The big picture
Abraham, formerly called Abram, is camped near Mamre, a place in Canaan, the land where his household lives. Sarah, his wife, has been promised a son within the next year. The LORD appears, and three men come near Abraham’s tent during the heat of the day. Abraham receives them with a large meal. The chapter then turns toward Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities known here for grave sin. Abraham learns that judgment is coming and asks whether righteous people will die with the wicked.
In this chapter
- Abraham Welcomes Three Visitors Genesis 18:1-8
Abraham sits at his tent entrance in the heat of the day when three men appear.
- Sarah Laughs at the Promise Genesis 18:9-15
The visitors ask Abraham where Sarah is, and he says she is in the tent.
- Abraham Pleads for the Righteous Genesis 18:16-33
The men leave Abraham’s camp and look toward Sodom.
Central truth
The LORD confirms Sarah’s promised son, then reveals coming judgment on Sodom while Abraham pleads for the righteous.
Scripture beside the summary
Genesis · King James Version · 33Genesis 18:1-8
Abraham Welcomes Three Visitors
Abraham sits at his tent entrance in the heat of the day when three men appear. He runs to meet them, bows and asks them to stay. He offers water for their feet, shade and a small amount of food. Then he prepares much more than he first offered. Sarah makes cakes. A servant prepares a tender calf. Abraham adds butter and milk. He stands nearby while the visitors eat. Genesis first says the LORD appeared to Abraham, then describes the three men. Christian traditions differ on how they understand the visitors and their relation to the LORD’s appearance.
In everyday life
A farmer spots three stranded travelers walking toward his house in the summer heat. He brings them water, seats them in the shade and says he will find a little food. Soon the table holds a full meal, and he stays nearby until they finish. Modern hospitality can be this generous, but these visitors are part of a divine appearance.
Notice
Genesis 18:5 Abraham offers a morsel of bread, but the meal grows into cakes, calf, butter and milk. His small offer becomes a much larger act of hospitality.
Genesis 18:1-8
King James Version1And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2And 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,
3And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
Genesis 18:9-15
Sarah Laughs at the Promise
The visitors ask Abraham where Sarah is, and he says she is in the tent. One says he will return at the appointed time and Sarah will have a son. Sarah hears from behind the tent door. Genesis stresses that Abraham and Sarah are old and that Sarah is past normal childbearing. She laughs inwardly at the idea. The LORD asks Abraham why Sarah laughed and asks whether anything is too hard for him. He repeats that Sarah will have a son at the appointed time. Sarah becomes afraid and denies laughing. The LORD answers her directly and says that she did laugh.
In everyday life
An older patient hears a doctor describe a result that seems impossible after years of failed treatment. She laughs under her breath before she can stop herself. Then she denies it when the doctor notices. Her reaction fits ordinary human limits. The comparison stops because a doctor cannot promise what Genesis says the LORD will do.
Notice
Genesis 18:12 Sarah laughs within herself, not out loud to the visitors. The LORD still answers that private reaction, showing that her hidden disbelief is known.
Genesis 18:9-15
King James Version9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Genesis 18:16-33
Abraham Pleads for the Righteous
The men leave Abraham’s camp and look toward Sodom. Abraham walks with them for part of the way. The LORD says he will tell Abraham what is coming because Abraham’s household is to learn justice and right judgment. The cry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is very serious. Two men turn toward Sodom, while Abraham remains before the LORD. Abraham asks whether the righteous will die with the wicked. He starts with fifty righteous people. Then he asks about forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty and ten. Each time, the LORD says he will spare the city if that number is found. The exchange ends, and Abraham returns home.
In everyday life
A tenant representative meets a safety officer who plans to clear an apartment building after severe violations. The representative keeps asking whether the whole building must be emptied if enough safe units and innocent families remain. The officer agrees to review each lower number. Abraham’s appeal is far greater because he is asking God about justice in a city facing divine judgment.
Notice
Genesis 18:25 Abraham’s appeal rests on God as Judge of all the earth. He does not deny Sodom’s guilt; he asks whether righteous and wicked people will share one fate.
Genesis 18:16-33
King James Version16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.
30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.
32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.
33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Genesis 18:1 begins with “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;”
Where the chapter turns
Genesis 18:18 forms a natural hinge: “Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?”
The final note
Genesis 18:33 leaves the reader with “And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Abraham, Sarah, righteous, destroy, Peradventure help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- time of life
- The appointed time for the promised birth, described here as the next year.
- fetcht
- An older spelling of fetched, meaning brought or went to get.
- hasted
- Hurried, moving or acting without delay.
- peradventure
- Perhaps or possibly, introducing something that may happen.
- communing
- Speaking together in a sustained conversation.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
