Genesis 18
The Three Visitors
1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, Parallel theme: Genesis 18:16, 18:22, 19:1, 23:7, 32:24, 43:26, 43:28, 44:14, Judges 13:3, Hebrews 13:2 +5
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. Parallel theme: Genesis 19:3
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Parallel theme: Genesis 16:10, 17:16, 17:19, 17:21, 21:2, Luke 1:13, Galatians 4:23, 4:28 +3
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. References Abraham: Genesis 17:17
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lordLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. being old also? References Lord: Genesis 18:13, 1 Peter 3:6. Parallel theme: Genesis 17:17
13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. References Lord: Numbers 11:23, Jeremiah 32:17, 32:27. Parallel theme: Job 42:2, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, Romans 4:21, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 4:13 +5
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. Parallel theme: Psalms 44:21, Proverbs 28:13, Ephesians 4:23, 1 John 1:8
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Judgment: Ephesians 6:4. References Lord: Joshua 24:15, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalms 11:4. Righteousness: Psalms 34:15. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 32:46, Job 1:5, Proverbs 22:6, 1 Timothy 3:12, 2 Timothy 3:15 +5
20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. Parallel theme: Genesis 11:5, 11:7, Exodus 3:8, 33:5, Deuteronomy 8:2, Joshua 22:22, Jeremiah 17:10, Micah 1:3, Zephaniah 1:12 +4
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty.. References Lord: Jeremiah 15:1. Parallel theme: Genesis 19:1, Psalms 106:23, Jeremiah 18:20, Ezekiel 22:30, Acts 7:55, 1 Timothy 2:1 +2
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Judgment: Psalms 94:2, 2 Corinthians 5:10. Righteousness: Deuteronomy 32:4, Job 8:3, Psalms 58:11, 98:9, Malachi 3:18. Evil: Job 8:20 +3
26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. References Lord: Isaiah 65:8. Parallel theme: Jeremiah 5:1, Ezekiel 22:30, Matthew 24:22
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LordLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty., which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteousRighteous: צַדִּיק (Tzaddik). The Hebrew tzaddik (צַדִּיק) describes one who is righteous, just, or lawful—conforming to God's standard. From the root tzedek (צֶדֶק), meaning righteousness or justice.: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the LordLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. Parallel theme: Judges 6:39, Matthew 7:7
33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. References Lord: Genesis 18:22