New King James Version
Genesis 18:27
27Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord:
Genesis 18:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
- New International Version (NIV)Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.
Context of Genesis 18:27
25Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: 28Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” 29And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”
Read all of Genesis 18Genesis 18:27 word by word
וַיַּ֥עַן אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הִנֵּה־נָ֤א הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔י וְאָנֹכִ֖י עָפָ֥ר וָאֵֽפֶר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
- answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Behold now, I have taken upon meיָאַלyâ'al · be willingH2974
- to speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- unto the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- whichאָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
- dustעָפָר‛âphâr · dustH6083
- and ashesאֵ֫פֶר'êpher · ashesH665
Cross-references for Genesis 18:27
- Genesis 18:30Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
- Ezra 9:6And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.
- Job 42:6Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”
- Isaiah 6:5So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
- Luke 18:1Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
- Genesis 2:7And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
- Genesis 3:19In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”
- Job 4:19How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before a moth?
- Psalms 8:4What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
- Psalms 144:3Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
- Ecclesiastes 12:7Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
- Isaiah 64:8But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.
- Luke 5:8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
- 1 Corinthians 15:47The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Commentaries on Genesis 18:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Which am but dust and ashes - ואפר עפר aphar vaepher, words very similar in sound, as they refer to matters which so much resemble each other. Dust - the lightest particles of earth. Ashes - the residuum of consumed substances. By these expressions he shows how deeply his soul was humbled in the presence of God. He who has high thoughts of himself must have low thoughts of the dignity of the Divine nature, of the majesty of God, and the sinfulness of sin.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
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-33Verses 23-33 Here is the first solemn prayer upon record in the Bible; and it is a prayer for the sparing of Sodom. Abraham prayed earnestly that Sodom might be spared, if but a few righteous persons should be found in it. Come and learn from Abraham what compassion we should feel for sinners, and how earnestly we should pray for them. We see here that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Abraham, indeed, failed in his request for…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-33Abraham probably thought there were more righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah than there were (see study note on 19:14). Concerned for them, he made a legal appeal to the Lord based on God's justice. His prayer might seem bold, as if he were negotiating with God. But he approached God with true humility and respect. He did not try to convince God to act against his will. Instead, he prayed for the well-being of others (compare with Lot’s prayer…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-3323. Abraham drew near, and said, &c.--The scene described is full of interest and instruction--showing in an unmistakable manner the efficacy of prayer and intercession. (See also Pr 15:8; Jas 5:16). Abraham reasoned justly as to the rectitude of the divine procedure (Ro 3:5, 6), and many guilty cities and nations have been spared on account of God's people (Mt 5:13; 24:22).Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 18:27
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