Genesis 18:1

Genesis 18:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
• New International Version (NIV)The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.

Context of Genesis 18:1

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the special oak trees of Mamre. It was the hot time of day and Abraham was sitting by the door of his tent. 2Abraham looked up and he saw three men. He ran in a hurry to meet them. He bent down to the ground to respect them. 3Abraham said, ‘Please sir, stop here and let me serve you. That would make me very happy.

Genesis 18:1 word by word

וַיֵּרָ֤א אֵלָיו֙ יְהוָ֔ה בְּאֵלֹנֵ֖י מַמְרֵ֑א וְה֛וּא יֹשֵׁ֥ב פֶּֽתַח־הָאֹ֖הֶל כְּחֹ֥ם הַיּֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• appearedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• unto him in the plainsאֵלוֹן'êlôn · terebinthH436
• of Mamreמַמְרֵאmamrê' · MamreH4471
• and he satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in the tentאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
• doorפֶּ֫תַחpethach · entranceH6607
• in the heatחֹםchôm · heatH2527
• of the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for Genesis 18:1

• Genesis 15:1After this, the Lord spoke to Abram in a dream. God said, ‘Do not be afraid Abram. I will keep you safe. I myself will give you many good gifts.’
• Genesis 17:1When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. The Lord said, ‘I am God Almighty. In all your life, obey me and do nothing wrong.
• Genesis 26:2The Lord appeared to Isaac. He said, ‘Do not go to Egypt. Instead, live in the land that I will show to you.
• Genesis 48:3Jacob said to Joseph, ‘God Almighty appeared to me at Luz, in Canaan. God blessed me there.
• Exodus 4:1Then Moses replied, ‘Perhaps the leaders of Israel will not believe me. Perhaps they will not listen to my message. Perhaps they will say, “The Lord did not really appear to you.” ’
• 2 Chronicles 1:7That night, God showed himself to Solomon. God said, ‘Ask me to give you whatever you want.’
• Acts 7:2Stephen said, ‘Men of Israel, my friends and leaders. Listen to what I say. Our great God appeared to our ancestor, Abraham, when he was still living in Mesopotamia. This happened before he went to Haran.
• Genesis 13:18So Abram moved his tents. He went to live near the special oak trees of Mamre. That place is at Hebron. Abram built an altar to worship the Lord there.
• Genesis 14:13At that time, Abram, the Hebrew man, was living near the special oak trees of Mamre. Mamre was an Amorite. He was the brother of Eshcol and Aner. These men had agreed to be Abram's friends. A man ran away from Sodom. He told Abram everything that had happened.

Commentaries on Genesis 18:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1And the Lord appeared - See note on Genesis 15:1. Sat in the tent door - For the purpose of enjoying the refreshing air in the heat of the day, when the sun had most power. A custom still frequent among the Asiatics.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
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The Lord appears to Abraham. (1-8) Sarah's unbelief reproved. (9-15) God reveals to Abraham the destruction of Sodom. (16-22) Abraham's intercession for Sodom. (23-33) Verses 1-8 Abraham was waiting to entertain any weary traveller, for inns were not to be met with as among us. While Abraham was thus sitting, he saw three men coming. These were three heavenly beings in human bodies. Some think they were all created angels; others, that one of them was the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-15The Lord's visit to Abraham set the time for Isaac's birth. The three visitors were probably the Lord and two angels (see study note on 16:7). Abraham welcomed the visitors peacefully and generously, which contrasted with the chaos and corruption in Sodom (chapter 19). Sharing a meal was important for making or confirming covenants. When God was ready to fulfill the covenant promise, he personally shared a meal with Abraham. Fellowship with God has always…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81. the Lord appeared--another manifestation of the divine presence, more familiar than any yet narrated; and more like that in the fulness of time, when the Word was made flesh. plains of Mamre--rather, terebinth or oak of Mamre; a tall-spreading tree or grove of trees. sat in the tent door--The tent itself being too close and sultry at noon, the shaded open front is usually resorted to for the air that may be stirring.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 18:1

• Abraham
• Communion
• Condescension of God
• Hospitality
• Isaac
• Mamre
• Tent

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Ashes
• Certainly
• Comfort
• Command
• Cry
• Grievous
• Grove
• 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