Genesis 18:14-24

14 "¹Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the ²appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

15 Sarah denied it however, saying, "I did not laugh "; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh."

16 Then ³the men rose up from there, and looked down toward * Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.

17 ⁴The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham ⁵what I am about to do,

18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him ⁶all the nations of the earth will be blessed?

19 "For I have ⁷chosen him, so that he may ⁸command his children and his household after him to ⁹keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham ¹⁰what He has spoken about him."

20 And the LORD said, "¹¹The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

21 "I will ¹²go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know."

22 Then ¹³the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before ¹⁴the LORD.

23 Abraham came near and said, "¹⁵Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24 "Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?

Genesis 18:14-24 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. Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Zechariah 8:6; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; Romans 4:21
• 2. Genesis 17:21; Genesis 18:10
• 3. Genesis 18:2, 22; Genesis 19:1
• 4. Gen 18:22, 26, 33; Amos 3:7
• 5. Genesis 18:21; Genesis 19:24
• 6. Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8
• 7. Nehemiah 9:7; Amos 3:2
• 8. Deuteronomy 6:6, 7
• 9. Genesis 17:9
• 10. Genesis 12:2, 3
• 11. Genesis 19:13; Ezekiel 16:49, 50
• 12. Genesis 11:5; Exodus 3:8; Psalms 14:2
• 13. Genesis 18:16; Genesis 19:1
• 14. Genesis 18:1, 17
• 15. Exodus 23:7; Numbers 16:22; 2 Samuel 24:17; Psalms 11:4-7

Footnotes

• [a] Or "wonderful"
• [b] Lit "when the time revives"
• [c] Or "populous"
• [d] Lit "known"
• [e] Or "forgive"