Genesis 18:1-8

1 And the Lord appeared to him by the ¹oaks^[a] of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.

2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. ²When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth

3 and said, “O Lord, ^[b] if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.

4 Let a ³little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,

5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that ⁴you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on— ⁵since you have come to your servant. ” So they said, “Do as you have said. ”

6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs^[c] 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.

Genesis 18:1-8 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

• 1. 18:1 ch. 13:18; 14:13
• 2. 18:2 ch. 19:1; [Heb. 13:2]
• 3. 18:4 ch. 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; [Luke 7:44; John 13:14]
• 4. 18:5 Judg. 19:5; [Ps. 104:15]
• 5. 18:5 ch. 19:8; 33:10

Footnotes

• [a] 18:1 Or 'terebinths'
• [b] 18:3 Or 'My lord'
• [c] 18:6 A 'seah' was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters