Sarah
femalePatriarchalMeaning: “Princess”
The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. Barren for most of her life, she bore the child of promise in old age and became "a mother of nations."
Biography
Sarah is the wife of Abraham and the first of the matriarchs of Israel. Her life is the story of a long-deferred promise finally fulfilled, and the New Testament holds her up as an example of faith and of holy womanhood (Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6).
Barrenness and the long wait
Originally named Sarai, she was Abraham's half-sister as well as his wife (Genesis 20:12). Genesis introduces her with a painful note: "Sarai was barren; she had no child" (Genesis 11:30). For decades she bore the reproach of childlessness even as God repeatedly promised Abraham descendants.
Hagar and Ishmael
Impatient for the promise, Sarah gave her Egyptian maid Hagar to Abraham, and Ishmael was born (Genesis 16). The arrangement bred jealousy and grief, illustrating the cost of trying to fulfill God's promise by human means.
The child of laughter
God renamed Sarai "Sarah" and promised that she herself would bear a son (Genesis 17:15–16). She laughed in disbelief (Genesis 18:12), yet "through faith… she judged him faithful who had promised" (Hebrews 11:11). At about ninety she bore Isaac — "laughter" — and rejoiced, "God hath made me to laugh" (Genesis 21:6).
Her death and legacy
Sarah died at 127 in Hebron, and Abraham mourned and purchased the cave of Machpelah to bury her (Genesis 23). Paul makes her the mother of the children of promise and of freedom (Galatians 4:22–31), and Peter commends her trust and respect as a model for believing wives (1 Peter 3:6).
Life Timeline
Gives Hagar to Abraham; Ishmael is born
Renamed Sarah; promised a son of her own
Bears Isaac in her old age
Dies at Hebron at the age of 127 and is buried at Machpelah
On the Bible timeline
Sarah belongs to the Creation & the Early World era (Beginning – c. 2100 BC).
- c. 2400 BC (traditional)The Flood
- c. 2200 BCThe Tower of Babel
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Sarah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Sarah appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
9 verses in 5 booksGenesis5 verses
Genesis 11:30
But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Genesis 17:15
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
Genesis 18:12
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
Genesis 21:2
For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
Genesis 23:1
And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.
Isaiah1 verse
Isaiah 51:2
Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
Galatians1 verse
Galatians 4:22
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Hebrews1 verse
Hebrews 11:11
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
1 Peter1 verse
1 Peter 3:6
Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
Frequently asked about Sarah
Who was Sarah in the Bible?
The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. Barren for most of her life, she bore the child of promise in old age and became "a mother of nations."
What does the name Sarah mean?
The name Sarah means “Princess”.
What did Sarah do in the Bible?
Sarah served as matriarch, of the tribe of Hebrew.
Who were Sarah's children?
Sarah's children include Isaac.
Where does Sarah appear in the Bible?
Sarah is mentioned 9 times across 5 books: Genesis, Isaiah, Galatians, Hebrews, 1 Peter.
What can we learn from Sarah?
The story of Sarah touches on themes of abraham, woman, conception, miraculous, conduct, christian — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Sarah's life.
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