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Genesis 18:15 - Truth overrides fear's denial.

Genesis 18:15 - בראשית 18:15

Hebrew Text

וַתְּכַחֵשׁ שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר לֹא צָחַקְתִּי כִּי יָרֵאָה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא כִּי צָחָקְתְּ׃

English Translation

Then Sara denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And He said, No; but thou didst laugh.

Transliteration

Vatechachesh Sarah lemor lo tzachakti ki yare'ah vayomer lo ki tzachakt.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁ שָׂרָ֧ה <small>׀</small> לֵאמֹ֛ר לֹ֥א צָחַ֖קְתִּי כִּ֣י <small>׀</small> יָרֵ֑אָה וַיֹּ֥אמֶֽר <small>׀</small> לֹ֖א כִּ֥י צָחָֽקְתְּ׃
וַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁ שָׂרָ֧ה ׀ לֵאמֹ֛ר לֹ֥א צָחַ֖קְתִּי כִּ֣י ׀ יָרֵ֑אָה וַיֹּ֥אמֶֽר ׀ לֹ֖א כִּ֥י צָחָֽקְתְּ׃

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Parasha Commentary

Sarah's Denial and Divine Response

The verse (Bereshit 18:15) describes Sarah denying that she laughed upon hearing the angels' prophecy that she would bear a child in her old age. Rashi explains that Sarah initially denied laughing out of fear—fear of being held accountable for her lack of faith or for appearing to question Hashem's promise. However, Hashem immediately corrects her, stating, "No; but thou didst laugh", affirming that her reaction was indeed laughter.

Nature of Sarah's Laughter

The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 48:18) elaborates that Sarah's laughter was not entirely one of disbelief, but rather a mixture of astonishment and joy. The Ramban suggests that her laughter stemmed from human nature—finding it incredible that such a miracle could occur at her advanced age—but not from a place of cynicism toward Hashem's power.

Hashem's Gentle Rebuke

The Sforno notes that Hashem's response, while corrective, was gentle. By saying "No; but thou didst laugh", He acknowledged her emotional reaction without condemning her. This teaches that Hashem understands human frailty and responds with compassion even when correcting our missteps.

Lessons in Honesty and Self-Reflection

  • Fear vs. Truth: Sarah's initial denial teaches that fear can lead us to obscure the truth, even when addressing Hashem. The Alshich highlights that honesty before Hashem is paramount, as He knows our hearts.
  • Divine Awareness: The exchange underscores that nothing is hidden from Hashem, as emphasized in Tehillim 139:4. Even internal reactions like Sarah's laughter are known to Him.
  • Growth Through Correction: The Maharal explains that Hashem's response was meant to refine Sarah's emunah (faith), guiding her toward greater trust in His promises.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Bava Metzia 87a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about Sarah's laughter and her subsequent denial, illustrating human nature and divine omniscience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Sarah deny laughing when the angel told her she would have a child?
A: According to Rashi, Sarah denied laughing out of fear and humility. She was afraid that her laughter might be seen as disbelief in Hashem's promise, even though her initial reaction came from natural human surprise at the idea of bearing a child in her old age.
Q: What is the significance of Hashem correcting Sarah about her laughter?
A: The Midrash teaches that Hashem's gentle correction ('No; but thou didst laugh') shows His kindness and attention to truth. Even though Sarah's laughter wasn't malicious, Hashem wanted complete honesty in their relationship. This teaches us the importance of truthfulness before Hashem.
Q: How does this verse relate to the concept of emunah (faith)?
A: The Rambam explains that this episode demonstrates that even great figures like Sarah had moments of human reaction before achieving complete emunah. Her initial laughter shows the natural difficulty in believing miraculous promises, while her eventual birth of Yitzchak (whose name means 'he will laugh') demonstrates how laughter of doubt can become laughter of joy through faith.
Q: Why does the Torah include this seemingly small detail about Sarah's denial?
A: The Talmud (Bava Metzia 87a) notes that this teaches us about human nature and the importance of honest communication with Hashem. Even our matriarch Sarah had human moments of fear and denial, showing that perfection isn't expected - but truthfulness is valued.
Q: What lesson can we learn from how Hashem responded to Sarah's denial?
A: The Sforno explains that Hashem didn't punish Sarah for her denial, but gently corrected her. This teaches us that Hashem understands human frailty and responds with compassion when we err, while still guiding us toward truth. It's a model for how we should correct others with kindness.