Sarah
“Princess”
Summary
The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, originally named Sarai, whose long barrenness and eventual conception demonstrated God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.
☩Identity and Marriage
Sarah was Abraham's wife, accompanying him from Ur of the Chaldees through Haran to Canaan. She was also Abraham's half-sister, sharing the same father but having a different mother, a relationship that was acceptable in that era but later prohibited under Mosaic law. The text introduces her with the poignant note that she was barren and had no child—a condition that would define her story until God's intervention. She shared her husband's faith in leaving Mesopotamia and journeying toward an unknown land of promise.
☩Name Change and Promise
Originally called Sarai, her name was changed to Sarah ('princess') when God established the covenant of circumcision with Abraham. This change signified that she would be mother of nations and that kings would descend from her. While Sarai likely meant 'noble' or 'princess' in a personal sense, Sarah indicated she would be princess not merely of one family but of multitudes. The addition of the letter 'h' to both Abraham's and Sarah's names was seen by interpreters as a sign of their being received into covenant with the Lord.
☩Faith and Doubt
When three heavenly visitors announced that Sarah would bear a son within a year, she laughed within herself, considering her advanced age and her husband's. When confronted about her laughter, she denied it out of fear, but the Lord knew her heart. Yet despite this initial doubt, the New Testament commends Sarah's faith: 'By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive... because she considered him faithful who had promised.' Her story thus becomes one of faith growing through doubt to confident trust in God's word.
☩Mother of Isaac
At age ninety, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, whose name means 'laughter'—transforming her embarrassed doubt into holy joy. She nursed her own son, and at his weaning Abraham made a great feast. But when Sarah saw Ishmael mocking, she demanded that Abraham cast out Hagar and her son, insisting that Ishmael would not share Isaac's inheritance. Though this grieved Abraham, God confirmed that Sarah's demand aligned with His purposes, for through Isaac the covenant line would continue.
☩Death and Legacy
Sarah died at Hebron at the age of 127, the only woman in Scripture whose age at death is recorded, indicating her unique importance. Abraham mourned deeply and purchased the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place—the first piece of the Promised Land the patriarchs actually owned. Peter holds Sarah up as an example for Christian wives, noting her submission to Abraham and calling him 'lord.' Paul uses her allegorically as representing the free covenant of grace in contrast to Hagar's bondage.
Related Verses43 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sarah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Sarah; Sarai," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Sarah," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).