Devine Scripture

Genesis 21:1

What does Genesis 21:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 21:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 21:1 means

This verse announces the divine fulfillment of a long-standing promise. After years of barrenness and personal attempts to secure an heir, God, referred to by His covenant name Jehovah, actively intervened in Sarah's life precisely as He had declared He would. This is not merely a passive observation, but an affirmation of God's faithfulness to perform His word, demonstrating His power and commitment to His covenant with Abraham, even against the natural order.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the Lord came to Sarah as he had said and did to her as he had undertaken.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jehovah hath looked after Sarah as He hath said, and Jehovah doth to Sarah as He hath spoken;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did to Sarah as he had spoken.

Context

This verse opens the chapter by immediately resolving the central tension of the preceding narratives: Sarah's barrenness and the promise of a son. It sets the stage for the pivotal event—Isaac's birth—and establishes that this event is a direct result of God's active involvement, preparing the reader for the joy and subsequent challenges that will unfold.

v.1This passage

v.2And Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Exodus 4:31

    And the people believed: and when they heard that Jehovah had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

  • Galatians 4:28

    Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

  • Exodus 20:5

    thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me,

  • Genesis 17:19

    And God said, Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.

  • Genesis 18:14

    Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.

  • Ruth 1:6

    Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.

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