Sarah
Biblical matriarch, prophet, and mother of Isaac
Sarah (originally Sarai) is a biblical matriarch, prophet, and major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pious woman, renowned for her hospitality and beauty, the wife of Abraham, and the mother of Isaac. Sarah has her feast day on 1 September in the Catholic Church, 19 August in the Coptic Orthodox Church, 20 January in the LCMS, and 12 and 20 December in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- Original name
- Sarai (Genesis 17:15)
- Age at promise of son
- 90 years old (Genesis 17:17)
- Son born
- Isaac (Genesis 21:3)
- Burial place
- Cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (Hebron) (Genesis 23:19)
Lore & Background
In the biblical narrative, Sarah is the wife of Abraham. She was originally called Sarai. During the narrative of the covenant of circumcision in Genesis 17, God renames Abram and Sarai as Abraham and Sarah, then promises them that they will have a son. According to most modern scholars, both Sarah and Sarai come from the same root SRR, with both meaning 'important woman'. A minority of scholars derive Sarai from the root SRY, meaning 'contend with' or 'withstand', similar to the name Israel. Sarah died at the age of 127. Abraham mourned after her death, and bought a piece of land with a cave near Hebron from Ephron the Hittite in which to bury her. This was the first land owned by the Israelites in Canaan, according to the biblical narrative. The place became known as the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Reader's Guide
Sarah is mentioned alongside Abraham in Isaiah 51:2. The First Epistle of Peter praises Sarah for obeying her husband. She is praised for her faith in the Hebrews 'hall of faith' passage alongside a number of other Old Testament figures. Other New Testament references to Sarah are in Romans and Galatians. In Galatians 4, she and Hagar are used as an allegory of the old and new covenants.
Did You Know?
- Sarah's original name was Sarai, which God changed to Sarah in Genesis 17.
- Sarah gave birth to Isaac at the age of 127? No, she died at 127; her age at Isaac's birth is not given in the source.
- Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age at death is recorded.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"Sarah is a biblical matriarch, prophet, and major figure in Abrahamic religions. She was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac." — Sarah "Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him." — Sarah "Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah." — Sarah "And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife." — Sarah
Elsewhere in the Figures of Scripture universe
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