Sarai, which means “my princess,” was the original name of Abraham’s wife, while Sarah, meaning “princess,” was the name given to her by God when He promised her a son, signifying her role in the Abrahamic covenant and her status as the mother of nations (Genesis 17:15-16). The name change reflects a transformation in her identity and destiny within God’s plan.
Scripture
29 And Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.
30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Meaning of Sarai and Sarah in the Bible
The transition from Sarai to Sarah in the Bible symbolizes a profound transformation in identity and purpose, aligning closely with the divine promises made to Abraham and his descendants. As noted in Genesis 17:15-16, God specifically renames Sarai to Sarah, underscoring her role within the covenant that He established with Abraham. The renaming is an acknowledgment not only of Sarah’s importance but also of the pivotal role that women play in God’s narrative of salvation. This change signifies a shift from a more personal interpretation of her identity, “my princess,” to a broader, more universal designation, “princess,” implicating her in a legacy that encompasses nations.
Furthermore, Sarah’s narrative in the scripture extends beyond her personal identity to highlight themes of faith and divine intervention. In Genesis 18:10-14, God visits Abraham and Sarah and reaffirms the promise of a son, despite their old age. Sarah initially laughs in disbelief when she overhears this promise, reflecting a very human skepticism. However, by becoming a mother at the age of 90, Sarah embodies the miraculous nature of God’s promises and His ability to bring life out of barrenness (Genesis 21:1-3). Sarah’s evolution from Sarai to Sarah encapsulates not only her empowerment and honor within the covenant community but also serves as a testament to the overarching theme of hope and the fulfillment of divine purpose despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Through her, the biblical narrative emphasizes that God’s plans often transcend human limitations, inviting believers to trust in His wisdom and timing.
The transition from Sarai to Sarah illustrates a deeper theological significance, embodying the transformation of identity that reverberates through the biblical narrative. Sarah’s name change signifies her enhancement from being the wife of Abraham to becoming a cornerstone in the lineage of Israel, where her role as matriarch extends beyond personal success into serving as an agent of blessing for future generations. Inclusive in this transformation is the realization that Sarah’s story encapsulates the biblical motif of women as pivotal figures in God’s redemptive plan, where their influence shapes the destinies of nations.
Moreover, the Gospel narratives later reference Sarah when discussing faith and divine fulfillment, underscoring her legacy in the faith of their descendants. For instance, in the New Testament, the genealogy of Jesus acknowledges the critical lineage tracing back to Abraham and Sarah, establishing her as an integral link in the family’s spiritual heritage. Furthermore, Sarah’s incorporation into this lineage speaks volumes about her role as not merely a passive character but as a dynamic participant in God’s overarching narrative—a testimony to faith that stands strong despite the odds. Thus, the evolution from Sarai to Sarah serves as an enduring reminder of the intrinsic value and agency that women hold within the grand tapestry of scripture, and it calls believers to reflect on the transformative power of faith and obedience in their own lives.
Transformation and New Identity
The names Sarai and Sarah represent a significant transformation in identity and purpose. Sarai, which means “my princess,” reflects a more personal and intimate relationship with God, while Sarah, meaning “princess,” signifies a broader role as a matriarch of nations. This change illustrates the biblical theme of renewal and the idea that God can redefine individuals, granting them new identities that align with His divine plan.
Covenant and Promise
The evolution from Sarai to Sarah also underscores the theme of covenant and divine promise in the Bible. Sarah’s new name is part of God’s covenant with Abraham, emphasizing her role in the fulfillment of His promises. This shift highlights the importance of faith and trust in God’s plans, as Sarah becomes a key figure in the lineage that leads to the establishment of the Israelite nation, showcasing how God’s promises can manifest through individuals.
Motherhood and Legacy
Sarah’s identity as a mother is central to her narrative, symbolizing hope and the continuation of God’s promises. Her transition from Sarai to Sarah marks her as the mother of nations, emphasizing the significance of motherhood in biblical tradition. This aspect of her identity reflects the broader theme of legacy, where the actions and faith of one generation can impact future generations, illustrating the profound influence of women in the biblical narrative.
How to Embrace Discipleship Through the Journey of Motherhood
Embracing discipleship through the journey of motherhood is a beautiful and transformative experience that can deepen your faith and strengthen your relationship with God. As you navigate the challenges and joys of raising children, remember that each moment—whether it’s a sleepless night, a heartfelt conversation, or a simple family meal—can be an opportunity to model Christ-like love and grace. Lean into prayer, seeking God’s guidance in your parenting decisions, and use scripture as a foundation for teaching your children about His love. Share your faith openly, allowing your little ones to see your struggles and triumphs, which can foster a genuine understanding of what it means to follow Christ. Remember, discipleship is not just about teaching; it’s about living out your faith authentically, showing your children that being a follower of Jesus is a daily journey filled with both challenges and blessings. Embrace this sacred role, and trust that God is using you to shape not only your children’s lives but also your own.
Bible References to Sarai and Sarah:
Genesis 12:5-9: 5 Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan.
6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.
9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
Genesis 16:1-6: 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.
2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!”
6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
Genesis 17:15-21: 15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”
19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.
21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”
Genesis 18:9-15: 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.”
10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.”
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.
12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”
13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’
14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”
15 Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
Genesis 20:1-18: Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”
4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people?
5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”
6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.
7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.”
10 Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?”
11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife.
13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.’”
14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him.
15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.”
16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.”
17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.
18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Genesis 21:1-7: 1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.
2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.”
7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Genesis 23:1-2: 1 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.
2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
Isaiah 51:1-2: 1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
you who seek the Lord:
look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.”
2 Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
that I might bless him and multiply him.
Romans 4:19-22: 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
Hebrews 11:11-12: 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
1 Peter 3:5-6: 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,
6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.