Genesis 18:6-16

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Knead three measures^[a] of fine flour and make bread."^[b]

7 Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it.

8 Then Abraham took curds^[c] and milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set [them] before the men. He served^[d] them as they ate under the tree.

Sarah Laughs

9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he answered.

10 The Lord said, "I will certainly come back to you in about a year's time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!"^[e] Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years.^[f] Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.^[g]

12 So she laughed to herself: "After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old, will I have delight?"

13 But the Lord asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Can I really have a baby when I'm old?'

14 Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son."

15 Sarah denied it. "I did not laugh," she said, because she was afraid. But He replied, "No, you did laugh."

Abraham's Plea for Sodom

16 The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off.

Genesis 18:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 18

Another appearance of God to Abraham is here recorded; three persons are seen by him in an human form, whom he kindly invites to stop with him, and generously entertains them, Ge 18:1-8; they inquire concerning Sarah his wife, and one of them renews the promise of her bearing a son to him, which occasions laughter in her, for which she is reproved, Ge 18:9-15; upon their departure the Lord thought fit, for reasons given, to make known to Abraham his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 18:16-22; when Abraham intercedes for the preservation of those cities in a most importunate and affectionate manner, Ge 18:23-33.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit three seahs; about 21 quarts
• [b]. A round, thin, unleavened bread
• [c]. Or butter
• [d]. Lit was standing by
• [e]. Gn 17:10; 21:1
• [f]. Lit days
• [g]. Lit The way of women had ceased for Sarah