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.

The LORD Visits Abraham

1
The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. ​
2
He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, ​
3
and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant. ​
4
Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5
I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”
6
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
7
Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it. ​
8
He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

The Promise of a Son

9
They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “See, in the tent.”
10
He said, “I will certainly return to you when the season comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. ​
11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12
Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” ​
13
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?’
14
Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.” ​
15
Then Sarah denied, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” ​

The LORD Reveals His Judgment

16
The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
17
The LORD said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do, ​
18
since Abraham has surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
19
For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.” ​
20
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 their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.” ​
22
The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. ​

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

23
Abraham drew near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? ​
24
What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
25
Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?” ​
26
The LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.” ​
27
Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.
28
What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there.”
29
He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”
30
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”
31
He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
32
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.” ​
33
The LORD went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. ​

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
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options