Verses 6-7 give the comments made by Sarah concerning the birth of Isaac. These verses fit more naturally following Gen 21.3. However, the sense is not seriously disturbed in the text as we have it, and translations in English do not shift these verses to follow Gen 21.3.

God has made laughter for me: in the discussion of 17.19, it was pointed out that Isaac’s name means “he laughs,” and this was associated with verse 17, in which Abraham laughed in disbelief at the thought of having a child at his advanced age. The same association is made with Sarah in 18.12. In 17.17 attention was likewise called to the fact that different languages use different terms to express the various kinds of laughter that express different emotions. It was suggested that a footnote may be necessary to explain that Isaac’s name refers to a laughter of embarrassed disbelief; that is, the name is “he laughs,” because the birth of a son seems ridiculous at Abraham’s age.

When we come to this passage, however, the same Hebrew word as was used in 17.17, 19; 18.12 has the sense of laughter from surprised enjoyment. In some languages this will require either a different verb or some additional expression, and perhaps a footnote referring the reader back to the note at 17.19. Good News Translation has translated laughter in this verse as “joy and laughter” to show that laughter here has a wider range of meaning than in 17.17, 19. Bible en français courant says “God has made me laugh with joy.” In one language this is expressed as “God has made me laugh with good feeling very much.”

Every one who hears will laugh over me: hears means “hears about Sarah giving birth when she is old,” and in some languages something similar will be required to give adequate sense; for example, “everyone who hears I have given birth will….” Laugh over me is awkward English. Note Good News Translation and Revised English Bible “laugh with me,” that is, “share my laughter,” “rejoice with me,” “be happy because I am happy.” Some languages say “come and help me laugh.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .