Barrenness

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.

1. 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.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 17:15–21→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. 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."

   Everything gathered on Genesis 20:17→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 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 20:181 voice

   “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 Abraham’s 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 Abraham’s bed.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 20:18→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. 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 25:212 voices

   “And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife - Though God had promised to multiply his family, he prayed for it; for God's promises must not supersede but encourage our prayers, and be improved as the ground of our faith. Though he had prayed for this mercy many years, and it was not granted, yet he did not leave off praying for it.

   “Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife - Isaac and Rebekah had now lived nineteen years together without having a child; for he was forty years old when he married Rebekah, Gen 25:20, and he was threescore years of age when Jacob and Esau were born, Gen 25:26. Hence it is evident they had lived nineteen years together without having a child. The form of the original in this place is worthy of notice: Isaac entreated Jehovah, לנכח אשתו lenochach ishto, directly, purposely, especially, for his wife.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 25:21→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Genesis 30:22

   Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 30:221 voice

   “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.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 30:22→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. 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.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 30:23→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. 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 13:11 voice

   “The Philistines have been mentioned as oppressors of Israel in Jdg 3:31; Jdg 10:7, Jdg 10:11; and the Israelite worship of the gods of the Philistines is spoken of in Jdg 10:6. But this is the first time that we have any detailed history in connection with the Philistines. They continned to be the prominent enemies of Israel until the time of David. Forty years - The Philistine dominion began before the birth of Samson Jdg 13:5, and was in force during Samson’s twenty years’ judgeship Jdg 14:4; Jdg 15:20. The 40 years are, therefore, about coincident with Samson’s life.

   Everything gathered on Judges 13:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 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

   “And her adversary - That is, Peninnah. Provoked her sore - Was constantly striving to irritate and vex her, to make her fret - to make her discontented with her lot, because the Lord had denied her children.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 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.

   And as he did so ... - It should rather be “And so she did year by year, as often as she went up to the House of the Lord, so she provoked her.” Though the verb is masculine, Peninnah must be the subject, because as often as SHE went up follows. The Vulgate has “they went up.”

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:7→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 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 2:1–112 voices

    “This beautiful song was her tribute of thanks for the divine goodness in answering her petition. mine horn is exalted in the Lord--Allusion is here made to a peculiarity in the dress of Eastern women about Lebanon, which seems to have obtained anciently among the Israelite women, that of wearing a tin or silver horn on the forehead, on which their veil is suspended.

    “The song of Hannah is a prophetic Psalm. It is poetry. and it is prophecy. It takes its place by the side of the songs of Miriam, Deborah, and the Virgin Mary, as well as those of Moses, David, Hezekiah, and other Psalmists and prophets whose inspired odes have been preserved in the Bible.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 2:1–11→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 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.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 4:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. 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 1:5–252 voices

    “They took the whole temple service for a week each. his wife was of the daughters of Aaron--The priests might marry into any tribe, but "it was most commendable of all to marry one of the priests' line" [LIGHTFOOT].

    “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.

    Everything gathered on Luke 1:5–25→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 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 1:251 voice

    “Thus - In this merciful manner. To take away my reproach - Among the Jews, a family of children was counted a signal blessing, an evidence of the favor of God, Psa 113:9; Psa 128:3; Isa 4:1; Isa 44:3-4; Lev 26:9. To be “barren,” therefore, or to be destitute of children, was considered a “reproach” or a “disgrace,” 1Sa 1:6.

    Everything gathered on Luke 1:25→

    Verse page →Original language →