Genesis 18:10-20

10 To whom the Lord said, I shall turn again, and I shall come to thee in this time, if I live; and Sarah, thy wife, shall have a son. When this was heard, Sarah laughed behind the door of the tabernacle. (And the Lord said to him, I shall return, and I shall come back to thee at this same time next year, as I live; and Sarah, thy wife, shall have a son. And when she heard this, Sarah laughed behind the door of the tent.)
11 Forsooth both were old, and of great age, and woman's terms ceased to be made to Sarah (and a woman's terms had ceased to be made with Sarah).
12 And (so) she laughed, saying privily, After that I (have) waxed eld, and my lord is eld, shall I give diligence to lust?
13 Forsooth the Lord said to Abraham, Why laughed Sarah, thy wife, saying, Whether I an eld woman shall bear a child verily? (And the Lord said to Abraham, Why did thy wife Sarah laugh, and say, Shall I, an old woman, truly bear a child?)
14 whether anything is hard to God? By the promise I shall turn again to thee in this same time, if I live; and Sarah shall have a son. (is there anything too hard for God to do? By my word, I shall return to thee at this same time, as I live; and Sarah shall have a son.)
15 (And) Sarah was afeared for dread, and denied (it), saying, I laughed not. Forsooth the Lord said, It is not so, but thou laughedest.
16 Therefore when the men had risen (up) from thence, they (ad)dressed the eyes against Sodom (they directed their eyes toward Sodom); and Abraham went together (with them), leading them forth.
17 And the Lord said, Whether I may cover from Abraham what things I shall do, (And the Lord said to himself, Can I hide from Abraham what things I am about to do?)
18 since he shall be into a great folk and most strong, and all nations of [the] earth shall be blessed in him? (For he shall become a great and a most strong nation, and all the nations of the earth shall pray to be blessed as he is blessed/and through him I shall bless all the nations of the earth.)
19 For I know that Abraham shall command his children, and his house(hold) after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, and that they do rightfulness and doom, that the Lord bring for Abraham all things which he spake to Abraham (and that they do what is right and just, so that I shall bring to Abraham all the things that I have promised him).
20 And so the Lord said, The cry of men of Sodom and of men of Gomorrah is multiplied, and their sin is egregious greatly; (And so the Lord said to him, There is a great outcry against the people of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah, and their sin is highly egregious;)

Genesis 18:10-20 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.