Sarah Laughs at the Promise

The visitors ask for Sarah, and the LORD says that when He returns next year she will have a son. The promise is set against Abraham and Sarah's advanced age and Sarah's long barrenness.

“⁹Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. ¹⁰Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” ¹¹Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

Sarah laughs to herself at the idea, but the LORD names her laughter and repeats the promise with the question of whether anything is too difficult for Him. Sarah denies laughing out of fear, and the moment closes in tension.

¹²So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” ¹³And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ ¹⁴Is 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.” ¹⁵But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.”