The Meaning of Genesis 18:15 Explained

Genesis 18:15

KJV: Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

YLT: And Sarah denieth, saying, 'I did not laugh;' for she hath been afraid; and He saith, 'Nay, but thou didst laugh.'

Darby: And Sarah denied, saying, I did not laugh; for she was afraid. And he said, No; but thou didst laugh.

ASV: Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then Sarah  denied,  saying,  I laughed  not; for she was afraid.  And he said,  Nay;  but thou didst laugh. 

What does Genesis 18:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Sarah evidently denied that she had laughed from fear of the Lord"s powers or from fear of offending Him. Again, God built confidence in His word. If the Lord could read Sarah"s thoughts, could He not also open her womb?
Believers should never doubt God"s promises because nothing is impossible for Him.

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 18:15 mean?

But denied [it] Sarah saying not I did laugh for she was afraid And He said No but you did laugh
וַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁ שָׂרָ֧ה ׀ לֵאמֹ֛ר לֹ֥א צָחַ֖קְתִּי כִּ֣י ׀ יָרֵ֑אָה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ׀ לֹ֖א כִּ֥י צָחָֽקְתְּ

וַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁ  But  denied  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּחַשׁ  
Sense: to deceive, lie, fail, grow lean, be disappointing, be untrue, be insufficient, be found liars, belie, deny, dissemble, deal falsely.
שָׂרָ֧ה ׀  Sarah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׂרָה  
Sense: wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.
לֵאמֹ֛ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
צָחַ֖קְתִּי  I  did  laugh 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: צָחַק  
Sense: to laugh, mock, play.
יָרֵ֑אָה  she  was  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ׀  And  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לֹ֖א  No 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
צָחָֽקְתְּ  you  did  laugh 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person feminine singular
Root: צָחַק  
Sense: to laugh, mock, play.