Sarah was Abraham’s wife and the mother of Isaac (EYE-zuhk). Genesis places her in the founding family of Israel. Her earlier name was Sarai (SAY-rye).
Birth year: Unknown.
Death year: Unknown.
Active during: The era of Abraham in Genesis, before Israel’s life in Egypt. A secure calendar date cannot be established.
Age in the biblical account: About ninety when Isaac was born; 127 at death.
Main passages: Genesis 11–23.
A family on the move
Genesis 11 places Sarah with Abraham’s family as they leave Mesopotamia (mehs-oh-poh-TAY-mee-uh). The story later follows them into the land of Canaan (KAY-nuhn) and Egypt. Her later life includes the hill country around Hebron (HEE-bruhn), in today’s West Bank.
A promised son
God changed her name and promised Abraham a son through her (Genesis 17:15–21). At a camp near Mamre (MAM-ree), she heard that promise repeated and laughed to herself. Genesis 21 describes Isaac’s birth and her joy. This is a specific family story, not a guarantee of pregnancy for every person who hopes for a child.
The painful parts of her story
Sarah’s household included Hagar (HAY-gahr), an enslaved Egyptian woman. Sarah arranged for Abraham to have a child through her, then mistreated her. Hagar fled and later returned (Genesis 16).
After Isaac’s birth, Sarah demanded that Hagar and her son Ishmael (ISH-may-ehl) leave. Genesis also describes God’s care for them (Genesis 21:8–21). A full account of Sarah must include the harm she caused as well as her place in the promise.
Her death and the limits of the dates
Genesis 23 says Sarah died at Hebron at 127. Abraham bought a field and cave there for her burial. The age is stated in the text; it does not establish a birth or death year in our calendar. Dating Abraham’s era remains debated.
This profile concerns Sarah, Abraham’s wife in Genesis. The portrait is an imagined historical illustration; her actual appearance is unknown.
Explore Hebron and the uncertain location of the family camp.
Read further
Genesis 11–23, NIV; BiblicalTraining: Sarah; UNESCO: Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town.