The Birth of Isaac
Genesis 21:1-7
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Revelation
Gen.21.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פקד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- שרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כאשר: CONJ
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויעש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לשרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כאשר: CONJ
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 18:10,14 (verbal): Direct antecedent promise that Sarah would bear a son “at the set time”; Gen 21:1 reports the fulfillment with the same idea that God had spoken and visited.
- Genesis 17:16-19 (verbal): Earlier covenantal promise identifying Sarah by name and promising Isaac; Gen 21:1 is the narrative fulfillment of that promise.
- Hebrews 11:11 (thematic): New Testament reflection that Sarah conceived by faith and received the fulfillment of God’s promise despite her old age—ties the miracle to God’s faithfulness.
- Romans 4:19-21 (thematic): Paul uses Abraham’s and Sarah’s situation as an example of hoping against hope and trusting God’s power to fulfill his word; parallels the fulfillment reported in Gen 21:1.
- Luke 1:36,45 (thematic): Parallel motif of miraculous conception in old age/against expectation (Elizabeth and Mary) and the emphasis on God’s faithfulness to his word and blessing the one who believed.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said; and the Lord did for Sarah as he had spoken.
- And the Lord took note of Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had spoken.
Gen.21.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותהר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- ותלד: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לאברהם: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לזקניו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons+PRON,3,m,sg
- למועד: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 18:10–14 (verbal): The earlier divine promise to Sarah that she will have a son "at the appointed time"; Gen 21:2 records its fulfillment using similar language about timing and God's word.
- Genesis 17:16–19 (verbal): God's covenantal announcement that Sarah will bear a son (Isaac) in Abraham's old age; provides the original promise that Gen 21:2 reports as fulfilled.
- Hebrews 11:11 (allusion): The NT credits Sarah's faith for conceiving despite her barrenness and age, explicitly alluding to the birth narrated in Gen 21:2 as an act of faith and God's power.
- Romans 4:19–21 (thematic): Paul reflects on Abraham's hope and trust in God's promise despite bodily infirmity and Sarah's barrenness — themes that underlie the miraculous birth described in Gen 21:2.
- 1 Samuel 1:19–20 (thematic): Hannah's conception and birth of Samuel after prolonged barrenness parallels Sarah's late, miraculous childbirth, highlighting the theme of divine reversal and answered prayer.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Sarah conceived and bore to Abraham a son in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken with him.
- And Sarah conceived and bore to Abraham a son in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken with him.
Gen.21.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אברהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- שם: ADV
- בנו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- הנולד: PART,niphal,part,ms,sg,def
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ילדה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- שרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 17:19 (verbal): God announces the name 'Isaac' (Yitzchak) when promising a son; Genesis 21:3 is the human fulfillment when Abraham actually names the child.
- Genesis 21:1-2 (structural): Immediate narrative context: these verses report the birth itself and the fulfillment of God's promise, which culminates in Abraham naming the son in v.3.
- Hebrews 11:11-12 (thematic): Highlights Sarah's faith and the miraculous birth of Isaac as the child of promise—paralleling the significance of the naming in Gen 21:3.
- Romans 9:7-9 (thematic): Paul contrasts descendants according to the flesh with the child of promise, using Isaac as the paradigmatic 'child of promise'—connecting to the covenantal significance of his birth and naming in Genesis.
- Galatians 4:22-31 (allusion): Paul retells and spiritualizes the story of Hagar and Sarah, using Isaac's birth as the basis for an allegory about promise vs. slavery—echoing the covenantal meaning attached to Isaac in Gen 21:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
- And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
Gen.21.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וימל: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אברהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמנת: NUM,f,sg,cons
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כאשר: CONJ
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Gen.17:10-12 (verbal): The original divine command that every male be circumcised on the eighth day — Genesis 21:4 follows this command regarding Isaac.
- Gen.17:23-27 (structural): Narrative of Abraham's immediate obedience in circumcising his household; parallels the act of circumcising his son Isaac as obedience to God's covenant.
- Luke 2:21 (verbal): New Testament parallel: Jesus is circumcised on the eighth day and is given his name, echoing the eighth‑day rite practiced in Genesis.
- Rom.4:11 (thematic): Paul interprets Abraham's circumcision as a sign/seal of righteousness by faith — theological reflection on the significance of the circumcision event in Genesis.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
- And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Gen.21.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואברהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מאת: PREP
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בהולד: PREP+VERB,hif,ptcp,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.21:2 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same episode: states Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age—doublet/repetition of the birth event and wording.
- Gen.17:17 (verbal): Earlier narration that highlights Abraham’s age and his incredulous laughter at the promise that he (at a hundred years) would have a son—sets up the significance of Isaac’s birth.
- Hebrews 11:11 (thematic): New Testament reflection on Sarah’s faith: she received power to conceive despite her age, linking Isaac’s birth to the theme of faith and divine promise.
- Luke 1:7 (thematic): Parallel motif in the birth of John the Baptist: an aged, previously barren woman (Elizabeth) bears a promised son—shared theme of miraculous births to elderly parents.
- Romans 4:19–21 (thematic): Paul’s use of Abraham’s physical old age and unwavering faith (despite bodily 'deadness') as exemplifying trust in God’s promise—reflects theological meaning attached to Isaac’s birth.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
- And Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Gen.21.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- שרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צחק: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כל: DET
- השמע: VERB,qal,ptcp,ms,sg
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 17:17 (verbal): Abraham laughs when God promises a son; links the motif of laughter to the birth and the name Isaac (Yitzhak).
- Genesis 18:12 (verbal): Sarah laughs inside her tent at the promise of a son—an earlier instance of the same verb and reaction later celebrated in 21:6.
- Genesis 21:1-3 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the birth of Isaac fulfills God's promise and provides the concrete cause for Sarah’s declaration of laughter.
- Psalm 126:2 (thematic): ‘Our mouth was filled with laughter’—a theme of communal joy and laughter as a response to divine restoration, paralleling Sarah’s joyful proclamation.
- Luke 1:58 (thematic): Neighbors and relatives rejoice with Elizabeth at the birth of John—parallels the communal rejoicing (‘all who hear will laugh with me’) at Sarah’s miraculous child.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Sarah said, God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.
- And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me."
Gen.21.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- מלל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לאברהם: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- היניקה: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,f,sg
- בנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- ילדתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לזקניו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,const+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 18:10-14 (allusion): God announces that Sarah will have a son despite her old age; Sarah’s earlier unbelieving laughter and God’s promise are the immediate background to 21:7’s surprise at nursing children.
- Genesis 17:15-19 (allusion): God’s covenantal promise that Sarah will bear a son (Isaac) — 21:7 reports the realized outcome of that promise.
- 1 Samuel 1:19-20, 24-28 (thematic): Hannah, formerly barren, bears and weans Samuel and then dedicates him to the Lord — parallels motifs of barrenness reversed, joyful birth, nursing/weaning, and offering the child to God’s purpose.
- Luke 1:34-45 (thematic): Elizabeth’s late-in-life pregnancy and Mary’s visitation (including recognition of God’s miraculous work) echo the theme of miraculous births to formerly barren women and the wonder expressed by others.
- Psalm 113:9 (thematic): A liturgical statement that God makes the barren woman a joyful mother of children — theological reflection on the same reversal affirmed in Sarah’s bearing and nursing of a son.
Alternative generated candidates
- And she said, Who would have said to Abraham, Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne a son in his old age.
- And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham, 'Sarah would nurse children'? For I have borne a son in his old age."
And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had spoken. And Sarah conceived and bore to Abraham a son in his old age, at the appointed time that God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised Isaac his son, at the age of eight days, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said to Abraham, Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne a son in his old age.