Genesis 18:12-22

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying , After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also ?

13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh , saying , Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old ?

14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

15 Then Sarah denied , saying , I laughed not; for she was afraid . And he said , Nay; but thou didst laugh .

16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way .

17 And the LORD said , Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do ;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

20 And the LORD said , Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous ;

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know .

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

Genesis 18:12-22 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.