Sarah (Abraham’s Wife)
| Sarah | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Period | Time of Abraham (estimated to be the Bronze Age) |
| Family | Husband Abraham Son Isaac |
| Occupation(Features) | A free woman, The mother of Isaac, the forefather of Hebrews |
| Activity area | Canaan |
Sarah (Hebrew: שָׂרָה,[1] Greek: Σάρρα[2]) is a figure in the book of Genesis of the Old Testament, known as the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Originally named Sarai,[3] she was unable to bear children until her old age, but she gave birth to Isaac in fulfillment of God’s promise.
Historical Background
Sarah lived around 2000 BCE, during the Bronze Age, a period marked by tribal societies. She was Abraham’s half-sister and later became his wife,[4] a common practice at the time for marriages between close relatives.[5]
Life Events
Journey to Canaan With Abraham
Sarah was approximately 65 years old when Abraham obeyed God’s command and left Haran.[6][7]
A severe famine in Canaan, however, forced them to temporarily relocate to Egypt. While they were there, Abraham told others that Sarah was his sister, fearing that if it was known she was his wife, he would be in danger because of her beauty. As a result, Pharaoh took her into his palace but released her after suffering God’s punishment. Sarah and Abraham then returned to Canaan.[8]
Conflict Between Sarah and Hagar
God promised Abraham that he would have descendants,[9] but Sarah, even at the age of 75, was unable to bear children. So, she gave her Egyptian maidservant Hagar to Abraham as a concubine, hoping to have a child through her. After Hagar conceived Abraham’s child, she began to despise Sarah. In response, Sarah mistreated Hagar, prompting her to flee into the wilderness. Following the angel’s instruction in the wilderness, Hagar returned to Sarah, sought her forgiveness, and later gave birth to Ishmael.[10]
God’s Blessing to Sarah
God, who promised Abraham numerous descendants, changed his name from “Abram” to “Abraham” (meaning “father of many nations”) and Sarah’s name from “Sarai” to “Sarah” (meaning “queen” or “mistress”). God blessed Sarah with the promise that she would bear Abraham’s son and become the mother of nations. As Sarah approached the age of 90, Abraham expressed his intent to designate Ishmael, Hagar’s son, as his heir. However, God reaffirmed His promise, declaring that Sarah would bear a son in about a year and instructed him to name him Isaac (meaning “laughter”). God also declared that He would establish an everlasting covenant with Isaac.[11]
Later, when God appeared in the form of a man accompanied by two angels, Abraham welcomed them and urgently asked Sarah to prepare food. God ate the food Abraham had served Him and He blessed him, saying, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son.” Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. Upon hearing God’s words at the entrance to the tent, Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Knowing Sarah’s thoughts, God said, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” and once again promised her a son.[12]
Birth of Isaac
Sarah, who believed in God’s promise,[13] conceived as the LORD had spoken and gave birth to a son at the age of 90, naming him Isaac.[14][15] Several years later, on the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a great feast. On that day, when Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac, she became furious and said to Abraham, “The son of this slave woman will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” She demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. Abraham was deeply distressed by this, but God said to him, “Listen to whatever Sarah tells you.” Obeying God’s command, he did as instructed. According to Sarah’s wishes, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away, and Isaac became the heir to Abraham’s entire inheritance.[16]
Sarah died at the age of 127 at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan and was buried in the Cave of Machpelah.[17]
Symbolic Meaning of Sarah
Apostle Paul, in his explanation of the law, used Hagar and Sarah as symbolic figures.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
Abraham’s two sons were Ishmael and Isaac, born to Hagar, the slave woman, and Sarah, the free woman, respectively. Since it is written, “These women represent two covenants,” Hagar symbolizes the old covenant (Old Testament), while Sarah symbolizes the new covenant (New Testament).
Ishmael, the son of the slave woman Hagar, was Abraham’s firstborn, but he did not receive the inheritance. Isaac, the son of the free woman Sarah, inherited Abraham’s legacy. Just as in the history of Abraham’s family, it is not the flawed old covenant, but the perfect new covenant established by Christ that grants one the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.[18] Apostle Paul testified that those in the new covenant are like Isaac, who was born through God’s promise, and that the children of promise have the heavenly Jerusalem, a free woman, that is, our Mother.[19]
See also
Related videos
- Mother Was the Decisive Factor in Choosing the Heir
References
- ↑ Strong's Hebrew: 8280. שָׂרָה, Bible Hub
- ↑ Strong's Greek: 4564. Σάῤῥα, Bible Hub
- ↑ "Genesis 11:29".
- ↑ "Genesis 20:11–12".
- ↑ Ancient Jewish Marriage, Hayyim Schauss, My Jewish Learning
- ↑ "Genesis 12:4".
- ↑ "Genesis 17:17".
- ↑ "Genesis 12:13–20".
- ↑ "Genesis 15:4–5".
- ↑ "Genesis 16장".
- ↑ "Genesis 17장".
- ↑ "Genesis 18:1–15".
- ↑ "Hebrews 11:11".
- ↑ "Genesis 21:1–5".
- ↑ "Genesis 17:17".
- ↑ "Genesis 21:8–14".
- ↑ "Genesis 23:1–2".
- ↑ "Hebrews 8:7–13".
- ↑ "Galatians 4:28–31".