Lexical Summary Sarah: Sarah, Sarah's Original Word: שָׂרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sarah The same as sarah; Sarah, Abraham's wife -- Sarah. see HEBREW sarah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as sar Definition "princess," a wife of Abraham NASB Translation Sarah (36), Sarah's (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. שָׂרָה37 proper name, feminine wife of Abraham (princess); — Σαρρα: Genesis 17:15 (where formal change from שָׂרַי), Genesis 17:17; Genesis 17:19; Genesis 17:21; Genesis 21:1b. 3; Genesis 23:1 (twice in verse); Genesis 23:2 (twice in verse); Genesis 23:19; Genesis 25:10,12; Genesis 49:31 (all P), Genesis 18:6 9t. 18, Genesis 21:1a. 2a Genesis 24:36,67 (all J), Genesis 20:2 (twice in verse); Genesis 20:14,16,18; Genesis 21:6,7,9,12 (all E); as ancestress of Hebrews Isaiah 51:2. Topical Lexicon Identity and Genealogy Sarah is introduced as the wife of Abram and the half-sister by Terah’s lineage (Genesis 20:12). Her account begins in Ur, moves through Haran, Canaan, Egypt, and Philistia, and culminates in Hebron, where she dies at one hundred twenty-seven years of age (Genesis 23:1). She is the mother of Isaac and ancestress of Israel, making her pivotal to redemptive history. Etymology and Covenant Name Change Originally called Sarai, her name is divinely changed to Sarah when the everlasting covenant is confirmed: “God also said to Abraham, ‘As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.’” (Genesis 17:15-16). The change signals royal destiny (“princess”) and underscores that the promised seed will come through her, not merely through Abraham. Occurrences and Narrative Development Approximately thirty-eight occurrences trace Sarah’s life: Faith and Promise Hebrews 11:11 celebrates her faith: “By faith even Sarah herself, barren and beyond the proper age, received power to conceive, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.” Her initial skepticism (Genesis 18:12) matures into robust confidence, illustrating spiritual growth. Miraculous Motherhood Sarah’s barrenness frames the narrative tension. The birth of Isaac after natural hope had expired (Genesis 18:11) demonstrates that the covenant people originate from divine intervention, not human capability, foreshadowing later miraculous births in Scripture. Interactions with Foreign Kings Twice Abraham identifies her as his sister (Genesis 12; 20). In both cases God intervenes supernaturally, preserving her purity and the covenant seed. These episodes manifest divine sovereignty over royal courts and assert that no earthly power can thwart God’s redemptive plan. Example of Submission and Honor Peter holds Sarah up as a model for believing wives: “For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves… just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord.” (1 Peter 3:5-6). Her respectful posture did not negate her agency; she spoke candidly to Abraham (Genesis 21:10-12) and her counsel was confirmed by God. Typological Significance Paul allegorizes Sarah and Hagar in Galatians 4:22-31. Sarah represents the Jerusalem above, freedom, and life by promise; Hagar pictures the Sinai covenant and bondage. Thus Sarah functions as a type of grace and the new covenant. New Testament Reflection • Romans 9:9 quotes Genesis 18:10 to argue that the true children of promise come by sovereign election. Lessons for Contemporary Faith 1. God’s promises are not thwarted by natural impossibilities. Cultural Impact Sarah’s burial site at Machpelah became Israel’s first legal foothold in Canaan, a tangible pledge of future possession. Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions all revere her, yet Scripture uniquely presents her as the mother of the child of promise through whom the Messiah’s line is secured. Related Terms and See Also Hagar (Strong’s 1904), Isaac (Strong’s 3327), Covenant, Barrenness, Promise, Faith, Machpelah, Galatians 4 Allegory. Forms and Transliterations וְשָׂרָ֥ה וְשָׂרָה֙ וּלְשָׂרָ֣ה וּלְשָׂרָ֥ה ולשרה ושרה לְשָׂרָ֔ה לְשָׂרָ֖ה לְשָׂרָ֣ה לשרה שָׂרָ֑ה שָׂרָ֔ה שָׂרָ֖ה שָׂרָ֗ה שָׂרָ֜ה שָׂרָ֣ה שָׂרָ֥ה שָׂרָ֧ה שָׂרָ֧ה ׀ שָׂרָֽה׃ שָׂרָה֙ שָׂרָה֩ שרה שרה׃ lə·śā·rāh lesaRah ləśārāh śā·rāh saRah śārāh ū·lə·śā·rāh ulesaRah ūləśārāh vesaRah wə·śā·rāh wəśārāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 17:15 HEB: שָׂרָ֑י כִּ֥י שָׂרָ֖ה שְׁמָֽהּ׃ NAS: Sarai, but Sarah [shall be] her name. KJV: but Sarah [shall] her name INT: Sarai but Sarah name Genesis 17:17 Genesis 17:19 Genesis 17:21 Genesis 18:6 Genesis 18:9 Genesis 18:10 Genesis 18:10 Genesis 18:11 Genesis 18:11 Genesis 18:12 Genesis 18:13 Genesis 18:14 Genesis 18:15 Genesis 20:2 Genesis 20:2 Genesis 20:14 Genesis 20:16 Genesis 20:18 Genesis 21:1 Genesis 21:1 Genesis 21:2 Genesis 21:3 Genesis 21:6 Genesis 21:7 38 Occurrences |
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