Genesis 18:2

Genesis 18:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
• New International Version (NIV)Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,

Context of Genesis 18:2

1Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre [in Hebron], while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When he raised his eyes and looked up, behold, three men were standing [a little distance] from him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down [with his face] to the ground, 3and Abraham said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant [without stopping to visit]. 4Please let a little water be brought [by one of my servants] and [you may] wash your feet, and recline and rest comfortably under the tree.

Genesis 18:2 word by word

וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה֙ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֔ים נִצָּבִ֖ים עָלָ֑יו וַיַּ֗רְא וַיָּ֤רָץ לִקְרָאתָם֙ מִפֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֔הֶל וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָֽרְצָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he lift upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: lookH5375
• his eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• and lookedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• and, lo, threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• stoodנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
• he ranרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• to meetקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• them from the tentאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
• doorפֶּ֫תַחpethach · entranceH6607
• and bowedשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
• himself toward the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776

Cross-references for Genesis 18:2

• Judges 13:3And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are infertile and have no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son.
• Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
• Genesis 18:22Now the [two] men (angelic beings) turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.
• Genesis 19:1It was evening when the two angels came to Sodom. Lot was sitting at Sodom’s [city] gate. Seeing them, Lot got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
• 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
• Romans 12:13contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.
• Genesis 23:7So Abraham stood up and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites.
• Genesis 33:3Then Jacob crossed over [the stream] ahead of them and bowed himself to the ground seven times [bowing and moving forward each time], until he approached his brother.
• Genesis 43:26When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present [of tribute] which they had with them and bowed to the ground before him.
• Genesis 44:14When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him.
• Ruth 2:10Then she kneeled face downward, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should notice me, when I am a foreigner?”
• 2 Kings 2:15When the sons of the prophets who were [watching] opposite at Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him [in respect].

Commentaries on Genesis 18:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Three men stood by him - עליו נצבים nitstsabim alaiv, were standing over against him; for if they had been standing by him, as our translation says, he needed not to have "run from the tent door to meet them." To Abraham these appeared at first as men; but he entertained angels unawares, see Hebrews 13:2.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-33Verses 1-33 - The Visit of the Lord to Abraham 2. השׂתחיה vayı̂śtachû “bow,” or bend the body in token of respect to God or man. The attitude varies from a slight inclination of the body to entire prostration with the forehead touching the ground. 6. סאה se'ah a “seah,” about an English peck, the third part of an ephah. The ephah contained ten omers. The omer held about five pints. This chapter describes Abraham‘s fellowship with God. On the gracious…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-8Abraham received his visitors as very important guests, perhaps realizing that they were messengers from God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. lift up his eyes ... and, lo, three men--Travellers in that quarter start at sunrise and continue till midday when they look out for some resting-place. he ran to meet them--When the visitor is an ordinary person, the host merely rises; but if of superior rank, the custom is to advance a little towards the stranger, and after a very low bow, turn and lead him to the tent, putting an arm round his waist, or tapping him on the shoulder as they go, to…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 18:2

• Abraham
• Angel (a Spirit)
• Communion
• Condescension of God
• God
• Guest
• Hospitality
• Isaac
• Mamre
• Manners
• Salutations

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Ashes
• Certainly
• Comfort
• Command
• Cook
• Cry
• Grievous
• Hard
• Judge

Commentaries on Genesis 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings