Genesis 23:1 kjv

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.

Genesis 23:1 nkjv

Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.

Genesis 23:1 niv

Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old.

Genesis 23:1 esv

Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.

Genesis 23:1 nlt

When Sarah was 127 years old,

Genesis 23 verses

Genesis 23 1 Meaning

This opening verse of Genesis chapter 23 states the precise age of Sarah, Abraham's wife, at the time of her death: one hundred and twenty-seven years. It serves as a direct, factual declaration, setting the stage for the solemn events that follow, specifically her burial. The meticulous recording of her age, an uncommon detail for a woman in biblical narratives, underscores her immense significance as the matriarch of Israel, the mother of Isaac, and a pivotal figure in the unfolding of God's covenant with Abraham. It marks the conclusion of her earthly journey, signifying both the end of a generation and the continuation of divine promises.

Genesis 23 1 Context

Genesis 23:1 initiates the narrative known as "The Life of Sarah" (Hebrew: Chayei Sarah), a significant portion within Jewish tradition, despite the chapter detailing her death. This verse follows directly from the preceding events in Genesis, particularly Abraham's journey to Beer-sheba after the binding of Isaac (Akedah) in Genesis 22. Her death marks a pivotal transition: the matriarch's life comes to a close, forcing Abraham to address the practical necessity of securing a burial place within the Promised Land. This acquisition of the Cave of Machpelah is a critical, concrete step toward fulfilling the land covenant given to him by God, representing the first formal piece of the Promised Land truly belonging to the patriarchs. Historically, in ancient Near Eastern societies, while male ages were often meticulously recorded, precise female ages at death were rarely noted, emphasizing Sarah's exceptional status and significance within God's unfolding plan. The longevity itself would have been considered a sign of divine favor.

Genesis 23 1 Word analysis

• And: Hebrew waw (וְ - "ve"). This conjunction connects the statement about Sarah's age to the preceding narrative, signaling a continuation of the patriarchal story. It implies a sequential unfolding of God's plan.
• Sarah: Hebrew Sara (שָׂרָה). Her original name, Sarai (שָׂרָי), was changed by God in Gen 17:15-16, from "my princess" to simply "princess." This change reflected a broader, more universal matriarchal role as the "mother of nations" for the covenant people. The use of her covenant name highlights her identity in God's redemptive plan.
• was: Hebrew vat'hiy (וַתְּהִי). A common Hebrew verb "to be" in its historical consecutive form. In this construction, "And the life of Sarah was," it points to the completed reality of her life span, setting the stage for what immediately follows (her death and burial).
• an hundred and seven and twenty years old: Hebrew me'ah shana v'esrim shana v'sheva shanim (מֵאָה שָׁנָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וְשֶׁבַע שָׁנִים). This precise enumeration (100 + 20 + 7) for a woman's life span is virtually unique in the biblical record, highlighting Sarah's unparalleled importance. It's a solemn, almost ceremonial declaration of the completeness of her life, indicating a divinely measured span. The detail is significant because it is a statement about a woman in a cultural context where such precise dating was primarily for prominent men.
• these were: Hebrew shanim (שָׁנִים, "years") followed by khayei Sara (חַיֵּי שָׂרָה, "life of Sarah"). The literal Hebrew syntax, "And the life of Sarah was a hundred years and twenty years and seven years; years, the life of Sarah," employs an emphatic repetition. This repetition ("these were the years of the life of Sarah") acts as a summary or a solemn concluding statement, affirming the full count of her years.
• the years of the life of Sarah: Hebrew shanim khayei Sara (שָׁנִים חַיֵּי שָׂרָה). This precise phrasing encapsulates her entire earthly existence and underscores her unique identity within the narrative. It emphasizes that her full, significant life has run its course according to divine providence, leading to the pivotal events of the chapter.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old": This opening functions as a direct, factual obituary, immediately focusing the reader on Sarah's demise. The specificity of her age is unusual for a biblical woman, emphasizing her unique standing as the key matriarch of God's covenant people and indicating the weight of this event for the narrative.
  • "these were the years of the life of Sarah": This phrase serves as a solemn summation and re-emphasis of the exact age stated. It is a rhetorical device that lends gravitas and finality to the declaration of her passing. It powerfully conveys the idea that her life was completed and full, setting the stage for the grief of Abraham and the necessary actions that follow. It underlines the importance of this specific span of time in God's unfolding plan.

Genesis 23 1 Bonus section

The chapter containing this verse, Chayei Sarah ("The Life of Sarah"), is one of the distinct Torah portions in the Jewish annual reading cycle. Ironically, though named "The Life of Sarah," it immediately opens with her death and details her burial. This nomenclature reflects a deeper understanding that Sarah's "life" encompassed not only her physical existence but also her lasting impact, her legacy through Isaac, and Abraham's actions to secure her burial site—the first property Abraham would truly own in the Promised Land. This choice of naming emphasizes that the life of a righteous person, especially a matriarch like Sarah, has an enduring quality and extends beyond their physical presence, influencing future generations and the unfolding of divine plans. It marks a transition point: the generation of the direct promise-receivers is moving towards its close, and the groundwork for the next generation, through Isaac's marriage and inheritance, begins to be laid.

Genesis 23 1 Commentary

Genesis 23:1, while seemingly a straightforward factual statement, holds profound significance. It precisely documents the death of Sarah, marking her as the only woman in the Bible whose age at death is specifically recorded. This extraordinary detail immediately elevates Sarah's status, signaling her immense importance not merely as Abraham's wife, but as a central figure in the unfolding of God's covenant with Israel. Her life of 127 years—a remarkably long life for a period where biblical averages like Psalm 90 suggest 70 or 80—implies divine blessing and a completed, purposeful journey under God's hand. The subtle but emphatic repetition in the Hebrew, emphasizing "the years of the life of Sarah," underscores the solemnity and finality of her departure. It communicates that her entire life, from the initial promise of a son through barrenness to the miraculous birth of Isaac, has reached its divinely appointed conclusion. This verse serves as the necessary prelude to Abraham's subsequent actions, where he must acquire the Cave of Machpelah for her burial. This acquisition of land in Canaan, even if for burial, becomes the very first tangible possession Abraham secures in the Promised Land, representing a foundational step in the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to give him the land. It beautifully illustrates how, even in death, God's covenant promises continue to unfold and advance.

• Practical usage example: The emphasis on Sarah's full life reminds believers that a life dedicated to God, even with challenges, is counted as significant and complete in His eyes, encouraging a holistic perspective on life's journey from birth to natural conclusion.