From Nave’s Topical Bible
Barrenness
Every passage the 1896 Nave’s Topical Biblegathers under this heading, in Nave’s own arrangement and then in Bible order. MannaFest has not written this page — it is the older index, transcribed, with the Word travelling beside each reference.
- 13Passages listed
- 5Books of the 66
- 1896Nave's edition
How Nave’s arranged it
- (Sterility of women)
- A reproachGenesis 30:22Genesis 30:231 Samuel 1:61 Samuel 1:71 Samuel 2:1–11Isaiah 4:1Luke 1:25
- Miraculously removed, instances of
- SaraiGenesis 17:15–21
- RebeccaGenesis 25:21
- Manoah's wifeJudges 13
- Hannah1 Samuel 1:6–20
- ElisabethLuke 1:5–25
- Sent as a judgmentGenesis 20:17Genesis 20:18
- See Childlessness
The passages, in Bible order (13)
The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 13 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.
- Genesis 17:15–21
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai, for her name is to be Sarah.
Commentary on Genesis 17:15–211 voice
(Verse 15) And God said to Abraham: You shall not call your wife Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. Those who think that the first Sarah was written with one 'R' and then another 'R' was added to it are mistaken. And because 'R' is the hundredth number among the Greeks, they suspect many silly things about her name: when in fact, whatever way they want to understand the composite word, it should have a Hebrew, not Greek, origin, since the name itself is Hebrew.
Jerome· Hebrew Questions on Genesis, 420Patristic
- Genesis 20:17
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
Commentary on Genesis 20:171 voice
But it does not seem to me superfluous that mention is made not only of Abim-elech's wife but also of his handmaids, especially in that place that says, "God healed them, and they bore children. For he had closed [their wombs] that they might not bear."
Origen of Alexandria· HOMILIES ON GENESIS 6.3, 253Patristic
- Genesis 20:18
for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.
Commentary on Genesis 20:182 voices
For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech,.... With large tumours probably, so that they could not cohabit with their husbands and conceive; nor could those that had conceived bring forth: and this disorder they were smitten with: because of Sarah Abraham's wife; who was taken into the house of Abimelech, in order to be his; to rebuke and punish for which, and to convince of the evil of it, and cause to abstain from it, this disorder was inflicted on them.
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs - Probably by means of some disease with which he had smitten them, hence it is said they were healed at Abrahams intercession; and this seems necessarily to imply that they had been afflicted by some disease that rendered it impossible for them to have children till it was removed. And possibly this disease, as Dr. Dodd conjectures, had afflicted Abimelech, and by this he was withheld, Gen 20:6, from defiling Abrahams bed.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832Evangelical
- Genesis 25:21
Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
Commentary on Genesis 25:211 voice
And Rebecca conceived, and by her patience she untied the knot of sterility. But let us consider what the prophetic and apostolic soul gives birth to and how it gives birth. She went, it says, to inquire of the Lord (Gen. XXV, 22), because the infants in her womb were rejoicing. And she received this answer: Two nations are in your womb (Ibid., 23); for she presumes nothing of her own accord, but in all things she seeks the highest God as the ruler of her plans.
Ambrose of Milan· On Isaac and the Soul, 397Patristic
- Genesis 30:22
Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,
Commentary on Genesis 30:222 voices
And God remembered Rachel,.... In a way of mercy and kindness, whom he seemed to have forgotten, by not giving her children: and God hearkened to her; to her prayer, which had been made time after time, that she might have children; but hitherto God had delayed to answer, but now gives one: and opened her womb; gave her conception, and made her fruitful, and she became the mother of a child she so much desired.
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
And God hearkened to her - After the severe reproof which Rachel had received from her husband, Gen 30:2, it appears that she sought God by prayer, and that he heard her; so that her prayer and faith obtained what her impatience and unbelief had prevented.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832Evangelical
- Genesis 30:23
and she conceived and gave birth to a son. “God has taken away my shame,” she said.
Commentary on Genesis 30:231 voice
And she conceived and bare a son,.... Through the goodness of God unto her, and for which she was greatly thankful: and said, God hath taken away my reproach; the reproach of barrenness with which she was reproached among her neighbours; and perhaps by her sister Leah, and indeed it was a general reproach in those times; and especially, it was the more grievous to good women in the family of Abraham, because they were not the means of multiplying his seed according to the promise, and could have no hope of the Messiah springing from them.
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Judges 13:1
Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, so He delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
Commentary on Judges 13:12 voices
The Philistines for many years kept the Hebrew people in subjection; for they had lost the prerogative of faith, whereby their fathers had gained victories. Yet had not their Maker wholly blotted out the mark of their election nor the lot of their inheritance; but as they were often puffed up by success, He for the most part delivered them into the hand of their enemies, that thus, after the manner of men, they might be led to seek for themselves the remedy of their evils from heaven.
Ambrose of Milan· Letter 19.9, 397Patristic
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- 1 Samuel 1:6
Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:61 voice
17. For the Lord closed the womb of Holy Church, because, rejected by His supreme judgment, it could not give birth to the Jewish people in the faith of our Redeemer. Her rival indeed afflicted her, because the synagogue raged against her with threats and reproaches. But she who had not been broken by either threats or insults was also subjected to punishment by torture. Rightly therefore she is said not only to afflict her but to distress her vehemently: because rejected Judea moved against the chosen Church with the terror of threats, and struck her with blows.
Gregory the Dialogist· Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 1, Chapter 1, 604Patristic
- 1 Samuel 1:7
And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:72 voices
Thus a Godward fast is a work of reverential awe. By its means also Hannah the wife of Elkanah making suit, barren as she had been beforetime, easily obtained from God the filling of her belly, empty of food, with a son, indeed, and a prophet.
Tertullian· ON FASTING 7, 220Patristic
And as he did so year by year,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- 1 Samuel 2:1–11
At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD in whom my horn is exalted. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 2:1–111 voice
We have already shown that the type of holy Church lies hidden in the person of Anna. She, indeed, once the child was born, declares that she exults in the Lord, because she did not swell with vain pride over having drawn the Gentile people to faith in the Redeemer, but kept the intention of her joy fixed on Him from whom she received the gifts of her fruitfulness. By these words she indicates the foundation of her joy in such a way that she also shows the cause of that same exultation.
Gregory the Dialogist· Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 1, Chapter 3, 604Patristic
- Isaiah 4:1
In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own bread and provide our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”
Commentary on Isaiah 4:11 voice
(Chapter IV, Verse 1) And in that day, seven women will take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothing, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach. When the most beautiful of the city of Jerusalem fall by the sword and the strong ones perish in battle, and its gates mourn and lament; and it becomes desolate due to the scarcity of people, with the warriors being killed, seven women will take hold of one man, desiring to have offspring in Zion and descendants in Jerusalem.
Jerome· Commentary on Isaiah, 420Patristic
- Luke 1:5–25
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
Commentary on Luke 1:5–251 voice
The divine Scripture teaches us that not only the virtues of those who are worthy of praise, but also parents should be praised; so that, like an inherited legacy of unblemished purity, they surpass those whom we desire to praise. For what other purpose does the holy Evangelist have in this place, if not to ennoble the parents of St. John the Baptist through miracles, character, calling, and suffering? Similarly, the mother of the holy Samuel, Anna, is praised; thus Isaac received nobility of piety from his parents, which he bequeathed to his descendants.
Ambrose of Milan· EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 1.15-16, 397Patristic
- Luke 1:25
“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Commentary on Luke 1:252 voices
And though she might blush at the time of her child-bearing, on the other hand she rejoiced that she was free from reproach, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me. For it is a shame among women not to receive that reward of marriage, which is the only cause of their being married.
Ambrose of Milan· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 397Patristic
Great care is given to modesty by the saints, so that often shame is in their very desires; as we observe in this place the holy Elizabeth, who desired to have children and concealed herself for five months. What is the reason for this concealment, if not modesty? For there is a prescribed age for everyone's duty: and what is fitting at one time is not fitting at another; the change of age often changes the nature of an action.
Ambrose of Milan· Commentary on Luke, 397Patristic