New Living Translation
Genesis 18:2
2He 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.
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 again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. 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. 3“My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while. 4Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.
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 Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son.
- Hebrews 13:2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
- Genesis 18:22The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham.
- Genesis 19:1That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground.
- 1 Peter 4:9Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
- Romans 12:13When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
- Genesis 23:7Then Abraham bowed low before the Hittites
- Genesis 33:3Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him.
- Genesis 43:26When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low to the ground before him.
- Genesis 44:14Joseph was still in his palace when Judah and his brothers arrived, and they fell to the ground before him.
- Ruth 2:10Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.”
- 2 Kings 2:15When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon 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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