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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 18:9-15

These heavenly guests (being sent to confirm the promise lately made to Abraham, that he should have a son by Sarah), while they are receiving Abraham's kind entertainment, they return his kindness. He receives angels, and has angels? rewards, a gracious message from heaven, Matt. 10:41. I. Care is taken that Sarah should be within hearing. She must conceive by faith, and therefore the promise must be made to her, Heb. 11:11. It was the modest usage of that time that the women did not sit at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:12

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself ,.... Not for joy of a son, and as pleased with it, believing so it would be; but as disbelieving it, and perhaps deriding it, and confuting it with a laugh, which, though it did not appear in her countenance, was secretly in her heart: saying , not with her mouth, but in her mind: after I am waxed old , being almost ninety years of age: shall I have pleasure ? in conception, or rather in having a son, and in suckling and nursing him, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:13

And the Lord said unto Abraham ,.... This discovers who the person was that had been conversing with Abraham, that he was a divine Person, as appears by his name "Jehovah", as well as by his knowledge of Sarah's behaviour; he did not turn himself to her, that it might be more manifest that it was not upon the sight of her he judged she laughed, but from his own omniscience; and he chose rather to speak to her husband than to her, appearing as a stranger, and that he might reprove her: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:14

Is anything too hard for the Lord ?.... Whose power is infinite; or "too wonderful" F24 היפלא "nunquid mirabile vel mirificabitur", Munster, Piscator, Schmidt. , so wonderful and beyond all belief, that it can never be thought it will be done by him; and why then should it be thought incredible or impossible that Sarah should have a child, though she is old? Or, is "anything hidden from the Lord" F25 "Nunquid abscondetur", Pagninus, Cartwright; "an potest occultari", Junius &... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:15

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not ,.... Some render the words, "Sarah lied" F26 תכחש "mentita est", Drusius. ; and indeed it was no other than a lie, to say she did not laugh when she did; which she might be tempted to say in her confusion, partly because the back of the speaker was to her, and he could not see her, and partly because it was inward, and very little at least discoverable in her countenance: for she was afraid ; of the reproof of her husband; and of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:12

Sarah laughed - Partly through pleasure at the bare idea of the possibility of the thing, and partly from a conviction that it was extremely improbable. She appears to have been in the same spirit, and to have had the same feelings of those who, unexpectedly hearing of something of great consequence to themselves, smile and say, "The news is too good to be true;", see Genesis 21:6 . There is a case very similar to this mentioned Psalm 126:1 , Psalm 126:2 . On Abraham's laughing, See... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:13

And the Lord (Jehovah) said, etc. - So it appears that one of those three persons was Jehovah, and as this name is never given to any created being, consequently the ever-blessed God is intended; and as he was never seen in any bodily shape, consequently the great Angel of the covenant, Jesus Christ, must be meant. See note on Genesis 16:7 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:14

Is any thing too hard for the Lord? - דבר מיהוה היפלא hayippale meihovah dabar , shall a word (or thing) be wonderful from the Lord? i.e., Can any thing be too great a miracle for him to effect? The Septuagint translate the passage, Μη αδυνατησει παρα τῳ Θεῳ ῥημα ; which St. Luke adopts almost literatim , only making it an affirmative position instead of a question: Ουκ αδυνατησει παρα τῳ Θεῳ παν ῥημα , which we translate, "With God nothing shall be impossible," Luke 1:37 .... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:12

Verse 12 12.Therefore Sarah laughed within herself Abraham had laughed before, as appears in the preceding chapter Genesis 17:1 : but the laughter of both was, by no means, similar. For Sarah is not transported with admiration and joy, on receiving the promise of God; but foolishly sets her own age and that of her husband in opposition to the word of God; that she may withhold confidence from God, when he speaks. Yet she does not, avowedly, charge God with falsehood or vanity; but because,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:13

Verse 13 13.And the Lord said. Because the majesty of God had now been manifested in the angels, Moses expressly mentions his Name. We have before declared, in what sense the name of God is transferred to the angel; it is not, therefore, now necessary to repeat it: except, as it is always important to remark, that the word of the Lord is so precious to himself, that he would be regarded by us as present, whenever he speaks through his ministers. Again, whenever he manifested himself to the... read more

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