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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 21:1-8

Few under the Old Testament were brought into the world with such expectation as Isaac was, not for the sake of any great person eminence at which he was to arrive, but because he was to be, in this very thing, a type of Christ, that seed which the holy God had so long promised and holy men so long expected. In this account of the first days of Isaac we may observe, I. The fulfilling of God's promise in the conception and birth of Isaac, Gen. 21:1, 2. Note, God's providences look best and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:5

And Abraham was an hundred years old when son Isaac was born unto him. So that this was years after his departure from Haran, and coming into the land of Canaan, for then he was seventy five years of age, Genesis 12:4 ; and this exactly agrees with the account of Demetrius, as related by Polyhistor, an Heathen writer F15 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 21. p. 425. , who makes Isaac to be born just twenty five years from Abraham's coming into the land of Canaan, and who must be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:6

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh ,.... This she said on occasion of the name of her son Isaac, which name her husband had given him by divine direction, and to which she assented. This doubtless brought to her mind her former laughing, when she first heard that she should have a son, which was in a way of diffidence and distrust; but now God having given her a son, laid a foundation for laughter of another kind, for real, solid, joy and thankfulness: so that all that hear will... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:6

God hath made me to laugh - Sarah alludes here to the circumstance mentioned Genesis 18:12 ; and as she seems to use the word to laugh in this place, not in the sense of being incredulous but to express such pleasure or happiness as almost suspends the reasoning faculty for a time, it justifies the observation on the above-named verse. See a similar case in Luke 24:41 , where the disciples were so overcome with the good news of our Lord's resurrection, that it is said, They believed not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:5

Verse 5 5.And Abraham was an hundred years old. Moses again records the age of Abraham the better to excite the minds of his readers to a consideration of the miracle. And although mention is made only of Abraham, let us yet remember that he is, in this place, set before us, not as a man of lust, but as the husband of Sarah, who has obtained, through her, a lawful seed, in extreme old age, when the strength of both had failed. For the power of God was chiefly conspicuous in this, that when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:1-8

The son of promise, or a young child's biography. I. THE BIRTH OF ISAAC 1. A surprising phenomenon . "Who would have said that Sarah should have suckled sons?" " Motherhood at ninety was certainly unusual, especially when conjoined with paternity at a hundred. In a world presided over by a personal Deity there must always be room for surprises. 2. A miraculous production . That the conception and birth of Isaac were due to Divine interposition—that in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:1-8

Birth, circumcision and weaning of Isaac. Here, is— I. THE FAITIIFULNESS OF JEHOVAH . "As he had spoken. At the set time." "God hath made me to laugh." II. THE FAITH OF HIS SERVANT , which was evidenced in waiting, hoping, naming the son born unto him, obeying the commandment. III. THE GIFT of God was THE REVELATION of God: his love, his power, his purpose, his patience. IV. Taken TYPICALLY , the foreshadowing of the miraculous conception, the kingdom of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:5

And Abraham was an hundred years old (cf. Genesis 17:1 , Genesis 17:17 ), when his son Isaac was born unto him . Literally, at the time of bearing to him (ἐν τῷ τεκεῖν) Isaac . Thus Abraham had waited twenty-five years for the fulfillment of the promise—a remarkable instance of faith and patience ( Romans 4:20 ), as Isaac's birth was a signal display of Divine power ( Romans 4:17 ; Hebrews 11:12 ). Whether Isaac was born at Gerar or at Beersheba cannot with certitude be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:6

And Sarah said, —the spiritual elevation of her soul being indicated by the poetical form of her speech. Differing from Mary's magnificat in having been uttered after, and not before, the birth of the promised seed, the anthem of Sarah was obviously designed as a prelude to that loftier song of the Virgin (cf. Luke 1:46 ). It consists of two sentences, the first containing two, and the second three lines— God hath made me to laugh. Or, retaining the order of the Hebrew, To laugh hath... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 21:1-34

- The Birth of Isaac7. מלל mı̂lēl “speak,” an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word.14. חמת chêmet “bottle,” akin to חמה chāmâh, “surround, enclose,” and הוּם chûm “black. באר שׁבע beêr-sheba‛, Beer-sheba‘, “well of seven.”22. פיכל pı̂ykol, Pikhol, “mouth or spokesman of all.”23. נין nı̂yn “offspring, kin;” related: “sprout, flourish.” נכד neked “progeny,” perhaps “acquaintance,” cognate with נגד ngd, “be before” (the eyes) and נקד nqd, “mark.”33. אשׁל 'êshel “grove;” ἄρουρα... read more

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