Genesis 18:17

17 Then Yahweh said, "Shall I conceal from Abraham what I [am going] 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 But Sarah denied [it], saying, "I did not laugh," because she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down upon Sodom. And Abraham went with them {to send them on their way}.

17 Then Yahweh said, "Shall I conceal from Abraham what I [am going] to do?

18 Abraham will surely become a great and strong nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed on account of him.

19 For I have chosen him, that he will command his children and his household after him that they will keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham that which he said to him."