Thursday, January 01, 2009

Hebrews 11:11

Hebrew 11:11

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.

a. NLT: It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed[fn] that God would keep his promise.

b. NIV: And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[fn] considered him faithful who had made the promise.

c. YLT: By faith also Sarah herself did receive power to conceive seed, and she bare after the time of life, seeing she did judge Him faithful who did promise;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: “Because of faith also Sara herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when who was long past the age for it, because she considered God who had given her the promise, reliable and trustworthy and true to his word.”

1. “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed,

a. [Through] faith 4102 pistis pis'-tis from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]

b. also [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. Sarah [Strong: 4564 Sarrha sar'-hrah of Hebrew origin (8283); Sarra (i.e. Sarah), the wife of Abraham:--Sara, Sarah.]

d. herself [Strong: 846  autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. received [Strong: 2983 lambano lam-ban'-o a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas 1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while 138 is more violent, to seize or remove)):--accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).]

f. strength [Strong: 1411 dunamis doo'-nam-is from 1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):--ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.] [Vine: power] [Bullinger: capability to do anything; ability to perform anything; not merely power capable of action, but power in action.]

g. to [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

h. conceive [Strong: 2602 katabole kat-ab-ol-ay' from 2598; a deposition, i.e. founding; figuratively, conception:--conceive, foundation.]

i. seed [Strong: 4690 sperma sper'-mah from 4687; something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting):--issue, seed.]

2. “...and was delivered of a child when she was past age…”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. [was] delivered of a child [Strong: 5088 tikto tik'-to a strengthened form of a primary teko tek'-o (which is used only as alternate in certain tenses); to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.), literally or figuratively:--bear, be born, bring forth, be delivered, be in travail.]

c. when she was past [Strong: 3844 para par-ah' a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.] [Zodhiates: adulthood, maturity of life.]

d. age [Strong: 2540  kairos kahee-ros' of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. set or proper time:--X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while.]

e. [Strong:2244 helikia hay-lik-ee'-ah from the same as 2245; maturity (in years or size):--age, stature.] [Zodhiates: adulthood, maturity of life.]

1).  Sara was barren, and she had gone through menopause. It was physically impossible for her to get pregnant.

a). Genesis 11:30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

b). Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

2. “…because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

a. because [Strong: 1893 epei ep-i' from 1909 and 1487; thereupon, i.e. since (of time or cause):--because, else, for that (then, -asmuch as), otherwise, seeing that, since, when.]

b. [she] judged [Strong: 2233 hegeomai hayg-eh'-om-ahee middle voice of a (presumed) strengthened form of 71; to lead, i.e. command (with official authority); figuratively, to deem, i.e. consider:--account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think.]

c. [him] faithful [Strong: 4103 pistos pis-tos' from 3982; objectively, trustworthy; subjectively, trustful:--believe(-ing, -r), faithful(-ly), sure, true.]

d. [who] had promised [Strong: 1861 epaggello ep-ang-el'-lo from 1909 and the base of 32; to announce upon (reflexively), i.e. (by implication) to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself:--profess, (make) promise.


1). The incident that caused Sarah to judge God faithful was no doubt the incident in Genesis 18, when the LORD and two angels visited Abraham and Sarah.

a). Genesis 18:9-15 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
18:10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.”

2). The effect upon Sarah was fear. The LORD revealed the secrets of her heart. I am reminded of the utterance gifts in 1 Corinthians.

a). 1 Corinthians 14:24, 25 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or is unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.
14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

b). Up until the moment in Genesis 18, Sarah was not a believer in the promises. This incident caused her to judge God faithful, and she received strength through her faith, conceived, and delivered Isaac.

No comments: