Who is…
Sarah

Hebrew: שָׂרָה —transliteration: Sarah —meaning: My princess

also known as: Sara and Sarai

Her original name was Sarai (Genesis 11:29). She was the wife, and at the same time the half-sister, of Abraham (Genesis 11:29; 20:12).

Sarah’s name appears 38 times in Scripture.

The name “Sarah” was given to her at the time God announced to Abraham that she should be the mother of the promised child (Genesis 17:15). Her story is from her marriage identified with that of the patriarch till the time of her death.

Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” —Genesis 17:15-16

Her death, at the age of 125 years (the only instance in Scripture where the age of a woman is recorded), was the occasion of Abraham’s purchasing the cave of Machpelah as a family burial place.

She is also mentioned as “Sara” in Hebrews 11:11 among the Old Testament worthies, who “all died in faith.”

In the allegory of Galatians 4:22-31, she is the type of the “Jerusalem which is above.”

Relatives

• Husband: Abraham (Abram)
• Son: Isaac
• Grandsons: Jacob, Esau
• Great-grandsons: Judah, Dan, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Levi, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin
• Other notable descendants included: King David, many other kings, and numerous notable people, and Jesus Christ through Mary and Joseph

More information

• Who was Abraham?
• How did Sarah’s handmaid become famous and historically important?
• Where was Sarah buried?
• What is FAITH and why is it important?
• What is righteousness?