Sarah: Doubt to Faith (Hebrews 11:11)
The fact that I am sitting this summer in a house in the United States, away from my library and my bibles almost caused me to miss a significance of this verse. I am in the States for two months and knew that I would be in a house belonging to a church, so I did not bring any of my own Bibles with me and am reliant on the many copies here on loan. The one with the largest print (I turn 49 while here at this house) happens to be a translation I hardly ever read, the New Revised Standard. In the NRSV verse 11 of Hebrews 11 reads a little differently.
The NASB, my go to reads:
“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”
The ESV, another translation I frequent reads:
“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
But the NRSV reads:
“By faith he (Abraham) received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.”
The reasons for the NRSV (and a couple other translations) decision are that: the previous verses are focused on Abraham, the subsequent verse speaks of Abraham, and the phrase “ability or power to lay seed” i.e. conceive usually or maybe exclusively is used for a man impregnating a woman. However, there is not definite or convincing reason to not have this verse speak about Sarah’s faith alongside Abrahams. In fact, there are good reasons to think that is what the text is doing. So, most translations chose to do this.
As such, we have yet another powerful example of faith in Hebrews 11. Sarah is known for her laughter of doubt when God declares that she will bear a son. But here, the writer of Hebrews lets us know that Sarah’s doubt gave way to belief. She believed that God was capable of something that should have been impossible—even laughable. We too can acquire faith where we once had doubt. We simply need to trust God and see that He will come through!
The NASB, my go to reads:
“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”
The ESV, another translation I frequent reads:
“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
But the NRSV reads:
“By faith he (Abraham) received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.”
The reasons for the NRSV (and a couple other translations) decision are that: the previous verses are focused on Abraham, the subsequent verse speaks of Abraham, and the phrase “ability or power to lay seed” i.e. conceive usually or maybe exclusively is used for a man impregnating a woman. However, there is not definite or convincing reason to not have this verse speak about Sarah’s faith alongside Abrahams. In fact, there are good reasons to think that is what the text is doing. So, most translations chose to do this.
As such, we have yet another powerful example of faith in Hebrews 11. Sarah is known for her laughter of doubt when God declares that she will bear a son. But here, the writer of Hebrews lets us know that Sarah’s doubt gave way to belief. She believed that God was capable of something that should have been impossible—even laughable. We too can acquire faith where we once had doubt. We simply need to trust God and see that He will come through!
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