Genesis 18:12 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Sarah laughs inwardly at the promise, doubting she can bear a child in her old age.
The Context of Genesis 18:12
Sarah laughs at the promise of a son in her old age.
What Does Genesis 18:12 Mean?
Sarah's internal laughter reveals her honest response to an impossible promise. She questions whether she can experience the pleasure of motherhood at her age, and notes that Abraham is also elderly—two physical realities that seem to make conception impossible.
Her doubt is not presented as sinful but as human. Sarah's question is rational given what she knows of nature and her own body.
Genesis 18:12 in the Original Language
tzachak (צָחַק), 'laughed'—to laugh, often with overtones of joy, but here expressing doubt or incredulity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 18:12
What does Genesis 18:12 mean?
Sarah laughs inwardly at the promise, doubting she can bear a child in her old age.
What is the context of Genesis 18:12?
Sarah laughs at the promise of a son in her old age.