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Genesis 21:1

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 21:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
Genesis 21:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2And Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
← Genesis 20:18Genesis 21:2 →
← Full Chapter 21 Genesis Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, etc.] To Abraham, (<011716>Genesis 17:16,19,21 18:10,14); in a way of mercy and kindness, by fulfilling his promise, giving strength to conceive and bear a child; (see <090221> 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 case: hence the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it, God did a wonder or wonders for Sarah in causing her to conceive when she was so old, and in such circumstances…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“BIRTH OF ISAAC. (Gen 21:1-13) the Lord visited Sarah--The language of the historian seems designedly chosen to magnify the power of God as well as His faithfulness to His promise. It was God's grace that brought about that event, as well as the raising of spiritual children to Abraham, of which the birth of this son was typical [CALVIN].”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:1-2 See 18:10.”
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Related study paths

Read Genesis 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification