Genesis 18:3-13

3 and said, "My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass your servant by.

4 "Please let a little water be brought and ¹wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;

5 and I will ²bring 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, "³I 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 ⁴Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was ⁵past childbearing *.

12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "⁶After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my ⁷lord 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?'

Genesis 18:3-13 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. Genesis 19:2; Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24
• 2. Judges 6:18, 19; Judges 13:15, 16
• 3. Genesis 21:2; Romans 9:9
• 4. Genesis 17:17; Romans 4:19
• 5. Hebrews 11:11
• 6. Genesis 17:17; Luke 1:18
• 7. 1 Peter 3:6

Footnotes

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