The Meaning of Genesis 18:10 Explained

Genesis 18:10

KJV: 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.

YLT: and he saith, 'returning I return unto thee, about the time of life, and lo, to Sarah thy wife a son.'

Darby: And he said, I will certainly return to thee at this time of the year, and behold, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent-door, which was behind him.

ASV: And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 18:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 18:1-15 - Abraham Entertains Heavenly Visitors
The Son of God is the central figure here. He loves the homes of men. It has ever been His wont to visit the homes and hearts of those who love him. See Proverbs 8:31. Abraham knew well that the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, had come to dwell with him. Others might see only three men, but he recognized his divine friend, addressing Him as "My Lord;" and when the two angels went forward alone to do their awful work in Sodom, he entered into close converse with the wondrous central figure, who remained with him still. He gave personal service, and so did Sarah. They gave their very best, fine, tender, and good. And in their love the Lord found satisfaction and rest. But remember that He still stands at the door and knocks. Ponder John 14:23; Revelation 3:20. Christ tells His secrets to those He loves. His proposals and promises are so great that we can almost laugh with incredulity, but the question of Genesis 18:14 is answered by Jeremiah 32:17. Reckon on God's faithfulness; He cannot fail those who trust Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 18

1  The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels
9  Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son
16  The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham
23  Abraham makes intercession for its inhabitants

What do the individual words in Genesis 18:10 mean?

And He said surely I will return to you according to the time of life and behold a son Sarah your wife [shall have] And Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent that [was] behind him
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר שׁ֣וֹב אָשׁ֤וּב אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ כָּעֵ֣ת חַיָּ֔ה וְהִנֵּה־ בֵ֖ן לְשָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ וְשָׂרָ֥ה שֹׁמַ֛עַת פֶּ֥תַח הָאֹ֖הֶל וְה֥וּא אַחֲרָֽיו

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  And  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שׁ֣וֹב  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אָשׁ֤וּב  I  will  return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כָּעֵ֣ת  according  to  the  time 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, common singular construct
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
חַיָּ֔ה  of  life 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
וְהִנֵּה־  and  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
בֵ֖ן  a  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
לְשָׂרָ֣ה  Sarah 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׂרָה  
Sense: wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.
אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ  your  wife  [shall  have] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
וְשָׂרָ֥ה  And  Sarah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׂרָה  
Sense: wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.
שֹׁמַ֛עַת  was  listening 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
פֶּ֥תַח  at  the  entrance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.
הָאֹ֖הֶל  to  the  tent 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
וְה֥וּא  that  [was] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
אַחֲרָֽיו  behind  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).