From Nave’s Topical Bible
Childlessness
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.
- 7Passages listed
- 4Books of the 66
- 1896Nave's edition
How Nave’s arranged it
The passages, in Bible order (7)
The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 7 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.
- Genesis 16:2
So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
Commentary on Genesis 16:22 voices
Some might still be struck by the fact that Abraham had a relationship with his slave girl when he was already conversing with God, as it is written: "Sarah said to Abraham, 'See now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my maid to make children from her.' " And this is exactly what happened. But we should consider first of all that Abraham lived prior to the law of Moses and before the gospel; adultery, it seems, was not yet prohibited at this time.
Ambrose of Milan· On Abraham, 397Patristic
And Sarai said unto Abram, behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Genesis 29:32
And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
Commentary on Genesis 29:322 voices
(Verse 32.) And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Reuben. I desire to also mention the etymologies of the names of all the patriarchs for the sake of brevity in reading. And he called, he said, his name is Ruben, saying: Because the Lord has seen my humility. Ruben () is interpreted as the son of vision.
Jerome· Hebrew Questions on Genesis, 420Patristic
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Genesis 30:1–3
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.
Commentary on Genesis 30:1–32 voices
Leah bore Reu-ben, Simeon, Levi and Judah and then ceased giving birth, whereas Rachel was barren. Because she heard Jacob say that Abraham had prayed over the barren Sarah and was heard and that Isaac had also prayed for Rebekah and was answered, she thought …
Ephrem the Syrian· COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 28.1.1, 373Patristic
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Genesis 30:13
Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.
Commentary on Genesis 30:132 voices
And Leah said,.... Upon the birth of the second son by her maid: happy am I; or, "in my happiness"; or, "for my happiness" (c); that is, this child is an addition to my happiness, and will serve to increase it: for the daughters will call me blessed; the women of the place where she lived would speak of her as a happy person, that had so many children of her own, and others by her maid; see Psa 127:5, and she called his name Asher, which signifies "happy" or "blessed".
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
(Verse 12 and 13.) And Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, gave birth to a second son for Jacob. And Leah said, 'I am blessed, for women will call me blessed.' And she called his name Asher, which means 'riches'. The riches are added with a play on words, that is, πλοῦτος. The etymology of the name Asher is explained by the authority of Scripture, which says, 'I am blessed, and women will call me blessed.' And because she is called blessed by people, she named her son blessed. Therefore, Asher is not called riches but blessed, only in this particular context.
Jerome· Hebrew Questions on Genesis, 420Patristic
- 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 1:62 voices
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
And her adversary also provoked her sore,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- 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 4:12 voices
(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
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- 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