Genesis 18: Three visitors, and Abraham pleads for Sodom
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What happens?
Yahweh appears to Abraham as three men come to his tent. Abraham serves them a meal, and the visitor promises that Sarah will have a son by this time next year, and Sarah laughs. As the men set off toward Sodom, Yahweh tells Abraham what he is about to do, and Abraham asks him to spare the city for fifty righteous people, then for fewer, down to ten.
Who is speaking?
Abraham, Sarah, the three visitors and Yahweh speak. Yahweh's own words are gold in 15 of the 33 verses. In verse 10 the text says only "he said", but he promises Sarah a son, and Yahweh says almost the same words in verse 14, so verse 10 is gold. In verse 15 and in verses 28 to 32, Sarah or Abraham speaks first and Yahweh answers in the same verse, so only Yahweh's answer is gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
In plain English: Yahweh appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.
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2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
In plain English: He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground,
Good to know: says Yahweh appeared to Abraham, and this verse says he saw three men. In the men go on toward Sodom while Abraham stays standing before Yahweh, and calls two of them angels.
Church tradition: Some churches read the three visitors as a picture of the Trinity. Others read them as Yahweh with two angels. The text does not explain how Yahweh appeared.
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3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
In plain English: and said, "My lord (or: Lord), if I have found favor with you, please do not pass by your servant.
The Hebrew word: "My lord" is adonai. The Hebrew vowel marks here are the ones used when the word means God, "the Lord", as in . The same letters can also be a polite "my lord", or "sir".
What changes: Read as "Lord", Abraham speaks to God, who appeared to him in . Read as "my lord", he speaks politely to a guest, as this Bible has it.
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4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
In plain English: Let a little water be brought so you can wash your feet and rest under the tree.
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5I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”
In plain English: I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh yourselves, and after that you can go on your way, since you have come to your servant." They said, "All right, do as you have said."
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6Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
In plain English: Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick, take three measures (seahs) of fine flour, knead it, and make cakes."
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7Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.
In plain English: Abraham ran to the herd, picked a tender, good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to prepare it.
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8He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
In plain English: He took curds (or butter), milk, and the calf that had been prepared, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree while they ate.
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9They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.”
In plain English: They asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" He said, "There, in the tent."
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10He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.God speaks
In plain English: He said, "I will surely come back to you about this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the tent entrance, which was behind him.
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11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
In plain English: Abraham and Sarah were old, far along in years. Sarah was past the age of having children.
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12Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
In plain English: So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, will I have pleasure, when my husband (she says "my lord") is old too?"
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13Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'
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14Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”God speaks
In plain English: Is anything too hard (or: too wonderful) for Yahweh? At the set time I will come back to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son."
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15Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”God speaks
In plain English: Sarah denied it, saying, "I didn't laugh," because she was afraid. He (Yahweh) said, "No, you did laugh."
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16The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
In plain English: The men got up from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham walked with them to send them on their way.
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17Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said, "Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
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18since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?God speaks
In plain English: since Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him (or: will bless themselves by him)?
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19For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”God speaks
In plain English: For I have known (or: chosen) him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yahweh by doing what is right and just, so that Yahweh will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."
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20Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very serious,
The Hebrew word: "Cry" is za'aqah: a loud cry, an outcry. The text does not say who is crying out.
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21I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”God speaks
In plain English: I will go down now and see whether what they have done is as bad as the cry that has come to me. If not, I will know."
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22The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.
In plain English: The men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before Yahweh.
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23Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
In plain English: Abraham came near and said, "Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
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24What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
In plain English: What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away, and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
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25May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
In plain English: Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Shouldn't the Judge of all the earth do what is right?"
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26Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
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27Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.
In plain English: Abraham answered, "Look, I have dared to speak to the Lord, even though I am only dust and ashes.
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28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”God speaks
In plain English: What if the fifty righteous are five short? Will you destroy the whole city because five are missing?" He (Yahweh) said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."
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29He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”God speaks
In plain English: Abraham spoke to him again: "What if forty are found there?" He said, "I will not do it, for the sake of the forty."
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30He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”God speaks
In plain English: Abraham said, "Please do not let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if thirty are found there?" He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."
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31He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”God speaks
In plain English: Abraham said, "Look, I have dared to speak to the Lord. What if twenty are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it, for the sake of the twenty."
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32He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”God speaks
In plain English: Abraham said, "Please do not let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it, for the sake of the ten."
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33Yahweh went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
In plain English: When Yahweh had finished speaking with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham went back to his place.
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