God’s Word Translation
Genesis 18:2
2Abraham looked up, and suddenly he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them, and he bowed with his face touching the ground.
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
1The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oak trees belonging to Mamre as he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day. Abraham looked up, and suddenly he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them, and he bowed with his face touching the ground. 3“Please, sir,” Abraham said, “stop by to visit me for a while. 4Why don’t we let someone bring a little water? After you wash your feet, you can stretch out and rest under the tree.
Read all of Genesis 18Genesis 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 13:3The Messenger of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You’ve never been able to have a child, but now you will become pregnant and have a son.
- Hebrews 13:2Don’t forget to show hospitality to believers you don’t know. By doing this some believers have shown hospitality to angels without being aware of it.
- Genesis 18:22From there the men turned and went on toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing in front of the Lord.
- Genesis 19:1The two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed with his face touching the ground.
- 1 Peter 4:9Welcome each other as guests without complaining.
- Romans 12:13Share what you have with God’s people who are in need. Be hospitable.
- Genesis 23:7Abraham got up in front of the Hittites, the people of that region, and bowed with his face touching the ground.
- Genesis 33:3He went on ahead of them and bowed seven times with his face touching the ground as he came near his brother.
- Genesis 43:26When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought to the house. Then they bowed to him with their faces touching the ground.
- Genesis 44:14Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house while Joseph was still there. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground.
- Ruth 2:10Ruth immediately bowed down to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so helpful? Why are you paying attention to me? I’m only a foreigner.”
- 2 Kings 2:15The disciples of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him from a distance. They said, “Elijah’s spirit rests on Elisha!” Then they went to meet him and bowed in front of him with their faces touching the ground.
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
In the dictionaries
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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