New King James Version
Genesis 18:2
2So 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,
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 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
1Then 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. 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, 3and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves 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 13:3And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.
- Hebrews 13:2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
- Genesis 18:22Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
- Genesis 19:1Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
- 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
- Romans 12:13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
- Genesis 23:7Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.
- Genesis 33:3Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
- Genesis 43:26And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.
- Genesis 44:14So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.
- Ruth 2:10So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
- 2 Kings 2:15Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries