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

1The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest time of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3He said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. 4Let a little water be brought so that you may all wash your feet and rest 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 13:3The Lord’s angelic messenger appeared to the woman and said to her, “You are infertile and childless, but you will conceive and have a son.
• Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.
• Genesis 18:22The two men turned and headed toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the Lord.
• Genesis 19:1The two angels came to Sodom in the evening while Lot was sitting in the city’s gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face toward the ground.
• 1 Peter 4:9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
• Romans 12:13Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.
• Genesis 23:7Abraham got up and bowed down to the local people, the sons of Heth.
• Genesis 33:3But Jacob himself went on ahead of them, and he bowed toward the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
• Genesis 43:26When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside, and they bowed down to the ground before him.
• Genesis 44:14So Judah and his brothers came back to Joseph’s house. He was still there, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.
• Ruth 2:10Ruth knelt before him with her forehead to the ground and said to him, “Why are you so kind and so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner?”
• 2 Kings 2:15When the members of the prophetic guild in Jericho, who were standing at a distance, saw him do this, they said, “The spirit that energized Elijah rests upon Elisha.” They went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.

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