Lexical Summary
Sarah: Sarah, Sarah's
Original Word:שָׂרָה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration:Sarah
Pronunciation:sah-RAH
Phonetic Spelling:(saw-raw')
KJV: Sarah
NASB:Sarah, Sarah's
Word Origin:[the same asH8282 (שָׂרָה - princesses)]
1. Sarah, Abraham's wife
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Sarah
The same assarah; Sarah, Abraham's wife -- Sarah.
see HEBREWsarah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
sarDefinition"princess," a wife of Abraham
NASB TranslationSarah (36), Sarah's (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II.
37 (
princess); — :
Genesis 17:15 (where formal change from ),
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 GenealogySarah 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:
•Genesis 11:29-31 – Marriage to Abram, departure from Ur.
•Genesis 12:10-20 – Protective intervention in Egypt.
•Genesis 16:1-6 – Hagar episode and impatience for the promised heir.
•Genesis 17:15-21 – Covenant reaffirmed; her own son promised.
•Genesis 18:9-15 – Promise reiterated; her laughter recorded.
•Genesis 20:1-18 – Abimelech incident demonstrating divine safeguarding.
•Genesis 21:1-7 – Birth of Isaac; laughter of faith.
•Genesis 21:9-21 – Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael to protect covenant line.
•Genesis 23:1-20 – Death, burial in the cave of Machpelah, first title deed in the land.
•Isaiah 51:1-2;Romans 9:9;Galatians 4:22-31;Hebrews 11:11;1 Peter 3:5-6 – Retrospective theological application.
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 inGalatians 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 quotesGenesis 18:10 to argue that the true children of promise come by sovereign election.
•Hebrews 11:11 emphasizes faith’s triumph over barrenness.
•1 Peter 3:5-6 commends her model of holy submission.
•Galatians 4 uses her motherhood as the matrix of freedom.
Lessons for Contemporary Faith
1. God’s promises are not thwarted by natural impossibilities.
2. Authentic faith can mature from initial doubt to confident obedience.
3. The covenant community is sustained by divine protection, even amid human failure.
4. Marriage is portrayed as a partnership in blessing, with complementary roles and mutual respect.
5. Spiritual freedom flows from promise, not works, as seen in Sarah’s typological contrast with Hagar.
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 wəśārāh
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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