Five Biblical Women Who Overcame Infertility: Stories of Faith, Prayer, and Miracles

1. Sarah

Sarah, our first Matriarch and one of the seven prophetesses mentioned in Jewish sources, was barren until very old age. At that time, her name was Sarai. The sages teach that she was barren from birth, as she was born without a womb. Nevertheless, Sarah gave birth to Yitzchak, her only son, when she was ninety years old.

2. Rivka

Like her mother-in-law Sarah, Rivka was also barren. According to various opinions, she married Yitzchak at age three, eleven, or fourteen. She remained barren for at least 20 years, and the twins Yaakov and Esav were born when she was 34. The Torah describes how Yitzchak and Rivka prayed fervently until they were finally blessed with children.

3. Rachel

Unlike her sister Leah, who was immediately blessed with children, Rachel — Yaakov’s beloved wife, was also barren. Her pain is described explicitly in the Torah, including her cry to Yaakov:
“Give me children, and if not, I am dead.” Eventually, she merited two sons, Yosef and Binyamin, but tragically passed away during Binyamin’s birth.

Regarding her being remembered by Hashem it says: “And God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.” The Midrash explains that God remembered the great merit of Rachel giving up her place and allowing her sister Leah to marry Yaakov, and in this merit she was finally granted children.

4. Chana

Chana was one of the two wives of a righteous man from the tribe of Ephraim named Elkana. Although she was the more beloved wife, she did not feel comforted even by his words: “Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

After 19 years of barrenness, she prayed in the Mishkan in Shiloh and vowed to dedicate her future child to Hashem. Her prayer was answered, and she gave birth to Shmuel the Prophet. She expresses her gratitude in the well-known chapter “Chana’s Prayer” in the Book of Shmuel.

5. The Shunammite Woman

The story of the Shunammite woman appears in Kings II. This woman — whose name is not mentioned, was childless. Whenever the prophet Elisha passed through the area, he would stay at her home, and eventually the couple prepared a special room for him.

In reward for their hospitality, Elisha blessed her that she would bear a child. Later, when the child died, Elisha miraculously restored him to life.