Genesis 18:1-21 ▼

1 Then Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.

2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing nearby; he saw, and he ran from the tent door to meet them, and he bowed himself to the earth,

3 and he said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.

4 Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;

5 and let me bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh your hearts; after that you may pass on, since in such a manner you have passed by your servant.” And they said, “So you shall do, as you have said.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Hurry, prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and make bread cakes.”

7 Abraham also ran to the herd and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to his young man, and he hurried to prepare it.

8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree, and they ate.

9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”

10 And He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door which was behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

12 And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

13 And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a son, when I am so old?’

14 Is anything too difficult for Yahweh? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

15 Then Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16 Then the men rose up from there and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.

17 Now Yahweh said, “Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am about to do,

18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?

19 For I have known him, so that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of Yahweh to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”

20 So Yahweh said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

21 I will go down now and see whether they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”