in Hebrews 11 alongside the patriarchs, underscoring her active role in the salvation history of Israel. Her relationship with Abraham serves as a prototype for the marriage relationship in later epistles, emphasizing a legacy of trust in God’s providence even in precarious circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Sarah mean?

The name Sarah (שָׂרָה) is generally translated as 'princess' or 'noblewoman,' signifying her status as the mother of kings and nations as promised by God.

How old was Sarah when Isaac was born?

According to Genesis 17:17 and 21:5, Sarah was 90 years old when she gave birth to Isaac, while Abraham was 100 years old.

Why did Sarah give Hagar to Abraham?

Following the customs of the time, Sarah sought to build a family through her maidservant Hagar because she was barren and believed the Lord had prevented her from having children herself (Genesis 16:2).

Where is Sarah buried?

Sarah is buried in the Cave of Machpelah near Mamre (Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham purchased the field and cave from Ephron the Hittite specifically for her burial (Genesis 23:19).

Was Sarah related to Abraham before marriage?

Yes, according to Genesis 20:12, Sarah was Abraham's half-sister, the daughter of his father but not of his mother.

Family & Relationships

Parents

  • Portrait of TerahTerahFatherGenesis 11:31
    Inferred

    No verse states this relationship in kinship terms; Terah and Sarah appear together in the cited verse.Evidence: Genesis 11:31

Portrait of SarahSarahThis page
  • Portrait of Haran, Son of TerahHaran, Son of TerahBrotherGenesis 11:29
    Inferred

    No verse states this relationship in kinship terms; Haran and Sarah appear together in the cited verse.Evidence: Genesis 11:29

  • Portrait of Nahor, Brother of AbrahamNahor, Brother of AbrahamBrotherGenesis 11:29
    Inferred

    No verse states this relationship in kinship terms; Nahor and Sarah appear together in the cited verse.Evidence: Genesis 11:29

Children

  • Portrait of IsaacIsaacSonGenesis 17:19
    Inferred

    No verse states this relationship in kinship terms; Sarah and Isaac appear together in the cited verse.Evidence: Genesis 17:19

Extended family

  • Portrait of HagarHagarRelativeGenesis 16:1Stated

Connected Figures

Family

Categories

Mentions by Book

  • Genesis43
  • Isaiah1
  • Romans2
  • Hebrews1
  • 1 Peter1

Scripture References

All 48 indexed verses, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.

  • Genesis 11:29

    And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah.

  • Genesis 11:30

    But Sarai was barren; she had no children.

  • Genesis 11:31

    And Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai the wife of Abram, and they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan. But when they arrived in Haran, they settled there.

  • Genesis 12:5

    And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,

  • Genesis 12:11

    As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,

  • Genesis 12:17

    The LORD, however, afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai.

  • Genesis 16:1

    Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.

  • Genesis 16:2Partial

    So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

  • Genesis 16:3

    So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife.

  • Genesis 16:5

    Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

  • Genesis 16:6Partial

    “Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.

  • Genesis 16:8Partial

    “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.

  • Genesis 17:15

    Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.

  • 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 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 18:6

    So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”

  • Genesis 18:9

    “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.

  • Genesis 18:10Partial

    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 18:11Partial

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

  • Genesis 18:12

    So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

  • Genesis 18:13

    And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’

  • 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.”

  • Genesis 18:15

    But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.” “No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”

  • Genesis 20:2Partial

    Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

  • Genesis 20:14

    So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.

  • Genesis 20:16

    And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

  • Genesis 20:18

    for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

  • Genesis 21:1Partial

    Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised.

  • Genesis 21:2

    So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.

  • Genesis 21:3

    And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him.

  • Genesis 21:6

    Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.”

  • Genesis 21:7

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

  • Genesis 21:9

    But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,

  • Genesis 21:12

    But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.

  • Genesis 23:1Partial

    Now Sarah lived to be 127 years old.

  • Genesis 23:2Partial

    She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her.

  • Genesis 23:19

    After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

  • Genesis 24:36

    My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.

  • Genesis 24:67

    And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

  • Genesis 25:10

    This was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah.

  • Genesis 25:12

    This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham.

  • Genesis 49:31

    There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah.

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