Genesis 21:1-8 NIV

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 21:1

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said ,.... To Abraham, Genesis 17:16 ; in a way of mercy and kindness, by fulfilling his promise, giving strength to conceive and bear a child; see 1 Samuel 2:21 , and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken ; which intends the same thing in different words; and the repetition is made to cause attention to God's fulfilment of his promise, who is always faithful to his word, even in things very difficult and seemingly impossible, as in the present... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:2

For Sarah conceived ,.... This explains what is meant by the Lord's visiting her, and doing to her according to his word, see Hebrews 11:11 , and bare Abraham a son in his old age ; which circumstance is remarked, that the favour might appear the greater, and the more wonderful; or, "unto", or "for his old age" F14 לזקניו "pro senectute ejus", Vatablus; "senectuti ejus", Junius & Tremellius. , for the comfort of him in his old age, who having lived so many years under the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:3

And Abraham called the name of his son that was borne unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. Which is the name he was directed to give him, Genesis 17:19 ; and he remembers the order, and is obedient to it; the reason of which name, which signifies laughter, was on account of his laughing for joy at the promise made him, as well as there might be afterwards a further reason for it, from Sarah's laughing through distrust; and it might presignify the joy and laughter that would be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:4

And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old as , God had commanded him. Genesis 17:12 , and was the first that we read of that was circumcised on that day, according to the divine precept, which Abraham strictly observed; for though this was the son of the promise, and of his old age, for whom he had the most affectionate regard, yet he administered this bloody ordinance on him; nor did he defer it beyond the time, and was himself the operator, as it seems; all which... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:7

And she said, who would have said unto Abraham ,.... No one a year ago could ever have thought of such a thing, much less have come and told Abraham that he should have a child or children by Sarah; the thing was incredible, and next to impossible; none but God himself, or an angel from him, could have declared this, as none but he could bring it about, the thing is so marvellous and astonishing: that Sarah should have given children suck ? that she who was ninety years of age should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:8

And the child grew, and was weaned ,.... He throve under the nursing of its mother, and through the blessing of God upon him; and being healthy and robust, and capable of digesting stronger food, and living upon it, he was weaned from the breast: at what age Isaac was when weaned is not certain, there being no fixed time for such an affair, but it was at the discretion of parents, and as they liked it, and the case of their children required; and in those times, when men lived to a greater... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:1

The Lord visited Sarah - That is, God fulfilled his promise to Sarah by giving her, at the advanced age of ninety, power to conceive and bring forth a son. read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:4

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:1

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