Genesis18

The LORD appears to Abraham in Mamre with two angels, who are received with great hospitality. They announce that Sarah, despite her old age, will bear a son, causing her to laugh in disbelief. Subsequently, the LORD reveals His intent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, prompting Abraham to intercede for the cities, progressively lowering the number of righteous individuals required to spare them.

Listen to this chapter

The LORD Visits Abraham

Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.

And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

“My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.

Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.

And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”

Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

The Promise of a Son

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.

Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.

And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’

Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”

But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.” “No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”

The LORD Reveals His Judgment

When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.

And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”

Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,

I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”

And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?

Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”

Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”

Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”

Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.

Study Notes for Genesis 18

Verse 1

The appearance of the LORD (likely accompanied by two angels who later visit Sodom) is a powerful example of divine condescension, often interpreted by scholars as a pre-incarnate manifestation (Christophany).

Verse 2

The immediate recognition and deference shown by Abraham ('ran to meet them') demonstrates the importance of profound hospitality in the ancient Near East, especially toward strangers who might be divine messengers.

Verse 3

Abraham addresses one figure as 'My Lord' (Adonai), suggesting he quickly recognized the divine or quasi-divine nature of at least one visitor, despite the human appearance.

Verse 7

Abraham’s lavish preparations—a calf, fine meal, butter, and milk—went far beyond typical polite custom, reflecting his deep honor for his guests.

Verse 10

The promise is made specific and time-bound: 'according to the time of life' means approximately one year from this date. This specificity removes all ambiguity regarding the divine plan.

Verse 12

Sarah's internal laughter (Hebrew *tzachaq*) expresses natural human skepticism regarding the promise, as both she and Abraham were biologically past childbearing age.

Verse 14

This rhetorical question is the theological centerpiece of the promise narrative, asserting God’s absolute power and ability to transcend natural limitations to fulfill His covenant.

Verse 15

Sarah’s denial out of fear highlights the tension between human doubt and the immediate presence of the divine. The LORD’s response confirms His omniscience.

Verse 17

The LORD chooses to reveal His intentions to Abraham because of their covenant relationship, treating Abraham as a trusted confidant rather than just a subject.

Verse 19

God justifies the revelation by affirming Abraham’s foundational role: he is chosen not just for blessing, but also to establish a moral legacy and ensure his descendants maintain justice and righteousness.

Verse 20

The 'cry of Sodom' suggests that their sin was so profound and widespread that it demanded divine attention and necessitated a visible judgment.

Verse 21

God uses anthropomorphic language ('I will go down now, and see') to assure Abraham that the judgment will be based on verifiable facts, emphasizing divine fairness and due process.

Verse 22

This verse distinguishes between the two angels who depart for Sodom (Chapter 19) and the LORD Himself, who remains behind to speak directly with Abraham.

Verse 23

Abraham begins his bold intercession, demonstrating the privilege of prayer granted through the covenant relationship (cf. James 5:16).

Verse 25

Abraham appeals to God's immutable character, relying on the conviction that the 'Judge of all the earth' must act in perfect moral consistency and justice.

Verse 26

God’s immediate willingness to compromise the judgment for the sake of the righteous highlights the power of intercession and the value God places on even a few faithful individuals.

Verse 32

The negotiation down to ten demonstrates God's profound patience and desire for mercy, indicating that had even a minimal number of righteous people been found, the city would have been spared.

Verse 33

The dialogue ends when Abraham stops asking, not when God refuses, underscoring the completeness of the interaction granted through Abraham's persistent faith.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Genesis18

The LORD Visits Abraham

The Promise of a Son

The LORD Reveals His Judgment

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options