Genesis 18:6-16

6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs[a] of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes."
7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.
8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
9 They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is 1in the tent."
10 The LORD said, "I will surely return to you 2about this time next year, and 3Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
11 Now 4Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.
12 5So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 6"After I am worn out, and 7my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?"
13 The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'
14 8Is anything too hard[b] for the LORD? 9At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."
15 But Sarah denied it,[c] saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."
16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.

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.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Genesis 24:67
  • 2. ver. 14; 2 Kings 4:16
  • 3. Genesis 17:19, 21; Genesis 21:2; Cited Romans 9:9
  • 4. Genesis 17:17; Romans 4:19; Hebrews 11:11, 12
  • 5. [Genesis 17:17]
  • 6. [Luke 1:18]
  • 7. 1 Peter 3:6
  • 8. Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Zechariah 8:6; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37
  • 9. ver. 10

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.