Genesis 17:15-17
15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 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.” 17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”
Genesis 17:15-17 Meaning
Genesis 17:15-17 depict a significant moment in the life of Abraham and Sarah. God appears to Abraham and informs him that his wife’s name will be changed from Sarai to Sarah. More importantly, God promises that Sarah will conceive a son, and through him, they will become the ancestors of nations, and kings will come from their line.
Genesis 17:15-17 Commentary and Explanation
Genesis 17:15-17 reveals God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah regarding the birth of their son, a promise that is both astonishing and full of divine grace.
First, God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah. This renaming is significant in biblical culture as it often reflects a transformation in one’s identity and purpose. Sarai, which means “princess,” becomes Sarah, meaning “mother of nations.” This change foreshadows her role in God’s plan to make her the mother of a multitude of nations, including kings who will descend from her. This promise is a continuation of God’s covenant with Abraham, as mentioned earlier in Genesis 17, where God promised to make him the father of many nations.
This divine promise is both extraordinary and miraculous. God explicitly tells Abraham that he will bless Sarah and provide them with a son through her. What makes this promise even more remarkable is that both Abraham and Sarah are well beyond their childbearing years. Abraham, at a hundred years old, and Sarah, at ninety, are way beyond the natural age for bearing children. This situation prompts laughter from Abraham, as he finds it hard to believe that they could become parents at such an advanced age. This laughter reflects not only Abraham’s doubt but also his awe at the audacity of God’s promise.
Abraham’s reaction of laughter, however, reminds us of a similar incident in Genesis 18:12, when Sarah herself laughed upon hearing the same promise. God’s response to her laughter in Genesis 18:13-14 serves as a powerful reminder of His omnipotence: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” These words echo throughout the Bible, emphasizing that God’s promises transcend human limitations and logic.
This passage in Genesis 17:15-17 reminds us of the importance of faith and trust in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible. It echoes the words of Jesus in the New Testament when He says, “With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Abraham and Sarah’s journey serves as a testament to the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises, even when circumstances appear insurmountable.
Genesis 17:15-17 shows God’s divine plan and promise to Abraham and Sarah. The renaming of Sarai to Sarah symbolizes her role as the mother of nations, and God’s promise to provide a son through her challenges human understanding due to their advanced age. Despite their laughter and doubt, this passage underscores the significance of faith in God’s ability to accomplish the impossible and reinforces the timeless truth that nothing is too hard for the Lord.
Also Read: Genesis 17:9-11 Meaning and Commentary
Context of Genesis 17:15-17
This passage takes place after Abram (later renamed Abraham) had already been in a covenant relationship with God for many years. In Genesis 15, God promised Abram that he would have a son who would be his heir. However, as the years went by, Sarah remained barren, and they attempted to fulfill God’s promise through different means. Sarah allowed her servant, Hagar, to bear a child for Abram, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. Yet, God’s intended plan was for Sarah to conceive and bear a child herself.
Lessons From Genesis 17:15-17
- The importance of faith: Abraham’s doubt and laughter serve as a reminder that our faith may falter in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances. However, God patiently deals with our doubts and reaffirms His promises to us. We should strive to trust in Him, even when circumstances appear hopeless.
- God’s faithfulness: These verses reveal God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, even when they seem improbable or impossible. Through the birth of Isaac, God demonstrated His ability to do the miraculous. This encourages us to rely on God’s promises in our own lives and trust that He will fulfill them in His perfect timing.
- The power of God’s word: The transformation of Sarai’s name to Sarah symbolizes the transformative power of God’s word. God’s declaration changed Sarai’s destiny and brought forth blessings that exceeded her imagination. Similarly, when we embrace and submit to God’s word, it has the potential to transform our lives and bring about blessings beyond our wildest dreams.
Biblical Translations of Genesis 17:15-17
Genesis 17:15-17 King James Version (KJV)
“And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 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?”
Genesis 17:15-17 English Standard Version (ESV)
“And God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'”
Genesis 17:15-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.’ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, ‘Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'”
Genesis 17:15-17 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Then God said to Abraham, ‘Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.’ Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. ‘How could I become a father at the age of 100?’ he thought. ‘And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?'”
Genesis 17:15-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
“Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.’ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'”
Genesis 17:15-17 The Message (MSG)
“God said to Abraham, ‘And Sarai your wife: You will no longer be called Sarai; your name is Sarah. I’ll bless her—yes! I’ll give you a son by her! Oh, how I’ll bless her! Nations will come from her; kings of nations will come from her.’ Abraham fell flat on his face. And then he laughed, thinking, ‘Can a hundred-year-old man father a son? And can Sarah, at ninety years, have a baby?'”
Final Thoughts
The story of Abraham and Sarah teaches us that our doubts and limitations should not hinder us from believing in God’s promises. Just as God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah, He will also fulfill the promises He has made to us. We can take comfort in knowing that nothing is too difficult for God – He can bring forth life where there is barrenness and fulfill His plans in ways that surpass our understanding. Let us hold onto the truth of God’s faithfulness and trust in His unwavering love for us.