King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And they said unto him, Where [is] Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
Complete Jewish Bible:
They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" He said, "There, in the tent."
Berean Standard Bible:
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.
American Standard Version:
And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And they said{H559} unto him, Where{H346} is Sarah{H8283} thy wife{H802}? And he said{H559}, Behold, in the tent{H168}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 24:67
- And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's [death].
Titus 2:5
- [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Genesis 31:33
- And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found [them] not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
Genesis 4:9
- ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother's keeper?
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 18:9
Genesis 18:9 is part of the narrative where three visitors come to Abraham's tent. This verse is situated within the broader context of the hospitality shown by Abraham to these mysterious guests, who are later revealed to be divine beings, with one being identified as the Lord. The question posed by the visitors, "Where is Sarah thy wife?" sets the stage for a significant event in the biblical narrative concerning the promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah.
In the historical context of the Ancient Near East, hospitality was a deeply ingrained social norm and a sacred duty. Abraham's actions in welcoming these strangers align with this cultural expectation. The mention of Sarah being in the tent may reflect the gender roles of the time, where women would often be in the tent engaged in domestic tasks while men might be outside attending to other matters.
Thematically, this verse underscores the importance of hospitality and the sanctity of the guest-host relationship, which is a recurring motif in the biblical narratives. It also foreshadows the announcement of the birth of Isaac, which is central to the covenantal promises made to Abraham by God. The mention of Sarah's location is not incidental; it directly leads to the promise of a son in the following verses, despite the advanced age of both Abraham and Sarah, thus highlighting the themes of faith, divine promise, and the fulfillment of God's word against all human expectations.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H346
There are 274 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַיֵּה
Transliteration: ʼayêh
Pronunciation: ah-yay'
Description: prolonged from אַי; where?; where. - Strong's Number: H8283
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂרָה
Transliteration: Sârâh
Pronunciation: saw-raw'
Description: the same as שָׂרָה; Sarah, Abraham's wife; Sarah. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H168
There are 369 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹהֶל
Transliteration: ʼôhel
Pronunciation: o'-hel
Description: from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.
