Genesis 18:5-15

5 and I will ¹bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since * * you have visited your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have said."

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour *, knead it and make bread cakes."

7 Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf * and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.

8 He took curds and milk and the calf * which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate.

9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "There, in the tent."

10 He said, "²I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now ³Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was ⁴past childbearing *.

12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "⁵After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my ⁶lord being old also?"

13 And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed * bear a child, when I am so old?'

14 "⁷Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the ⁸appointed 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."

Genesis 18:5-15 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. Judges 6:18, 19; Judges 13:15, 16
• 2. Genesis 21:2; Romans 9:9
• 3. Genesis 17:17; Romans 4:19
• 4. Hebrews 11:11
• 5. Genesis 17:17; Luke 1:18
• 6. 1 Peter 3:6
• 7. Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Zechariah 8:6; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; Romans 4:21
• 8. Genesis 17:21; Genesis 18:10

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "take"
• [b] Lit "sustain your heart"
• [c] Lit "come to"
• [d] Lit "Hasten three measures"
• [e] Heb "seah;" i.e. one seah equals approx eleven qts
• [f] Lit "good"
• [g] Lit "and"
• [h] Lit "when the time revives"
• [i] Lit "the manner of women"
• [j] Lit "within"
• [k] Lit "surely bear"
• [l] Or "wonderful"
• [m] Lit "when the time revives"