Genesis 18:3

3 and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

Genesis 18:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:3

And said, my Lord
He addressed himself to one of them who appeared to him to be the greatest and most honourable, either by the appearance of his countenance, or by his dress, or by the situation in which he was between the other two, and by their carriage and behaviour to him:

if now I have found favour in thy sight;
signifying he should esteem it an honour done him, that he and his companions would vouchsafe to stop and refresh themselves:

pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant;
they might seem, by some motion they made, as if they were going another way, and declined turning in to him.

Genesis 18:3 In-Context

1 And Jehovah appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

2 and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,

3 and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4 let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5 and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on: forasmuch as ye are come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.