Sarah שָׂרָה

Sarah, initially named Sarai, was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. She was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and married Abraham (then known as Abram) while they lived in Haran (Gen.11.29-31). Sarah accompanied Abraham when God called him to leave Haran and go to the land of Canaan (Gen.12.5). Despite God's promise that Abraham would have numerous descendants, Sarah was barren (Gen.11.30). In her impatience, she gave her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to Abraham as a wife to bear a child on her behalf (Gen.16.1-4). This resulted in the birth of Ishmael (Gen.16.15-16). When Abraham was 99 years old, God reaffirmed His covenant with him, changed his name from Abram to Abraham, and changed Sarai's name to Sarah (Gen.17.5, 15). God promised that Sarah would bear a son, Isaac, through whom the covenant would be established (Gen.17.19, 21; 18.10-14). Sarah initially laughed at this idea due to her advanced age (Gen.18.12-15). However, as God had promised, Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac when she was 90 years old (Gen.21.1-7). Sarah's faith is commended in Heb.11.11, which states that she received the ability to conceive because she considered God faithful to His promise. Sarah died at the age of 127 in Kirjath-arba (Hebron), and Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for her (Gen.23.1-20). Her life story demonstrates the importance of faith, patience, and trust in God's promises, even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances.