Genesis 18:17

17 And the LORde sayde: Can I hyde from Abraham that thinge which I am aboute to do

Genesis 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:17

And the Lord said
Either unto Abraham himself, so leading on to what he was about to make known to him; and without supposing this it will be difficult to account for Abraham's intercession for Sodom upon this: or to the two angels with him; not as consulting them whether he should or no do what he next suggests, but to give to them Abraham's just character, and the reasons of his using him in such a friendly manner: or it may be, to the other divine Persons, the Father and Spirit, one with the Son of God, and always present with him: shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do?
which he was about to do, namely, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: the Jewish writers

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 observe, that these cities were given in the grant of the whole land to Abraham, and therefore it was right to acquaint him with it first: but other and better reasons are given in the next words; Abraham was a friend of the Lord, and he had showed himself friendly to him, not only now, but heretofore, and therefore will treat him as his friend, by imparting his secrets to him.
F1 Targ. Jerus. & Jarchi in loc.

Genesis 18:17 In-Context

15 Than Sara denyed it saynge: I laughed not for she was afrayde. But he sayde: yes thou laughtest.

16 Than the men stode vp from thence ad loked towarde Sodome. And Abraham went with them to brynge them on the waye.

17 And the LORde sayde: Can I hyde from Abraham that thinge which I am aboute to do

18 seynge that Abraham shall be a great ad a myghtie people and all the nations of the erth shalbe blessed in him?

19 For I knowe him that he will commaunde his childern and his housholde after him yt they kepe the waye of the LORde to do after righte and conscyence that the LORde may brynge vppon Abraham that he hath promysed him.