Who Was Sarah in the Bible? Wife of Abraham and Mother of Isaac

Sarah was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Originally named Sarai, she left Mesopotamia with Abraham, remained childless for decades, and gave birth to Isaac at ninety, as God had promised (Genesis 11:29-31; 17:15-17; 21:1-3). She died at 127 and was buried in the cave of Machpelah near Hebron (Genesis 23:1-2, 23:19). The New Testament names her as an example of faith (Hebrews 11:11).

Sarah Quick Facts

Category	Details
Name meaning	Both Sarai and Sarah are usually understood to mean "princess"
Testament	Old Testament, with several New Testament references
Key books	Genesis 11-23; Romans 4 and 9; Galatians 4; Hebrews 11; 1 Peter 3
Time period	About 2156-2029 BC (traditional dating)
Family	Husband and half-brother Abraham (Genesis 20:12); son Isaac
Known for	Bearing Isaac in old age, laughing at God's promise, and being the mother of the covenant line

Watch a sermon on this topic

Who Was Sarah in the Bible? Her Early Life

Sarai first appears as the wife of Abram in the family of Terah. Genesis states that she was barren and had no children (Genesis 11:29-30). Terah took Abram, Sarai and Lot from Ur of the Chaldeans toward Canaan, and they settled in Haran (Genesis 11:31).

When God called Abram to leave Haran, Sarai went with him into Canaan (Genesis 12:1-5). Abram was seventy-five at the time (Genesis 12:4). Because Abraham was ten years older than Sarah (Genesis 17:17), she would have been about sixty-five.

Abraham later explained that Sarah was the daughter of his father but not of his mother (Genesis 20:12). Marriage between such close relatives was later prohibited under the law given through Moses (Leviticus 18:9).

Taken Into Foreign Courts

In Egypt

During a famine, Abram went down to Egypt. Because Sarai was beautiful, he feared the Egyptians would kill him to take her, so he asked her to say she was his sister (Genesis 12:10-13). Pharaoh's officials praised her, and she was taken into Pharaoh's palace. The Lord struck Pharaoh's household with serious diseases, and Pharaoh sent Abram and Sarai away (Genesis 12:14-20).

After returning to Canaan, Abram rescued his nephew Lot from a group of kings and was blessed by Melchizedek, king of Salem (Genesis 14:14-20).

In Gerar

Years later, Abraham said the same thing in Gerar, and King Abimelek took Sarah. God warned Abimelek in a dream, and he returned her to Abraham untouched along with gifts (Genesis 20:1-7, 20:14-16). This happened shortly before Isaac's birth.

Hagar and Ishmael

After ten years in Canaan, Sarai still had no children. She told Abram that the Lord had kept her from having children and gave him her Egyptian slave Hagar, hoping to build a family through her (Genesis 16:1-3). The text does not record God directing this plan.

When Hagar became pregnant, she began to despise Sarai. Sarai blamed Abram, then mistreated Hagar until she fled (Genesis 16:4-6). The angel of the Lord met Hagar in the desert and sent her back, and she gave birth to Ishmael when Abram was eighty-six (Genesis 16:7-16).

A New Name and a Promise

When Abram was ninety-nine, God renamed him Abraham and established His covenant (Genesis 17:1-5). God also told Abraham that Sarai would now be called Sarah. He would bless her and give Abraham a son by her, and she would be the mother of nations, with kings of peoples coming from her (Genesis 17:15-16).

Abraham fell facedown and laughed, asking himself whether a man of a hundred and a woman of ninety could have a child (Genesis 17:17). God said Sarah would bear a son and that Abraham should name him Isaac. The covenant would be established through Isaac (Genesis 17:19, 17:21).

Sarah Laughs

Some time later, three visitors came to Abraham's tent near the great trees of Mamre. Abraham asked Sarah to bake bread for them (Genesis 18:1-6). One of them said that Sarah would have a son by the same time next year. Sarah was listening at the tent entrance, and she laughed to herself because she was well past the age of childbearing (Genesis 18:10-12). The Lord asked Abraham why Sarah had laughed, then said:

"Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son." (Genesis 18:14)

Sarah was afraid and denied that she had laughed, but the Lord said that she had (Genesis 18:15).

The Birth of Isaac

The Lord was gracious to Sarah and did what He had promised. She became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had said. Abraham named him Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day (Genesis 21:1-4). Abraham was a hundred years old (Genesis 21:5). Sarah said:

"God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." (Genesis 21:6)

The name Isaac is generally understood to mean "he laughs," which connects with both Abraham's and Sarah's laughter in the story (Genesis 17:17; 18:12; 21:6).

Hagar Sent Away

On the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a great feast. Sarah saw Ishmael mocking and told Abraham to send away Hagar and her son, because Ishmael would not share the inheritance with Isaac (Genesis 21:8-10). Abraham was distressed, but God told him to listen to Sarah, because it was through Isaac that his offspring would be reckoned. God also promised to make Ishmael into a nation (Genesis 21:8-13).

Sarah's Death and Burial

Sarah lived to 127 and died at Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron, in Canaan. Abraham mourned and wept over her (Genesis 23:1-2). He bought the field and cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite for four hundred shekels of silver and buried her there (Genesis 23:16-19). Her son Isaac was comforted after his mother's death when he married Rebekah (Genesis 24:67).

The cave became the family burial place. Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah were buried there, and Jacob buried his wife Leah there (Genesis 25:9-10; 49:31).

Sarah in the Rest of Scripture

• Isaiah 51:2: God tells Israel to look to Abraham their father and to Sarah, who gave them birth.
• Romans 4:19 and 9:9: Paul refers to the deadness of Sarah's womb and quotes the promise of her son.
• Galatians 4:21-31: Paul contrasts the son of the slave woman with the son of the free woman, using the two as a figure for two covenants.
• Hebrews 11:11: Sarah is named for her faith.
• 1 Peter 3:5-6: Peter names Sarah as an example of the holy women of the past who put their hope in God.

Hebrews describes her faith this way:

"And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise." (Hebrews 11:11)

Later in Scripture, other women also waited years for a child. Hannah prayed for a son at Shiloh and gave birth to Samuel (1 Samuel 1:10-20).

Lessons From Sarah's Life

• Nothing is too hard for the Lord. God gave a son to a woman of ninety (Genesis 17:17; 18:14).
• Taking matters into our own hands brings trouble. The plan with Hagar led to conflict in the household (Genesis 16:4-6; 21:9-10).
• Doubt and faith can both appear in one life. Sarah laughed in disbelief, yet Hebrews names her for her faith (Genesis 18:12; Hebrews 11:11).
• God keeps His word on His timetable. Isaac was born at the very time God had promised (Genesis 21:2).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Sarah in the Bible?

Sarah was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-3). She was childless for most of her life and gave birth to Isaac at ninety, as God had promised (Genesis 17:17).

Why did God change Sarai's name to Sarah?

God changed her name when He confirmed His covenant with Abraham and promised that she would be the mother of nations and kings (Genesis 17:15-16). Both forms of the name are usually understood to mean "princess."

How old was Sarah when she had Isaac?

Sarah was ninety when Isaac was born, and Abraham was a hundred (Genesis 17:17; 21:5).

Why did Sarah laugh?

Sarah laughed to herself when she overheard that she would have a son, because she and Abraham were both old and she was past childbearing age (Genesis 18:11-12).

Where is Sarah buried?

Sarah is buried in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, at Hebron in Canaan, which Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite (Genesis 23:17-19).