Who Was Sarah in the Bible — In Biblical Context

The Biblical Context

Originally named Sarai, God renamed her Sarah ('princess') as part of His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:15). God promised Abraham a son through Sarah specifically — not through any other woman. When Sarah heard this at age 90, 'Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?' (18:12). God responded, 'Is any thing too hard for the LORD?' (18:14). Isaac was born as promised — his name means 'laughter.' Sarah's faith journey was complex. She had given her servant Hagar to Abraham, producing Ishmael, when she doubted God's promise (16:2). She later demanded Hagar and Ishmael's expulsion (21:10), which grieved Abraham but God allowed. Despite her struggles, Hebrews 11:11 honors her: 'Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.' Peter held Sarah up as a model: 'Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well' (1 Peter 3:6). Sarah lived to 127 and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:1-2). Isaiah 51:2 calls on Israel to 'look unto Sarah that bare you.'

Where It Sits in Scripture

Supporting Passages