Genesis 21: No Laughing Matter

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Sep 28, 2025 · 4m

In chapter 17, ה׳ tells Abraham he will have a son:

וַיִּפֹּ֥ל אַבְרָהָ֖ם עַל־פָּנָ֑יו וַיִּצְחָ֗ק וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בְּלִבּ֔וֹ הַלְּבֶ֥ן מֵאָ֖ה שָׁנָ֣ה יִוָּלֵ֑ד וְאִם־שָׂרָ֥ה הֲבַת־תִּשְׁעִ֖ים שָׁנָ֥ה תֵּלֵֽד׃

“Abraham threw himself on his face and laughed (וַיִּצְחָק – vayitzchak), as he said to himself, ‘Can a child be born to a man a hundred years old, or can Sarah bear a child at ninety?’” (Genesis 17:17)

ה׳ dismisses Abraham’s laughter and instructs him to name the child Isaac/Yitzchak:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֲבָל֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֔ יֹלֶ֥דֶת לְךָ֖ בֵּ֑ן וְקָרָ֥אתָ שְׁמ֖וֹ יִצְחָ֑ק

“God…