In the Bible
How old was Sarah when she had Isaac?
90. Abraham was 100.
See Genesis 17:17
The beginnings
Who was Sarah in the Bible?
Sarah was Abraham’s wife and the mother of Isaac. She went with Abraham when he left home, waited decades for the son God promised, and laughed when she heard it would happen in her old age. She had Isaac at 90.
- When
- The same years as Abraham. The Bible gives no date we can fix.
- Read
- Genesis 11:29–23:20
7 moments
Sarah’s life, in order
See where Sarah fits on the Bible timeline
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Married and childless
Sarai is named as Abram’s wife. The next words are that she could not have children.
In Pharaoh’s house
In Egypt, Abram says she is his sister, and she is taken into Pharaoh’s house until God steps in.
Hagar
Sarai gives her slave Hagar to Abram to have a child by her. Ishmael is born, and the home turns bitter.
A new name
God renames her Sarah and says she will be the mother of nations.
She laughs
Listening at the tent door, Sarah laughs at the promise. God asks if anything is too hard for him.
Isaac
She bears a son and names him Isaac, “he laughs”. “God has brought me laughter.”
Her death
Sarah dies at 127 at Hebron. Abraham weeps for her and buys a cave to bury her.
Read these first
Key verses about Sarah
Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Genesis 18:14Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
Genesis 21:6Her laughter
By faith even Sarah, who was barren, was given power to conceive, though she was beyond the age for it, since she judged the one who made the promise to be trustworthy.
Hebrews 11:11Sarah as a woman of faith
Questions people ask
What the Bible says, and what tradition adds
Each answer is marked: in the Bible, tradition, readers disagree, or not known.
In the Bible
Why did Sarah laugh?
She was long past the age of having children, and the promise sounded impossible. Later she names her son for the laugh, and the laugh changes from doubt to joy.
See Genesis 18:12
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