Genesis 18:17

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?)

Genesis 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:17

And the Lord said
Either unto Abraham himself, so leading on to what he was about to make known to him; and without supposing this it will be difficult to account for Abraham's intercession for Sodom upon this: or to the two angels with him; not as consulting them whether he should or no do what he next suggests, but to give to them Abraham's just character, and the reasons of his using him in such a friendly manner: or it may be, to the other divine Persons, the Father and Spirit, one with the Son of God, and always present with him: shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do?
which he was about to do, namely, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: the Jewish writers

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 observe, that these cities were given in the grant of the whole land to Abraham, and therefore it was right to acquaint him with it first: but other and better reasons are given in the next words; Abraham was a friend of the Lord, and he had showed himself friendly to him, not only now, but heretofore, and therefore will treat him as his friend, by imparting his secrets to him.
F1 Targ. Jerus. & Jarchi in loc.

Genesis 18:17 In-Context

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).