And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is the specific timing – "at the set time." This isn't just a miraculous birth; it's a precise fulfillment, highlighting God's faithfulness not only to His promise but to His appointed schedule, showing His perfect control over all circumstances.
And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After years of waiting and doubt, God finally fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah, bringing them a son, Isaac, exactly when He said He would. This miraculous birth, occurring in their extreme old age, marks the beginning of the lineage through which God's covenant people will be established. Following Isaac's birth and subsequent weaning, a significant conflict arises between Sarah and Hagar, Abraham's other wife, leading to Hagar and her son Ishmael's banishment, a pivotal moment that shapes the future of Abraham's descendants.
Ever felt like God's promises were taking forever? Sarah and Abraham waited decades for a child. Discover the significance of God's 'set time' in their story.
This verse highlights a crucial aspect of God's faithfulness: His perfect timing.
Imagine the sheer impossibility of a pregnancy when natural possibilities have long passed. Genesis 21:2 emphasizes this profound miracle.
The verse doesn't just record a birth; it emphasizes the miraculous nature of it, pointing directly to God's power over natural limitations.
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Understand the original words
harah · Hebrew Verb
The condition of carrying offspring in the womb, often viewed in Scripture as a blessing from God and a sign of His sovereign power over life.
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew name for God, emphasizing His power, majesty, and creative authority as the supreme ruler of the universe.
This event is not just a miraculous birth but a pivotal moment in God's redemptive plan, marking the beginning of the lineage through which His promises would be fulfilled, distinct from the line of Ishmael.
c. 2166 BC
God's Promise of a Son to Abraham
God appeared to Abraham and promised him a numerous offspring, stating that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars and that through his line a savior would come.
c. 2165 BC
Birth of Ishmael
Abraham's wife Sarai, unable to bear children, gave her maidservant Hagar to Abraham. Hagar conceived and bore Ishmael, Abraham's first son.
c. 2090 BC
Covenant Renewal and Isaac's Name
God renewed His covenant with Abraham, changing his name to Abraham (father of nations) and Sarai's to Sarah (princess). God reiterated that Sarah would bear a son, Isaac, and commanded circumcision as a sign of the covenant.
c. 2090 BC— this verse
Isaac's Birth
At the divinely appointed time, Sarah, in her old age, conceived and gave birth to Isaac, fulfilling God's promise. Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90.
c. 2075 BC
Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael
After Isaac was weaned, Ishmael mocked him. Sarah insisted that Abraham banish Hagar and Ishmael. God promised Abraham that Ishmael would also become a great nation.
c. 2074 BC
Covenant at Beersheba
Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in Beersheba, concerning a well of water. This event solidified Abraham's presence and rights in the region.
This passage directly links Sarah's conception to her faith and God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise, echoing the miraculous timing mentioned in Genesis 21:2.
Galatians 4:23This verse interprets the birth of Isaac as an allegory for those born according to the promise of the Spirit, highlighting the divine intervention and specific timing involved, just as with Isaac's birth.
Psalm 127:1The idea that children are a gift from the Lord and that apart from Him, efforts to build a family are in vain, underscores the supernatural aspect of Isaac's birth at God's appointed time.
Genesis 18:14This verse directly recalls God's question, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' spoken before Isaac's birth, reinforcing the theme of God's power to act at His appointed time, even against natural odds.
Luke 1:37Similar to Isaac's miraculous birth in old age, the birth of Jesus is presented as a direct act of God where 'nothing will be impossible with God,' emphasizing divine timing and intervention in fulfilling promises.
gillGenesis 21:2: "For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him."
For Sarah conceived,.... This explains what is meant by the Lord's visiting her, and doing to her according to his word, see Hebrews 11:11 , and bare Abraham a son in his old age; which circumstance is remarked, that the favour might appear the greater, and the more wonderful; or, "unto", or "for his old age" (n), for the comfort of him in his old age, who having lived so…
calvinGenesis 21:1-34: "And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken."
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Et dixit Deus ad Abraham, Ne displiceat in oculis tuis super puero, et super ancilla tua: in omnibus quae dixerit tibi Sarah, audi vocem ejus: quia in Ishac vocabitur…
What's easy to miss is the specific timing – "at the set time." This isn't just a miraculous birth; it's a precise fulfillment, highlighting God's faithfulness not only to His promise but to His appointed schedule, showing His perfect control over all circumstances.
After years of waiting and doubt, God finally fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah, bringing them a son, Isaac, exactly when He said He would. This miraculous birth, occurring in their extreme old age, marks the beginning of the lineage through which God's covenant people will be established. Following Isaac's birth and subsequent weaning, a significant conflict arises between Sarah and Hagar, Abraham's other wife, leading to Hagar and her son Ishmael's banishment, a pivotal moment that shapes the future of Abraham's descendants.
After years of waiting and doubt, God finally fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah, bringing them a son, Isaac, exactly when He said He would. This miraculous birth, occurring in their extreme old age, marks the beginning of the lineage through which God's covenant people will be established. Following Isaac's birth and subsequent weaning, a significant conflict arises between Sarah and Hagar, Abraham's other wife, leading to Hagar and her son Ishmael's banishment, a pivotal moment that shapes the future of Abraham's descendants.
"And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him." — What's easy to miss is the specific timing – "at the set time." This isn't just a miraculous birth; it's a precise fulfillment, highlighting God's faithfulness not only to His promise but to His *app…
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Last reviewed October 2026