He said, “I will return, yes, return to you about this time next year. And, behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah was listening from the tent entrance, which was behind him.
“return, yes, return.” This is the figure of speech polyptoton, where the verb “return” is repeated twice but with different aspects, emphasizing that God will return. Another English translation might be “absolutely return,” or “surely return,” but those miss the poetic beauty of “return, return.” God is assuring Abraham that Sarah will indeed have a son. [For more on the figure polyptoton and the emphasis it brings, as well as the way it is translated in the REV, see commentary on Genesis 2:16].
