Genesis 18

Isaac's Birth Promised

1 Then the LORD appeared to him by 1 the a terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 b So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; c and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 "Please let d a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 "And e I will bring a morsel of bread, that f you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, g inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said." 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes." 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8 So h he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said, "Here, i in the tent." 10 And He said, "I will certainly return to you j according to the time of life, and behold, k Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11 Now l Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and 2 Sarah m had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah n laughed within herself, saying, o "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my p lord being old also?" 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' 14 q "Is anything too hard for the LORD? r At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh!"

16 Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them s to send them on the way. 17 And the LORD said, t "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 "since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be u blessed in him? 19 "For I have known him, in order v that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." 20 And the LORD said, "Because w the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their x sin is very grave, 21 y "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, z I will know."

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

22 Then the men turned away from there a and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 And Abraham b came near and said, c "Would You also d destroy the e righteous with the wicked? 24 "Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so f that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! g Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26 So the LORD said, h "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes."

27 Then Abraham answered and said, "Indeed now, I who am i but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: 28 "Suppose 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." 29 And 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." 30 Then 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." 31 And he said, "Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?" So He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty." 32 Then he said, j "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" k And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." 33 So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 13:18
    Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.
    Genesis 14:13
    Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 18:16
    Then the men rose from there and looked toward ...
    Genesis 18:22
    Then the men turned away from there and went to...
    Genesis 32:24
    Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled w...
    Joshua 5:13
    And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho...
    Judges 13:6 - 11
    So the woman came and told her husband, saying,...
    Hebrews 13:2
    Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so...
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 19:1
    Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
    1 Peter 4:9
    Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 19:2
    And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square.
    Genesis 24:32
    Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
    Genesis 43:24
    So the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
  5. Cross References
    Judges 6:18
    "Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You." And He said, "I will wait until you come back."
    Judges 6:19
    So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them.
    Judges 13:15
    Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, "Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.
    Judges 13:16
    And the Angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD." (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the LORD.)
  6. Cross References
    Judges 19:5
    Then it came to pass on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning, and he stood to depart; but the young woman's father said to his son-in-law, "Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.
    Psalms 104:15
    And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man's heart.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 19:8
    "See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof."
    Genesis 33:10
    And Jacob said, "No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 19:3
    But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 24:67
    Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
  10. Cross References
    2 Kings 4:16
    Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 17:19
    Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
    Genesis 17:21
    "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."
    Genesis 21:2
    For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
    Romans 9:9
    For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 17:17
    Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and ...
    Luke 1:18
    And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I k...
    Romans 4:19
    And not being weak in faith, he did not conside...
    Hebrews 11:11
    By faith Sarah herself also received strength t...
    Hebrews 11:12
    Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead...
    Hebrews 11:19
    Concluding that God was able to raise him up, e...
  13. Cross References
    Genesis 31:35
    And she said to her father, "Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me." And he searched but did not find the household idols.
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 17:17
    Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
  15. Cross References
    Luke 1:18
    And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.
  16. Cross References
    1 Peter 3:6
    As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
  17. Cross References
    Numbers 11:23
    And the LORD said to Moses, "Has the LORD's arm...
    Jeremiah 32:17
    Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens...
    Zechariah 8:6
    Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If it is marvelou...
    Matthew 3:9
    And do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have...
    Matthew 19:26
    But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "Wit...
    Luke 1:37
    "For with God nothing will be impossible."
    Romans 4:21
    And being fully convinced that what He had prom...
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 17:21
    "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."
    Genesis 18:10
    And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)
    2 Kings 4:16
    Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!
  19. Cross References
    Acts 15:3
    So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
    Romans 15:24
    Whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 18:22
    Then the men turned away from there and went to...
    Genesis 18:26
    So the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty rig...
    Genesis 18:33
    So the LORD went His way as soon as He had fini...
    Psalms 25:14
    The secret of the LORD is with those who fear H...
    Amos 3:7
    Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He rev...
    John 15:15
    No longer do I call you servants, for a servant...
  21. Cross References
    Genesis 12:3
    I will bless those who bless you, And I will cu...
    Genesis 22:18
    "In your seed all the nations of the earth shal...
    Matthew 1:1
    The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the ...
    Luke 3:34
    The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of ...
    Acts 3:25
    "You are sons of the prophets, and of the coven...
    Acts 3:26
    "To you first, God, having raised up His Servan...
    Galatians 3:8
    And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would ju...
  22. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:9
    Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.
    Deuteronomy 4:10
    " especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'
    Deuteronomy 6:6
    And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
    Deuteronomy 6:7
    You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 4:10
    And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.
    Genesis 19:13
    "For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it."
    Ezekiel 16:49
    Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
    Ezekiel 16:50
    And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 13:13
    But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 11:5
    But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
    Exodus 3:8
    So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.
    Psalms 14:2
    The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
  26. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 8:2
    And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
    Deuteronomy 13:3
    You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
    Joshua 22:22
    The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself know - if it is in rebellion, or if in treachery against the LORD, do not save us this day.
    Luke 16:15
    And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
    2 Corinthians 11:11
    Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
  27. Cross References
    Genesis 18:16
    Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way.
    Genesis 19:1
    Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
  28. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:22
    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
  29. Cross References
    Exodus 23:7
    Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.
    Numbers 16:22
    Then they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?
    2 Samuel 24:17
    Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father's house.
    Psalms 11:4 - 7
    The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
  30. Cross References
    Job 9:22
    It is all one thing; Therefore I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the wicked.
  31. Cross References
    Genesis 20:4
    But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also?
  32. Cross References
    Job 8:20
    Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
    Isaiah 3:10
    Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
    Isaiah 3:11
    Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him.
  33. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:16
    Then I commanded your judges at that time, sayi...
    Deuteronomy 1:17
    'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you...
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all Hi...
    Job 8:3
    Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty...
    Job 8:20
    Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, N...
    Job 34:17
    Should one who hates justice govern? Will you c...
    Psalms 58:11
    So that men will say, "Surely there is a reward...
    Psalms 94:2
    Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishmen...
    Isaiah 3:10
    Say to the righteous that it shall be well with...
    Isaiah 3:11
    Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, Fo...
    Romans 3:5
    But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the rig...
    Romans 3:6
    Certainly not! For then how will God judge the ...
  34. Cross References
    Jeremiah 5:1
    Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places If you can find a man, If there is anyone who executes judgment, Who seeks the truth, And I will pardon her.
    Ezekiel 22:30
    So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 3:19
    In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread T...
    Job 4:19
    How much more those who dwell in houses of clay...
    Job 30:19
    He has cast me into the mire, And I have become...
    Job 42:6
    Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust an...
    1 Corinthians 15:47
    The first man was of the earth, made of dust; t...
    1 Corinthians 15:48
    As was the man of dust, so also are those who a...
  36. Cross References
    Judges 6:39
    Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.
  37. Cross References
    James 5:16
    Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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