Sarai • Sarah

Sarah Imenu

Biography

Sarah, originally Sarai, called in Jewish tradition Sarah Imenu, Sarah our mother, is a central biblical figure, the wife of Abraham and the first of the four matriarchs of the people of Israel. According to the midrash and the Talmud she was also a prophetess, and in some sources the foremost of the prophetesses. She was born in Ur of the Chaldees, and at age 65 joined Abraham's journey to the land of Canaan following a divine command. Scripture describes her as a woman of exceptional beauty, and the rabbis counted her among the four most beautiful women of all time. At age 90, after long years of barrenness, she was remembered and bore Isaac, thereby continuing the line of the patriarchs. Her name Sarai was changed to Sarah by God, and its meaning is princess — over all the nations. She passed away at age 127 in Canaan, and was the first to be buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron, which Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite.

Life Story

Childhood

She was born in Ur of the Chaldees under the name Sarai. She was a relative of Abraham (according to some commentators his niece) and married him in their land of birth. According to tradition, she was tested in her father's house and in her father-in-law's house and did not practice idolatry, and believed in God throughout her life.

Family

Her father was Terah (according to some commentators her father was Haran and Abraham was her brother). Her husband was Abraham. Her only son from Abraham was Isaac, and she also had a family member — Ishmael, the son of her handmaid Hagar. Her brother was Lot (according to some commentators her nephew).

Key Events

At age 65 she set out with Abraham for the land of Canaan. Because of a famine they went down to Egypt, and Sarai was taken to Pharaoh's palace because of her beauty, but was returned to Abraham after plagues struck Pharaoh's house. After long years of barrenness she gave her handmaid Hagar to Abraham, and Ishmael was born of her. At age 90 she was remembered and bore Isaac. After Isaac's birth she asked Abraham to send Ishmael away, and God confirmed her request. Her name was changed from Sarai to Sarah, and Abraham was told: listen to her voice.

Miracles

At age 90, after long years of barrenness, Sarah was remembered and bore Isaac — a true miracle, about which she said: After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure? According to the rabbis, on the day Isaac was born many other barren women were also remembered, and many healings occurred on that day.

Influence

Sarah Imenu is the first of the four matriarchs of the people of Israel, and the mother of the Israelite nation. The name Sarah means princess, and of her it was said: Sarah — over all. She symbolizes the believing woman, fertile after barrenness, and the first mother of the people of Israel. Her burial in the Cave of Machpelah is the beginning of the burial tradition of the patriarchs and matriarchs in Hebron.

Death

She passed away at age 127 in Canaan. According to tradition she passed away at the time of the binding of Isaac, and her soul left her from grief when she heard that Isaac had been offered as a sacrifice. Abraham purchased the Cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite and buried her there, and she was the first to be buried in the Cave of Machpelah.

Her Way and Views

Faith

Sarah was a wholehearted believer, and according to tradition a prophetess. She believed in providence and in the promise of seed, and after long years of barrenness merited bearing Isaac. Of her it was said: And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.

Ethics

Sarah's way teaches wholehearted faith in God and setting out on a journey to an unknown land following a divine command. She guarded the purity of her household and the education of Isaac, and asked to send Ishmael away in order to preserve Isaac's path. God confirmed her request, and Abraham was told: listen to her voice.

Character

Scripture describes Sarah as a woman of exceptional beauty, and the rabbis counted her among the four most beautiful women of all time. According to the midrash, her beauty was like a shining sun. Her defining virtue, however, lies in her faith, her prophecy, and her fertility after barrenness.

Famous Quotes

"Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I have grown old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? (Genesis 18:12)"

"And God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name (Genesis 17:15)"

Famous Stories

The birth of Isaac: Sarah was barren for many years. At age 90, with no natural hope, she was remembered and bore Isaac. She laughed within herself and said: After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure? According to the rabbis, on that day many women were remembered and many healings occurred.

The sending away of Ishmael: After Isaac was weaned, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking, and asked Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away, so that he would not inherit with Isaac. This was hard in Abraham's eyes, but God said to him: Listen to her voice, for in Isaac shall your seed be called. Thus Isaac's standing as the continuation of the line was established.