Hebrews 11:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"By faith Sarah herself." He began with this in order to rebuke them, if they should prove more fainthearted than a woman.

But someone will say, how can she be called faithful when she laughed? True, her laughter came from unbelief, but her fear came from faith.

Her words, "I did not laugh, for she was afraid" (Gen 18:15), came from faith. After unbelief was gone, faith appeared.

"By faith Sarah herself, being barren, received power to conceive seed, and she bore when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised."

What does "to conceive seed" mean? It means that, although she was already as if dead and barren, she received power to retain the seed and conceive.

Her incapacity came from two causes: from her years, since she had already grown old, and from nature, since she was barren.

"By faith Sarah herself, being barren." By the words "Sarah herself," the Apostle puts them to shame, as though saying: a woman believed. Will you not be ashamed if you prove more fainthearted than a woman?

How, then, did she believe, since she laughed? Yes, she believed, although she laughed. For afterward, when she was reproved, she was afraid, and this was the fruit of faith.

It is clear that she believed the One speaking with her to be someone great and more than man.

"She received power to conceive seed." That is, she received the capacity to receive and retain within herself the seed of Abraham.

The reason for Sarah's change of name is not given. But according to those who have interpreted the Hebrew names contained in these sacred Scriptures, the name Sarai means "my lady," while the name Sarah means "strength."

For this reason it is written in the Epistle to the Hebrews: "By faith Sarah herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed."

Both of them, as Scripture testifies, were old. Yet besides this she was also barren, and the monthly courses had already ceased in her.

Thus she could no longer have borne children, even if she had not been barren.

Furthermore, if a woman of advanced age is in such a condition that the ordinary female function still continues, she can bear by a young man, but not by an old man.

Therefore let them await the time that must necessarily continue in proportion to the increase of the human race.

For Abraham and the other patriarchs desired to see the good things and did not cease seeking the heavenly fatherland, as the Apostle says.

Yet they still remain only in the hope of grace, according to Paul's word, because "God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" (Heb 11:40).

Therefore, if some endure this delay from afar only by faith and hope, as the Apostle testifies, seeing and greeting the good things, what should many of us do?

They placed the certainty of enjoying what they hoped for in acknowledging the promise as faithful. Yet, judging by our life, perhaps many of us do not even have hope for what is better.

By faith Sarah herself received power for the conception of seed. Already barren, and not according to the time of age, she gave birth. That is, she received the strength and youth required for conception and birth. All this happened to her because, while living among the Canaanite pagans, she counted Him faithful Who had promised to give her this (Gen. 17:19).

At first Sarah laughed, not knowing the nature of Him Who had promised, and knowing the limits of human nature. Not only old age, but the hardened condition of her womb denied her childbirth. Yet afterward, when she learned Who the Promiser was, she believed and gave birth, just as she believed.

"By faith Sarah herself, being barren, received strength to retain seed." At the first moment, after receiving the divine prediction that a son would be born from her, she laughed in unbelief.

But afterward, being afraid, she said, "I did not laugh" (Gen 18:12, 15). This fear was the fear of faith. If she had truly not believed, she would not have been troubled by fear over her unbelief.

"She received strength to retain seed," so that she might receive and retain in her womb the seed of Abraham and serve its growth.

For Sarah's womb in itself was weak for two reasons. First, because of impairment, since she was barren. Second, because of time, since she was old.

Much can be said about faith, so that a whole day would not suffice us to discourse on it.

Let us be content with one more Old Testament example, Abraham, since through faith we too have become his sons. He was justified not by works only, but also by faith.

It is true that he did many things, yet he was not called the friend of God before he believed. Every work of his was also accomplished by faith.

By faith he left his parents. By faith he left his fatherland, his country, and his house. Therefore, as he was justified, so you also should strive to be justified.

His body was already dead for begetting children, since he himself was old and his wife Sarah was old. There remained no hope of childbearing.

Yet it may seem that Sarah did not show firm faith in the promise announced to her, that a son would be born from her. True, she doubted at first. But afterward, when she was convinced that the promise had been given by God Himself, she accepted it with all her heart (Gen. 18:12, 14:18).

"By faith Sarah, beyond the time of age, gave birth" (Heb. 11:11). Our barren soul does not bear the fruits of repentance and good works, not only beyond the time of age, but even "in an acceptable time, in the days of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2).

By the power of her faith, Sarah also was counted worthy to receive the possibility of founding her own posterity (δυναμίν εις καταβολήν σπέρματος), and that a very numerous one.