Genesis 18:18

18 His descendants will become a great and mighty nation, and through him I will bless all the nations.

Genesis 18:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:18

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty
nation
Which was fulfilled in the nation of Israel, so called, not so much for the largeness of the place they dwelt in, and the number of its inhabitants, as for the law of God that was given them, and the worship of God kept up among them; on account of which there was no nation so great, ( Deuteronomy 4:8 ) ; and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him;
in his seed, the Messiah, in whom some of all nations are blessed with all spiritual blessings. Now, since God had promised, and would do such great things for him and his, he judged it right and proper not to hide from him what he was about to do at Sodom, and the rather, as he had a near relation that dwelt there.

Genesis 18:18 In-Context

16 Then the men left and went to a place where they could look down at Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
17 And the Lord said to himself, "I will not hide from Abraham what I am going to do.
18 His descendants will become a great and mighty nation, and through him I will bless all the nations.
19 I have chosen him in order that he may command his sons and his descendants to obey me and to do what is right and just. If they do, I will do everything for him that I have promised."
20 Then the Lord said to Abraham, "There are terrible accusations against Sodom and Gomorrah, and their sin is very great.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. through . . . nations; [or] all the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed him.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.