Berean Standard Bible
Genesis 18
1Then the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068appearedוַיֵּרָ֤אvai.ye.Ra'H7200toאֵלָיו֙'e.LavH413Abrahamby the Oaksבְּאֵלֹנֵ֖יbe.'e.lo.NeiH436of Mamreמַמְרֵ֑אmam.Re'H4471in the heatכְּחֹ֥םke.ChomH2527of the dayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117,while heוְה֛וּאve.Hu'H1931was sittingיֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427at the entranceפֶּֽתַח־pe.tach-H6607of his tentהָאֹ֖הֶלha.'O.helH168.
2And Abraham looked upוַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙vai.yi.Sa' 'ei.NavH5375H5869and sawוַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה֙vai.Yar' ve.hi.NehH7200H2009threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֣הshe.lo.ShahH7969menאֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.ShimH582standingנִצָּבִ֖יםni.tza.VimH5324nearbyעָלָ֑יו'a.LavH5921.When he saw themוַיַּ֗רְאvai.Yar'H7200,he ran fromוַיָּ֤רָץvai.Ya.rotzH7323the entranceמִפֶּ֣תַחmi.Pe.tachH6607of his tentהָאֹ֔הֶלha.'O.helH168to meet themלִקְרָאתָם֙lik.ra.TamH7122and bowed lowוַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812to the groundאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776.
3“My lordאֲדֹנָ֗י'a.do.NaiH113,”saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559Abraham, “ifאִם־'im-H518I have foundמָצָ֤אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672favorחֵן֙chenH2580in your sightבְּעֵינֶ֔יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khaH5869,pleaseנָ֨אna'H4994do notאַל־ נָ֥א'al- na'H408H4994passתַעֲבֹ֖ר מֵעַ֥לta.'a.Vor me.'AlH5674H5921your servant byעַבְדֶּֽךָ׃'av.De.khaH5650.
5And I will bringוְאֶקְחָ֨הve.'ek.ChahH3947a bitפַת־fat-H6595of breadלֶ֜חֶםLe.chemH3899so that you may refreshוְסַעֲד֤וּve.sa.'a.DuH5582yourselvesלִבְּכֶם֙li.be.KhemH3820.This is whyכִּֽי־ עַל־ כֵּ֥ןki- 'al- kenH3588H5921H3651you have passedתַּעֲבֹ֔רוּta.'a.Vo.ruH5674your servant’s wayעַבְדְּכֶ֑ם'av.de.KhemH5650.After thatאַחַ֣ר'a.CharH310,you may continue on your wayעֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם עַֽל־'a.var.Tem 'al-H5674H5921.” “Yesכֵּ֥ןkenH3651,”they repliedוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “you may doתַּעֲשֶׂ֖הta.'a.SehH6213asכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.SherH834you have saidדִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃di.Bar.taH1696.”
6So Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛ם'av.ra.HamH85hurriedוַיְמַהֵ֧רvay.ma.HerH4116into the tentהָאֹ֖הֱלָהha.'O.he.lahH168and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Sarahשָׂרָ֑הsa.RahH8283, “Quick! Prepareמַהֲרִ֞יma.ha.RiH4116threeשְׁלֹ֤שׁshe.LoshH7969seahsסְאִים֙se.'ImH5429of fineסֹ֔לֶתSo.letH5560flourקֶ֣מַחKe.machH7058,knead itל֖וּשִׁיLu.shiH3888,and bakeוַעֲשִׂ֥יva.'a.SiH6213some breadעֻגֽוֹת׃u.GotH5692.”
7Meanwhile, Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85ranרָ֣ץratzH7323toוְאֶל־ve.'el-H413the herdהַבָּקָ֖רha.ba.KarH1241,selectedוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947a tenderרַ֤ךְrakhH7390and choiceוָטוֹב֙va.tOvH2896calfבֶּן־ בָּקָ֜רben- ba.KarH1121H1241,and gaveוַיִּתֵּ֣ןvai.yi.TenH5414it toאֶל־'el-H413a servantהַנַּ֔עַרha.Na.'arH5288,who hurriedוַיְמַהֵ֖רvay.ma.HerH4116to prepareלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213itאֹתֽוֹ׃'o.ToH853.
8Then Abraham broughtוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947curdsחֶמְאָ֜הchem.'AhH2529and milkוְחָלָ֗בve.cha.LavH2461and the calfוּבֶן־ הַבָּקָר֙u.ven- ha.ba.KarH1121H1241thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834had been preparedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213,and he set themוַיִּתֵּ֖ןvai.yi.TenH5414before the menלִפְנֵיהֶ֑םlif.nei.HemH6440andוְהֽוּא־ve.hu'-H1931stoodעֹמֵ֧ד'o.MedH5975by themעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם'a.lei.HemH5921underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the treeהָעֵ֖ץha.'EtzH6086as they ateוַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃vai.yo.Khe.luH398.
Sarah Laughs at the Promise
10Then the LORD saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I will surely returnH7725to youאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙'e.Lei.khaH413at this time next yearכָּעֵ֣ת חַיָּ֔ה וְהִנֵּה־ka.'Et chai.Yah ve.hi.neh-H6256H2416H2009,and your wifeאִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ'ish.Te.khaH802Sarahלְשָׂרָ֣הle.sa.RahH8283will have a sonבֵ֖ןvenH1121!”Now Sarahוְשָׂרָ֥ה וְה֥וּאve.sa.Rah ve.Hu'H8283H1931was behind himאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310,listeningשֹׁמַ֛עַתsho.Ma.'atH8085at the entranceפֶּ֥תַחPe.tachH6607to the tentהָאֹ֖הֶלha.'O.helH168.
11And Abrahamוְאַבְרָהָ֤םve.'av.ra.HamH85and Sarahוְשָׂרָה֙ve.sa.RahH8283were already oldזְקֵנִ֔יםze.ke.NimH2205and well alongבָּאִ֖יםba.'ImH935in yearsבַּיָּמִ֑יםbai.ya.MimH3117;Sarahלְשָׂרָ֔הle.sa.RahH8283had passedחָדַל֙ לִהְי֣וֹתcha.Dal lih.YotH2308H1961the age of childbearingאֹ֖רַח כַּנָּשִֽׁים׃'O.rach ka.na.ShimH734H802.
12Soשָׂרָ֖הsa.RahH8283shelaughedוַתִּצְחַ֥קva.titz.ChakH6711to herselfבְּקִרְבָּ֣הּbe.kir.BahH7130,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “Afterאַחֲרֵ֤י'a.cha.ReiH310I am worn outבְלֹתִי֙ve.lo.TiH1086and my masterוַֽאדֹנִ֖יva.do.NiH113is oldזָקֵֽן׃za.KenH2204,will I now haveהָֽיְתָה־ha.ye.tah-H1961this pleasureעֶדְנָ֔ה'ed.NahH5730?”
13And the LORDיְהוָ֖ה אֶל־Yah.weh 'el-H3068H413askedוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85, “Whyלָ֣מָּה זֶּה֩La.mah zehH4100H2088did Sarahשָׂרָ֜הsa.RahH8283laughצָחֲקָ֨הtza.cha.KahH6711and sayלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559, ‘Can I reallyהַאַ֥ף אֻמְנָ֛םha.'Af 'um.NamH637H552bear a childאֵלֵ֖ד'e.LedH3205when I amוַאֲנִ֥יva.'a.NiH589oldזָקַֽנְתִּי׃za.Kan.tiH2204?’
14Is anythingדָּבָ֑רda.VarH1697too difficultהֲיִפָּלֵ֥אha.yi.pa.Le'H6381for the LORDמֵיְהוָ֖הme.Yah.wehH3068?At the appointed timeלַמּוֹעֵ֞דla.mo.'EdH4150I will returnאָשׁ֥וּב'a.ShuvH7725to youאֵלֶ֛יךָ'e.Lei.khaH413—in about a yearכָּעֵ֥ת חַיָּ֖הka.'Et chai.YahH6256H2416—and Sarahוּלְשָׂרָ֥הu.le.sa.RahH8283will have a sonבֵֽן׃VenH1121.”
15But Sarahשָׂרָ֧ה׀sa.RahH8283was afraidיָרֵ֑אָהya.Re.'ahH3372,soכִּ֣י׀kiH3588she denied itוַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁva.te.kha.CheshH3584and saidלֵאמֹ֛רle.MorH559, “I did notלֹ֥אlo'H3808laughצָחַ֖קְתִּיtza.Chak.tiH6711.” “Noלֹ֖אlo'H3808,”repliedוַיֹּ֥אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559the LORD, “butכִּ֥יkiH3588you did laughצָחָֽקְתְּ׃tza.Cha.ketH6711.”
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16When the men got upוַיָּקֻ֤מוּvai.ya.Ku.muH6965to leaveמִשָּׁם֙mi.ShamH8033, theyהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582looked outוַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּvai.yash.Ki.fuH8259overעַל־ פְּנֵ֣י'al- pe.NeiH5921H6440Sodomסְדֹ֑םse.DomH5467,and Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85walked alongהֹלֵ֥ךְho.LekhH1980with themעִמָּ֖ם'i.MamH5973to see them offלְשַׁלְּחָֽם׃le.sha.le.ChamH7971.
19Forכִּ֣יkiH3588I have chosenיְדַעְתִּ֗יוye.da'.TivH3045himלְמַעַן֩le.ma.'AnH4616,so thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834he will commandיְצַוֶּ֜הye.tza.VehH6680אֶת־'et-H853his childrenבָּנָ֤יוba.NavH1121andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853his householdבֵּיתוֹ֙bei.ToH1004after himאַחֲרָ֔יו'a.cha.RavH310to keepוְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ve.sha.me.RuH8104the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068by doingלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213what is rightצְדָקָ֖הtze.da.KahH6666and justוּמִשְׁפָּ֑טu.mish.PatH4941,in order thatלְמַ֗עַןle.Ma.'anH4616the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068may bringהָבִ֤יאha.Vi'H935uponעַל־'al-H5921Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85אֵ֥ת'etH853whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834He has promisedדִּבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696עָלָֽיו׃'a.LavH5921.”
20Then the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “The outcryזַעֲקַ֛תza.'a.KatH2201against Sodomסְדֹ֥םse.DomH5467and Gomorrahוַעֲמֹרָ֖הva.'a.mo.RahH6017is greatרָ֑בָּהRa.bahH7231.Becauseכִּי־ki-H3588their sinוְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔םve.Cha.ta.TamH2403כִּ֥יkiH3588is soמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966grievousכָבְדָ֖הkha.ve.DahH3513,
21I will go downאֵֽרֲדָה־ נָּ֣א'e.ra.dah- na'H3381H4994to seeוְאֶרְאֶ֔הve.'er.'EhH7200if their actionsעָשׂ֣וּ׀'a.SuH6213fullyכָּלָ֑הka.LahH3617justify the outcryהַכְּצַעֲקָתָ֛הּha.ke.tza.'a.ka.TahH6818that has reachedהַבָּ֥אָהha.Ba.'ahH935Meאֵלַ֖י'e.LaiH413.Ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518notלֹ֖אlo'H3808,I will find outאֵדָֽעָה׃'e.Da.'ahH3045.”
22And the two menהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582turnedוַיִּפְנ֤וּvai.yif.NuH6437awayמִשָּׁם֙mi.ShamH8033and wentוַיֵּלְכ֖וּvai.ye.le.KhuH1980toward Sodomסְדֹ֑מָהse.Do.mahH5467,but Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85remainedעוֹדֶ֥נּוּo.De.nuH5750standingעֹמֵ֖ד'o.MedH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.
24What ifאוּלַ֥י'u.LaiH194there areיֵ֛שׁyeshH3426fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteous onesצַדִּיקִ֖םtza.di.KimH6662inבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892?Will You reallyהַאַ֤ףha.'AfH637sweep it awayתִּסְפֶּה֙tis.PehH5595and notוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808spareתִשָּׂ֣אti.Sa'H5375the placeלַמָּק֔וֹםla.ma.KomH4725for the sake ofלְמַ֛עַןle.Ma.'anH4616the fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteous onesהַצַּדִּיקִ֖םha.tza.di.KimH6662whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834are thereבְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃be.kir.BahH7130?
25Far be itחָלִ֨לָהcha.Li.lahH2486from Youto doמֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת׀me.'a.SotH6213suchהַזֶּ֗הha.ZehH2088a thingכַּדָּבָ֣רka.da.VarH1697—to killלְהָמִ֤יתle.ha.MitH4191the righteousצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662withעִם־'im-H5973the wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563,so that the righteousכַצַּדִּ֖יקkha.tza.DikH6662and the wickedכָּרָשָׁ֑עka.ra.Sha'H7563are treated alikeוְהָיָ֥הve.ha.YahH1961.Far be itחָלִ֣לָהcha.Li.lahH2486from You!Will notלֹ֥אlo'H3808the Judgeהֲשֹׁפֵט֙ha.sho.FetH8199of allכָּל־kol-H3605the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776doיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213what is rightמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish.PatH4941?”
26So the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Ifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֥א'em.Tza'H4672fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteous onesצַדִּיקִ֖םtza.di.KimH6662withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892of Sodomבִסְדֹ֛םvis.DomH5467,on their accountבַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃ba.'a.vu.RamH5668I will spareוְנָשָׂ֥אתִיve.na.Sa.tiH5375the wholeלְכָל־le.kholH3605placeהַמָּק֖וֹםha.ma.KomH4725.”
27Then Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85answeredוַיַּ֥עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.Ya.'an vai.yo.MarH559H6030, “Now thatהִנֵּה־ נָ֤אhi.neh- na'H2009H4994I have venturedהוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ho.'Al.tiH2974to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696toאֶל־'el-H413the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136—though Iוְאָנֹכִ֖יve.'a.no.KhiH595am but dustעָפָ֥ר'a.FarH6083and ashesוָאֵֽפֶר׃va.'E.ferH665—
28supposeא֠וּלַי'U.laiH194the fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֤יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteous onesהַצַּדִּיקִם֙ha.tza.di.KimH6662lackיַחְסְר֞וּןyach.se.RunH2637fiveחֲמִשָּׁ֔הcha.mi.ShahH2568.Will You destroyהֲתַשְׁחִ֥יתha.tash.ChitH7843the wholeכָּל־kol-H3605cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892for the lack of fiveבַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖הba.cha.mi.ShahH2568אֶת־'et-H853?”He repliedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Ifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֣א'em.Tza'H4672forty-fiveאַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃'ar.ba.'Im va.cha.mi.ShahH705H2568thereשָׁ֔םShamH8033,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843it.”
29Once againוַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֜וֹדvai.Yo.sef odH3254H5750Abrahamspokeלְדַבֵּ֤רle.da.BerH1696toאֵלָיו֙'e.LavH413the LORD, “Supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194fortyוַיֹּאמַ֔ר אַרְבָּעִ֑יםvai.yo.Mar 'ar.ba.'ImH705H559are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”He answeredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “On accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the fortyהָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃ha.'ar.ba.'ImH705,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808do itאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213.”
30Then Abraham saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559, “May the Lordלַֽאדֹנָי֙la.do.NaiH136notאַל־ נָ֞א'al- na'H408H4994be angryיִ֤חַרYi.charH2734,but let me speakוַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָהva.'a.da.Be.rahH1696further.Supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֑יםshe.lo.ShimH7970are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”He repliedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Ifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֥א'em.Tza'H4672thirtyשְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃she.lo.ShimH7970thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808do itאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213.”
31And Abraham saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Now thatהִנֵּֽה־ נָ֤אhi.neh- na'H2009H4994I have venturedהוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ho.'Al.tiH2974to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696toאֶל־'el-H413the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136,supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194twentyעֶשְׂרִ֑ים'es.RimH6242are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”He answeredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “On accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the twentyהָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃Ha.'es.RimH6242,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843it.”
32Finally, Abraham saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559, “May the Lordלַֽאדֹנָי֙la.do.NaiH136notאַל־ נָ֞א'al- na'H408H4994be angryיִ֤חַרYi.charH2734,but let me speakוַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה אַךְ־va.'a.da.be.Rah 'akh-H1696H389once moreהַפַּ֔עַםha.Pa.'amH6471.Supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194tenעֲשָׂרָ֑ה'a.sa.RahH6235are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”And He answeredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “On accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the tenהָעֲשָׂרָֽה׃ha.'a.sa.RahH6235,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843it.”
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
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Commentaries