Sarah: Sacred Transformation

(30) Now Sarai was barren, she had no child.

Rav Naḥman said that Rabba bar Avuh said: Our mother Sarah was initially a sexually underdeveloped woman [aylonit], as it is stated: “And Sarah was barren; she had no child." She did not have even a place, i.e., a womb, for a child.

We too will say: Ailonit a term meaning: Like a ram [dukhranit], because like a male sheep [ayyil] she does not bear children.

And these are the signs of an aylonit: if she doesn't have breasts, and/or has difficulty during intercourse. Her lower abdomen isn't like a woman's. Her voice is rough and she can't be identified as male or female. ...

And God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, you shall not call her Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she shall give rise to nations; rulers of peoples shall issue from her.” Abraham threw himself on his face and laughed, as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man a hundred years old, or can Sarah bear a child at ninety?” God said, “Nevertheless, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac; and I will maintain My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring to come. And My covenant I will maintain with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year.”