New American Standard Bible 1995

Genesis 18

Birth of Isaac Promised

1Nowthe Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068appearedוַיֵּרָ֤אvai.ye.Ra'H7200to him by theoaksבְּאֵלֹנֵ֖יbe.'e.lo.NeiH436of Mamreמַמְרֵ֑אmam.Re'H4471,while he was sittingיֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427at the tentהָאֹ֖הֶלha.'O.helH168doorפֶּֽתַח־pe.tach-H6607in the heatכְּחֹ֥םke.ChomH2527of the dayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117.

2When he liftedוַיִּשָּׂ֤אvai.yi.Sa'H5375up his eyesעֵינָיו֙'ei.NavH5869and lookedוַיַּ֔רְאvai.Yar'H7200,beholdוְהִנֵּה֙ve.hi.NehH2009,threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֣הshe.lo.ShahH7969menH376were standingנִצָּבִ֖יםni.tza.VimH5324oppositeעָלָ֑יו'a.LavH5921him; and when he sawוַיַּ֗רְאvai.Yar'H7200them,he ranוַיָּ֤רָץvai.Ya.rotzH7323from the tentהָאֹ֔הֶלha.'O.helH168doorמִפֶּ֣תַחmi.Pe.tachH6607to meetלִקְרָאתָם֙lik.ra.TamH7122them and bowedוַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812himself to the earthאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776,

3and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “My Lordאֲדֹנָ֗י'a.do.NaiH113,ifאִם־'im-H518nowנָ֨אna'H4994I have foundמָצָ֤אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672favorחֵן֙chenH2580in Your sightבְּעֵינֶ֔יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khaH5869,pleaseנָ֥אna'H4994do notpassתַעֲבֹ֖רta.'a.VorH5674Your servantעַבְדֶּֽךָ׃'av.De.khaH5650by.

4Pleaseנָ֣אna'H4994let a littleמְעַט־me.'at-H4592waterמַ֔יִםMa.yimH4325be broughtיֻקַּֽח־yu.kach-H3947andwashוְרַחֲצ֖וּve.ra.cha.TzuH7364your feetרַגְלֵיכֶ֑םrag.lei.KhemH7272, andrestH8172yourselvesH8172underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the treeהָעֵֽץ׃ha.'EtzH6086;

5and I willbringוְאֶקְחָ֨הve.'ek.ChahH3947a pieceפַת־fat-H6595of breadלֶ֜חֶםLe.chemH3899, that you mayrefreshוְסַעֲד֤וּve.sa.'a.DuH5582yourselvesלִבְּכֶם֙li.be.KhemH3820;afterאַחַ֣ר'a.CharH310that you may goתַּעֲבֹ֔רוּta.'a.Vo.ruH5674on, sinceכִּֽי־ כֵּ֥ןki- kenH3588 H5921 H3651you havevisitedעֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם'a.var.TemH5674your servantעַבְדְּכֶ֑ם'av.de.KhemH5650.”And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “Soכֵּ֥ןkenH3651doתַּעֲשֶׂ֖הta.'a.SehH6213,as you have saidדִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃di.Bar.taH1696.”

6So Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛ם'av.ra.HamH85hurriedH4116into the tentהָאֹ֖הֱלָהha.'O.he.lahH168to Sarahשָׂרָ֑הsa.RahH8283,and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “QuicklyH4116,prepareH4116threeשְׁלֹ֤שׁshe.LoshH7969measuresסְאִים֙se.'ImH5429of fineסֹ֔לֶתSo.letH5560flourקֶ֣מַחKe.machH7058 H5560,kneadל֖וּשִׁיLu.shiH3888itand makeוַעֲשִׂ֥יva.'a.SiH6213breadעֻגֽוֹת׃u.GotH5692cakesH5692.”

7Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85also ranרָ֣ץratzH7323to the herdהַבָּקָ֖רha.ba.KarH1241,and tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947a tenderרַ֤ךְrakhH7390andchoiceוָטוֹב֙va.tOvH2896calfבֶּן־ בָּקָ֜רben- ba.KarH1121 H1241and gaveוַיִּתֵּ֣ןvai.yi.TenH5414itto the servantהַנַּ֔עַרha.Na.'arH5288,and he hurriedוַיְמַהֵ֖רvay.ma.HerH4116to prepareלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213it.

8He tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947curdsחֶמְאָ֜הchem.'AhH2529and milkוְחָלָ֗בve.cha.LavH2461and the calfוּבֶן־ הַבָּקָר֙u.ven- ha.ba.KarH1121 H1241whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he had preparedעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213,and placedוַיִּתֵּ֖ןvai.yi.TenH5414itbeforeלִפְנֵיהֶ֑םlif.nei.HemH6440them; and he was standingעֹמֵ֧ד'o.MedH5975by them underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the treeהָעֵ֖ץha.'EtzH6086as they ateוַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃vai.yo.Khe.luH398.

9Then they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to him, “WhereH335is Sarahשָׂרָ֣הsa.RahH8283your wifeאִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ'ish.Te.khaH802?”And he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Thereהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009,in the tentבָאֹֽהֶל׃va.'O.helH168.”

10He saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I will surelyשׁ֣וֹבShovH7725returnאָשׁ֤וּב'a.ShuvH7725to youat this timeכָּעֵ֣תka.'EtH6256nextH2416yearH2416;and beholdוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009,Sarahלְשָׂרָ֣הle.sa.RahH8283your wifeאִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ'ish.Te.khaH802will have a sonבֵ֖ןvenH1121.”And Sarahוְשָׂרָ֥הve.sa.RahH8283was listeningשֹׁמַ֛עַתsho.Ma.'atH8085at the tentהָאֹ֖הֶלha.'O.helH168doorפֶּ֥תַחPe.tachH6607,whichוְה֥וּאve.Hu'H1931was behindאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310him.

11NowAbrahamוְאַבְרָהָ֤םve.'av.ra.HamH85and Sarahוְשָׂרָה֙ve.sa.RahH8283were oldזְקֵנִ֔יםze.ke.NimH2205,advancedבָּאִ֖יםba.'ImH935in ageבַּיָּמִ֑יםbai.ya.MimH3117;Sarahלְשָׂרָ֔הle.sa.RahH8283waspastחָדַל֙cha.DalH2308childbearingאֹ֖רַח כַּנָּשִֽׁים׃'O.rach ka.na.ShimH734 H802.

12Sarahשָׂרָ֖הsa.RahH8283laughedוַתִּצְחַ֥קva.titz.ChakH6711to herselfבְּקִרְבָּ֣הּbe.kir.BahH7130,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “Afterאַחֲרֵ֤י'a.cha.ReiH310I have becomeH1086oldH1086,shall I haveהָֽיְתָה־ha.ye.tah-H1961pleasureH5734, mylordוַֽאדֹנִ֖יva.do.NiH113beingH2204oldזָקֵֽן׃za.KenH2204also?”

13And the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85, “Whyלָ֣מָּהLa.mahH4100did Sarahשָׂרָ֜הsa.RahH8283laughצָחֲקָ֨הtza.cha.KahH6711,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559, ‘Shall I indeedהַאַ֥ף אֻמְנָ֛םha.'Af 'um.NamH637 H552bearאֵלֵ֖ד'e.LedH3205a child,when I amH2204sooldזָקַֽנְתִּי׃za.Kan.tiH2204?’

14Is anythingדָּבָ֑רda.VarH1697tooH4480difficultהֲיִפָּלֵ֥אha.yi.pa.Le'H6381for the Lordמֵיְהוָ֖הme.Yah.wehH3068? At theappointedH4150timeלַמּוֹעֵ֞דla.mo.'EdH4150I will returnאָשׁ֥וּב'a.ShuvH7725to you,at thisH2416timeכָּעֵ֥תka.'EtH6256nextH2416yearH2416,and Sarahוּלְשָׂרָ֥הu.le.sa.RahH8283will have a sonבֵֽן׃VenH1121.”

15Sarahשָׂרָ֧ה׀sa.RahH8283deniedוַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁva.te.kha.CheshH3584ithowever, sayingלֵאמֹ֛רle.MorH559, “I did not laughצָחַ֖קְתִּיtza.Chak.tiH6711”;for she was afraidיָרֵ֑אָהya.Re.'ahH3372.And He saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559, “NoH3808,but you did laughצָחָֽקְתְּ׃tza.Cha.ketH6711.”

16Thenthe menH376roseוַיָּקֻ֤מוּvai.ya.Ku.muH6965up from thereמִשָּׁם֙mi.ShamH8033,and lookedH8259downוַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּvai.yash.Ki.fuH8259towardעַל־ פְּנֵ֣י'al- pe.NeiH5921 H6440Sodomסְדֹ֑םse.DomH5467;and Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85was walkingהֹלֵ֥ךְho.LekhH1980with them to sendלְשַׁלְּחָֽם׃le.sha.le.ChamH7971them off.

17The Lordוַֽיהֹוָ֖הva.Yah.wehH3068saidאָמָ֑ר'a.MarH559, “Shall I hideהַֽמְכַסֶּ֤הham.kha.SehH3680from Abrahamמֵֽאַבְרָהָ֔םme.'av.ra.HamH85whatאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834I am about to doעֹשֶֽׂה׃'o.SehH6213,

18since Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85will surelyהָי֧וֹha.YoH1961becomeיִֽהְיֶ֛הyih.YehH1961a greatגָּד֖וֹלga.DolH1419andmightyוְעָצ֑וּםve.'a.TzumH6099nationלְג֥וֹיle.GoyH1471, and in himallכֹּ֖לkolH3605the nationsגּוֹיֵ֥יgo.YeiH1471of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776will be blessedוְנִ֨בְרְכוּve.Niv.re.khuH1288?

19For I havechosenיְדַעְתִּ֗יוye.da'.TivH3045him, soלְמַעַן֩le.ma.'AnH4616that he maycommandיְצַוֶּ֜הye.tza.VehH6680his childrenבָּנָ֤יוba.NavH1121and his householdבֵּיתוֹ֙bei.ToH1004afterאַחֲרָ֔יו'a.cha.RavH310him tokeepוְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ve.sha.me.RuH8104the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068by doingלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213righteousnessצְדָקָ֖הtze.da.KahH6666and justiceוּמִשְׁפָּ֑טu.mish.PatH4941,soלְמַ֗עַןle.Ma.'anH4616that the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068may bringהָבִ֤יאha.Vi'H935upon Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85whatH834He has spokenדִּבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696aboutH5921him.”

20And the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “The outcryזַעֲקַ֛תza.'a.KatH2201of Sodomסְדֹ֥םse.DomH5467and Gomorrahוַעֲמֹרָ֖הva.'a.mo.RahH6017is indeedH3588greatרָ֑בָּהRa.bahH7231,and their sinוְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔םve.Cha.ta.TamH2403is exceedinglyמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966graveכָבְדָ֖הkha.ve.DahH3513.

21I willgoאֵֽרֲדָה־'e.ra.dah-H3381downH3381nowנָּ֣אna'H4994,and seeוְאֶרְאֶ֔הve.'er.'EhH7200if they have doneעָשׂ֣וּ׀'a.SuH6213entirelyכָּלָ֑הka.LahH3617according to its outcryהַכְּצַעֲקָתָ֛הּha.ke.tza.'a.ka.TahH6818,which has comeהַבָּ֥אָהha.Ba.'ahH935to Me; and ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518not, I will knowאֵדָֽעָה׃'e.Da.'ahH3045.”

22Thenthe menH376turnedH6437awayוַיִּפְנ֤וּvai.yif.NuH6437from thereמִשָּׁם֙mi.ShamH8033and wentוַיֵּלְכ֖וּvai.ye.le.KhuH1980toward Sodomסְדֹ֑מָהse.Do.mahH5467,while Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85was stillעוֹדֶ֥נּוּo.De.nuH5750standingעֹמֵ֖ד'o.MedH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

23Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85cameH5066nearH5066and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “Will You indeedהַאַ֣ףha.'AfH637sweepתִּסְפֶּ֔הtis.PehH5595awayH5595the righteousצַדִּ֖יקtza.DikH6662with the wickedרָשָֽׁע׃ra.Sha'H7563?

24Supposeאוּלַ֥י'u.LaiH194thereיֵ֛שׁyeshH3426are fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteousצַדִּיקִ֖םtza.di.KimH6662withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892;will You indeedהַאַ֤ףha.'AfH637sweepתִּסְפֶּה֙tis.PehH5595itawayH5595and notspareתִשָּׂ֣אti.Sa'H5375the placeלַמָּק֔וֹםla.ma.KomH4725for the sakeלְמַ֛עַןle.Ma.'anH4616of the fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteousהַצַּדִּיקִ֖םha.tza.di.KimH6662whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834are in it?

25Farחָלִ֨לָהcha.Li.lahH2486be it from You to doמֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת׀me.'a.SotH6213suchהַזֶּ֗הha.ZehH2088a thingכַּדָּבָ֣רka.da.VarH1697,to slayלְהָמִ֤יתle.ha.MitH4191the righteousצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662with the wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563,so that the righteousכַצַּדִּ֖יקkha.tza.DikH6662and the wickedכָּרָשָׁ֑עka.ra.Sha'H7563are treatedalike. Farחָלִ֣לָהcha.Li.lahH2486be it from You! Shall notthe Judgeהֲשֹׁפֵט֙ha.sho.FetH8199of allכָּל־kol-H3605the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776dealיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213justlyמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish.PatH4941?”

26So the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Ifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֥א'em.Tza'H4672in Sodomבִסְדֹ֛םvis.DomH5467fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteousצַדִּיקִ֖םtza.di.KimH6662withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892, then I willspareוְנָשָׂ֥אתִיve.na.Sa.tiH5375the wholeלְכָל־le.kholH3605placeהַמָּק֖וֹםha.ma.KomH4725on their accountבַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃ba.'a.vu.RamH5668.”

27And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85repliedוַיַּ֥עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030, “Nowנָ֤אna'H4994beholdהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009, I haveventuredהוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ho.'Al.tiH2974to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696to the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136, although I am butdustעָפָ֥ר'a.FarH6083and ashesוָאֵֽפֶר׃va.'E.ferH665.

28Supposeא֠וּלַי'U.laiH194the fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֤יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteousהַצַּדִּיקִם֙ha.tza.di.KimH6662are lackingיַחְסְר֞וּןyach.se.RunH2637fiveחֲמִשָּׁ֔הcha.mi.ShahH2568,will You destroyהֲתַשְׁחִ֥יתha.tash.ChitH7843the wholeכָּל־kol-H3605cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892because of fiveבַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖הba.cha.mi.ShahH2568?”And He saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “I will not destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843itifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֣א'em.Tza'H4672forty-fiveאַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃'ar.ba.'Im va.cha.mi.ShahH705 H2568thereשָׁ֔םShamH8033.”

29He spokeלְדַבֵּ֤רle.da.BerH1696to Him yetע֜וֹדodH5750againוַיֹּ֨סֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254and saidוַיֹּאמַ֔רvai.yo.MarH559, “Supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194fortyאַרְבָּעִ֑ים'ar.ba.'ImH705are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”And He saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “I will not doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213iton accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the fortyהָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃ha.'ar.ba.'ImH705.”

30Then he saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559, “OhH4994mayH4994the Lordלַֽאדֹנָי֙la.do.NaiH136not be angryיִ֤חַרYi.charH2734,and I shall speakוַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָהva.'a.da.Be.rahH1696;supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֑יםshe.lo.ShimH7970are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”And He saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “I will not doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213itifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֥א'em.Tza'H4672thirtyשְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃she.lo.ShimH7970thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033.”

31And he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Nowנָ֤אna'H4994beholdהִנֵּֽה־hi.neh-H2009, I haveventuredהוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ho.'Al.tiH2974to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696to the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136;supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194twentyעֶשְׂרִ֑ים'es.RimH6242are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”And He saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “I will not destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843iton accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the twentyהָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃Ha.'es.RimH6242.”

32Then he saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559, “OhH4994mayH4994the Lordלַֽאדֹנָי֙la.do.NaiH136not be angryיִ֤חַרYi.charH2734,and I shall speakוַאֲדַבְּרָ֣הva.'a.da.be.RahH1696onlyאַךְ־'akh-H389thisH6471onceH6471;supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194tenעֲשָׂרָ֑ה'a.sa.RahH6235are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”And He saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “I will not destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843iton accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the tenהָעֲשָׂרָֽה׃ha.'a.sa.RahH6235.”

33As soonH3512as He had finishedכִּלָּ֔הki.LahH3615speakingלְדַבֵּ֖רle.da.BerH1696to Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068departedוַיֵּ֣לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980,and Abrahamוְאַבְרָהָ֖םve.'av.ra.HamH85returnedשָׁ֥בshavH7725to his placeלִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃lim.ko.MoH4725.

Birth of Isaac Promised

Commentaries on Genesis 18