Genesis 20:18--21:3

20:18 For the Lord 1  had caused infertility to strike every woman 2  in the household of Abimelech because he took 3  Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

The Birth of Isaac

21:1 The Lord visited 4  Sarah just as he had said he would and did 5  for Sarah what he had promised. 6  21:2 So Sarah became pregnant 7  and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the appointed time that God had told him. 21:3 Abraham named his son – whom Sarah bore to him – Isaac. 8 

1 tn In the Hebrew text the clause begins with “because.”

2 tn Heb had completely closed up every womb.” In the Hebrew text infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.

sn The Lord had closed up every womb. This fact indicates that Sarah was in Abimelech’s household for weeks or months before the dream revelation was given (20:6-7). No one in his household could have children after Sarah arrived on the scene.

3 tn Heb “because of.” The words “he took” are supplied in the translation for clarity.

4 sn The Hebrew verb translated “visit” (פָּקַד, paqad ) often describes divine intervention for blessing or cursing; it indicates God’s special attention to an individual or a matter, always with respect to his people’s destiny. He may visit (that is, destroy) the Amalekites; he may visit (that is, deliver) his people in Egypt. Here he visits Sarah, to allow her to have the promised child. One’s destiny is changed when the Lord “visits.” For a more detailed study of the term, see G. André, Determining the Destiny (ConBOT).

5 tn Heb “and the Lord did.” The divine name has not been repeated here in the translation for stylistic reasons.

6 tn Heb “spoken.”

7 tn Or “she conceived.”

8 tn Heb “the one born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.” The two modifying clauses, the first introduced with an article and the second with the relative pronoun, are placed in the middle of the sentence, before the name Isaac is stated. They are meant to underscore that this was indeed an actual birth to Abraham and Sarah in fulfillment of the promise.