Genesis

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:10a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוֹב אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה

Transliteration:

‏wayyōʾmer šôb ʾāšûb ʾēlêkā kāʿēt ḥayyâ

Translation (ESV):

The LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏וַיֹּאמֶר (wayyōʾmer) : consecutive ‏‏‏וַ (waw) + Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏‏‏אָמַר (ʾāmar) : and he said.
‏‏‏שׁוֹב (šôb) : Qal infinitive absolute of ‏‏‏‏שׁוּב (šûb) : returning.
‏‏‏אָשׁוּב (ʾāšûb) : Qal imperfect 1 c.s. of ‏‏‏‏שׁוּב (šûb) : I will return.
‏‏‏אֵלֶיךָ (ʾēlêkā) : preposition ‏‏‏‏אֶל (ʾel) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : to you.
‏‏‏כָּעֵת (kāʿēt) : preposition ‏‏‏‏כְּ (kᵉ) + definite article + ‏‏‏‏עֵת (ʿēt) : at the time.
‏‏‏חַיָּה (ḥayyâ) : feminine of adjective ‏‏‏‏חַי (ḥay) : [when it is] reviving.*

*Possibly referring to springtime (Net Note).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:10b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְהִנֵּה־בֵן לְשָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ

Transliteration:

‏wᵉhinnê-bēn lᵉśārâ ʾištekā

Translation (ESV):

and Sarah your wife shall have a son."

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏וְהִנֵּה (wᵉhinnê) : conjunction ‏‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + demonstrative particle ‏‏‏הִנֵּה (hinnê) : and (behold).
‏‏‏בֵן (bēn) : a son.
‏‏‏לְשָׂרָה (lᵉśārâ) : preposition ‏‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + ‏‏‏שָׂרָה (śārâ) : to Sarah.
‏‏‏אִשְׁתֶּךָ (ʾištekā) : noun ‏‏‏‏אִשָּׁה (ʾiššâ) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your wife.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:10c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְשָׂרָה שֹׁמַעַת פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו

Transliteration:

‏wᵉśārâ šōmaʿat petaḥ hāʾōhel wᵉhûʾ ʾaḥᵃrāyw

Translation (ESV):

And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏וְשָׂרָה (wᵉśārâ) : conjunction ‏‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + name ‏‏‏שָׂרָה (śārâ) : and Sarah.
‏‏‏שֹׁמַעַת (šōmaʿat) : Qal participle f.s. construct of ‏‏‏‏שָׁמַע (šāmaʿ) : was listening.
‏‏‏‏פֶּתַח (petaḥ) : construct : [at] the entrance of.
‏‏‏‏הָאֹהֶל (hāʾōhel) : definite article + ‏‏‏‏אֹהֶל (ʾōhel) : the tent.
‏‏‏‏וְהוּא (wᵉhûʾ) : conjunction ‏‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + personal pronoun 3 m.s. ‏‏‏‏הוּא (hûʾ) : (and it [was]).
‏‏‏‏אַחֲרָיו (ʾaḥᵃrāyw) : preposition ‏‏‏‏‏אַחַר (ʾaḥar) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : behind him.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:11a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה זְקֵנִים בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים

Transliteration:

‏wᵉʾabrāhām wᵉśārâ zᵉqēnîm bāʾîm bayyāmîm

Translation (ESV):

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏וְאַבְרָהָם (wᵉʾabrāhām) : conjunction ‏‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + name ‏‏‏אַבְרָהָם (ʾabrāhām) : now Abraham.
‏‏‏וְשָׂרָה (wᵉśārâ) : conjunction ‏‏‏וְ (wᵉ) + name ‏‏‏שָׂרָה (śārâ) : and Sarah.
‏‏‏זְקֵנִים (zᵉqēnîm) : adjective plural of ‏‏‏‏זָקֵן (zāqēn) : [were] old.
‏‏‏בָּאִים (bāʾîm) : Qal m.p. participle of ‏‏‏‏בּוֹא (bôʾ) : advanced.
‏‏‏בַּיָּמִים (bayyāmîm) : preposition ‏‏‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + definite article + plural of ‏‏‏‏יוֹם (yôm) : in the days.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:11b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏חָדַל לִהְיוֹת לְשָׂרָה אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים

Transliteration:

‏ḥādal lihyôt lᵉśārâ ʾōraḥ kannāšîm

Translation (ESV):

The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏חָדַל (ḥādal) : Qal perfect 3 m.s. : it had ceased.
‏‏‏לִהְיוֹת (lihyôt) : preposition ‏‏‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + Qal infinitive construct of ‏‏‏‏הָיָה (hāyâ) : to be.
‏‏‏לְשָׂרָה (lᵉśārâ) : preposition ‏‏‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + name ‏‏‏שָׂרָה (śārâ) : for Sarah.
‏‏‏אֹרַח (ʾōraḥ) : [after] a way.
‏‏‏כַּנָּשִׁים (kannāšîm) : preposition ‏‏‏‏כְּ (kᵉ) + plural of ‏‏‏‏אִשָּׁה (ʾiššâ) : like women.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:12a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַתִּצְחַק שָׂרָה בְּקִרְבָּהּ

Transliteration:

‏wattiṣḥaq śārâ bᵉqirbâh

Translation (ESV):

So Sarah laughed to herself

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏וַתִּצְחַק (wattiṣḥaq) : consecutive ‏‏‏‏ו (waw) + Qal imperfect 3 f.s. of ‏‏‏‏צָחַק (ṣāḥaq) : so she laughed.
‏‏‏שָׂרָה (śārâ) : Sarah.
‏‏‏בְּקִרְבָּהּ (bᵉqirbâh) : preposition ‏‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + noun ‏‏‏‏קֶרֶב (qereb) + pronominal 3 f.s. suffix : to herself.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:12b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏לֵאמֹר אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי הָיְתָה־לִּי עֶדְנָה וַאדֹנִי זָקֵן

Transliteration:

‏lēʾmōr ʾaḥᵃrê bᵉlōtî hāyᵉtâ-lî ʿednâ waʾdōnî zāqēn

Translation (ESV):

saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?"

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏לֵאמֹר (lēʾmōr) : preposition ‏‏‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + Qal infinitive construct of ‏‏‏‏אָמַר (ʾāmar) : saying.
‏‏‏אַחֲרֵי (ʾaḥᵃrê) : construct plural of ‏‏‏‏אַחַר (ʾaḥar) : after.
‏‏‏בְלֹתִי (bᵉlōtî) : Qal infinitive construct of ‏‏‏‏בָּלָה (bālâ) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : I am worn out.
‏‏‏הָיְתָה־לִּי (hāyᵉtâ-lî) : Qal pf. 3 f.s. of ‏‏‏‏הָיָה (hāyâ) + prep. ‏‏‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + pron. 1 c.s. suffix : shall I have had? (Joüon 112j).
‏‏‏עֶדְנָה (ʿednâ) : (sexual) pleasure.
‏‏‏וַאדֹנִי (waʾdōnî) : conjunction ‏‏‏וַ (wa) + noun ‏‏‏‏אָדוֹן (ʾādōn) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : and my lord.
‏‏‏זָקֵן (zāqēn) : [is] old.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:13a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־אַבְרָהָם

Transliteration:

wayyōʾmer YHWH ʾel-ʾabrāhām

Translation (ESV):

The LORD said to Abraham

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.
‏‏‏וַיֹּאמֶר (wayyōʾmer) : consecutive ‏‏‏ו (waw) + Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏‏אָמַר (ʾāmar) : said.
‏‏‏אֶל (ʾel) : preposition : to.
‏‏‏אַבְרָהָם (ʾabrāhām) : Abraham.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:13b):

‏‏לָמָּה זֶּה צָחֲקָה שָׂרָה

Transliteration:

lāmmā zeh ṣāḥᵃqā śārā

Translation (ESV):

"Why did Sarah laugh

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏לָמָּה (lāmmā) : preposition ‏‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + interrogative מָּה (mā) : why?
‏‏‏זֶּה (zeh) : demonstrative adjective : this.
‏‏‏שָׂרָה (śārā) : Sarah.
‏‏‏צָחֲקָה (ṣāḥᵃqā) : Qal perfect 3 f.s. of ‏‏‏צָחַק (ṣāḥaq) : laughed.

Grammatical Notes:

IBHS: With prepositions interrogative מה takes on a variety of senses. The most common combination is למה 'why?', sometimes with לָמָּה זֶּה צָחֲקָה שָׂרָה ― זה Why (in the world) did Sarah laugh?
GKC: Both זֶה and הוּא are sometimes used almost as enclitics to emphasis interrogative words.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:13c):

‏‏לֵאמֹר הַאַף אֻמְנָם אֵלֵד

Transliteration:

lēʾmōr haʾap ʾumnām ʾēlēd

Translation (ESV):

and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏לֵאמֹר (lēʾmōr) : preposition ‏‏‏לְ (lᵉʾiššā) + Qal infinitive construct of ‏‏‏אָמַר (ʾāmar) : and say.
‏‏‏הַאַף (haʾap) : interrogative ‏‏‏הַ (ha) + coordinating particle ‏‏‏אַף (ʾap) : indeed?
‏‏‏אֻמְנָם (ʾumnām) : adverb : really.
‏‏‏אֵלֵד (ʾēlēd) : Qal imperfect 1 c.s. of ‏‏‏יָלַד (yālad) : shall I bear a child.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:13d):

‏‏וַאֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי

Transliteration:

waʾᵃnı̂ zāqantı̂

Translation (ESV):

now that I am old?'

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏וַאֲנִי (waʾᵃnı̂) : conjunctive ‏‏‏ו (waw) + personal pronoun 1 c.s. : when/now that I.
‏‏‏זָקַנְתִּי (zāqantı̂) : Qal perfect 1 c.s of ‏‏‏זָקֵן (zāqēn) : am old.*

*Perfect of stative verb זקן has present meaning (GKC §106g).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:14a):

‏‏הֲיִפָּלֵא מֵיְהוָה דָּבָר

Transliteration:

hᵃyippālēʾ mêYHWH dābār

Translation (ESV):

Is anything too hard for the LORD?

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏הֲיִפָּלֵא (hᵃyippālēʾ) : interrogative ‏‏‏הֲ (hᵃ) + Niphal imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏‏‏פָּלָא (pālāʾ) : is too difficult? (BDB).
‏‏‏מֵיְהוָה (mêYHWH) : preposition ‏‏‏מִן (min) + proper name ‏‏‏יְהוָה (YHWH) : for Yahweh/the LORD.
‏‏‏דָּבָר (dābār) : noun : anything.

Grammatical Notes:

GKC §133c : נִפְלָאֹ מִן־ to be too wonderful for one (and, consequently, inconceivable or unattainable), Gn18:14; §139d : in a neuter sense דָּבָר (properly word, thing) for anything Gn 18:14.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:14b):

‏‏לַמּוֹעֵד אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ

Transliteration:

lammôʿēd ʾāšûb ʾēlêkā

Translation (ESV):

At the appointed time I will return to you

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏לַמּוֹעֵד (lammôʿēd) : prep. ‏‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + definite article + noun ‏‏‏מוֹעֵד (môʿēd) : at the appointed time.
‏‏‏אָשׁוּב (ʾāšûb) : Qal imperfect 1 c.s. of ‏‏‏שׁוּב (šûb) : I will return.
‏‏‏אֵלֶיךָ (ʾēlêkā) : preposition ‏‏‏אֶל (ʾel) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : to you.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:14c):

‏‏כָּעֵת חַיָּה

Transliteration:

kāʿēt ḥayyā

Translation (ESV):

about this time next year

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏כָּעֵת (kāʿēt) : preposition ‏‏‏‏כְּ (kᵉ) + definite article + ‏‏‏‏עֵת (ʿēt) : at the time.
‏‏‏חַיָּה (ḥayyâ) : feminine of adjective ‏‏‏‏חַי (ḥay) : [when it is] reviving.*

*Possibly referring to springtime (Net Note).

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham (WBC):

"Next year" (כָּעֵת חַיָּה) is problematic, occurring only here, [verse 10], and 2 Kings 4:16, 17 in a similar context. But the translation "next year" is made probable by the analogous Akkadian phrase ana balat (...).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 18:14d):

‏‏וּלְשָׂרָה בֵן

Transliteration:

ûlᵉśārā bēn

Translation (ESV):

and Sarah shall have a son."

Glossary (meanings in this context):

‏‏‏וּלְשָׂרָה (ûlᵉśārā) : conj. ‏‏‏וּ (û) + prep. לְ (lᵉ) + name שָׂרָה (śārā) : and to Sarah.
‏‏‏בֵן (bēn) : [a] son.