New International Version
Genesis 18:2
2Abraham 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.
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,
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.
Context of Genesis 18:2
1The 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. 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. 3He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this 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 angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.
- Hebrews 13:2Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
- Genesis 18:22The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.
- Genesis 19:1The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
- 1 Peter 4:9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
- Romans 12:13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Genesis 23:7Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.
- Genesis 33:3He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
- Genesis 43:26When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground.
- Genesis 44:14Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.
- Ruth 2:10At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”
- 2 Kings 2:15The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed 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
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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