Genesis 18:4

4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.

Genesis 18:4 in Other Translations

KJV
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
ESV
4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,
NLT
4 Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.
MSG
4 I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree.
CSB
4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.

Genesis 18:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:4

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your
feet
Which was very refreshing to travellers in hot countries, who walked barefoot or in sandals; and this he proposes to be done by one of his servants, whose business it was, only desires they would give him leave to order it, ( 1 Samuel 25:41 ) ; and so it was usual in other countries, and in later times, for servants to fetch water to wash the hands and feet of guests F12:

and rest yourselves under the tree;
before the tent door, under which doubtless were seats to sit down upon, where they might rest their weary limbs; it is very probable this was an oak tree, and which, and a turpentine tree the ancient writers speak of, continued unto the times of Constantine, (See Gill on Genesis 13:18); and the Jewish writers say F13, that now near the city (Hebron), between the vineyards, are the oaks of Mamre, where is the house of Abraham our father, on whom be peace, and the tree under which the angels ate, and the stone on which he (Abraham) sat when he was circumcised.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 "----- dant manibus famuli lymphas." --Virgil. Aeneid. l. 1.
F13 Cippi Hebr. p. 9. Ed. Hottinger.

Genesis 18:4 In-Context

2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.
5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

Cross References 1

  • 1. Genesis 19:2; Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24; Judges 19:21; 2 Samuel 11:8; S Luke 7:44
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