Genesis 18

Hebrew33 verses

How to read this: this is a word-for-word rendering straight from the original Hebrew, not a copyrighted translation — the top of each chip is the original word, the bottom is its plain-English sense. Faded chips mark words the Hebrew implies but wouldn't literally be spoken in English. Click any word for its full Strong's dictionary entry.

← Genesis 17Genesis 18Genesis 19 →

וַיֵּרָ֤אand he appeared אֵלָיו֙to him יְהוָ֔הYahweh בְּאֵלֹנֵ֖יat the great trees of מַמְרֵ֑אMamre וְה֛וּאand he יֹשֵׁ֥בwas sitting פֶּֽתַח־the opening of הָאֹ֖הֶלthe tent כְּחֹ֥םwhen the heat of הַיּֽוֹם׃the day

וַיִּשָּׂ֤אand he lifted up עֵינָיו֙eyes his וַיַּ֔רְאand he saw וְהִנֵּה֙and there!שְׁלֹשָׁ֣הthree אֲנָשִׁ֔יםmen נִצָּבִ֖יםwere standing עָלָ֑יוwith him וַיַּ֗רְאand he saw וַיָּ֤רָץand he ran לִקְרָאתָם֙to meet them מִפֶּ֣תַחfrom the opening of הָאֹ֔הֶלthe tent וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּand he bowed down אָֽרְצָה׃the ground towards

וַיֹּאמַ֑רand he said אֲדֹנָ֗יLord my אִם־if נָ֨אplease מָצָ֤אתִיI have found חֵן֙favor בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָin view your אַל־may not נָ֥אplease תַעֲבֹ֖רyou pass by מֵעַ֥לfrom with עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃servant your

יֻקַּֽח־let it be brought נָ֣אplease מְעַט־a little of מַ֔יִםwater וְרַחֲצ֖וּand wash רַגְלֵיכֶ֑םfeet your וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּand support yourself תַּ֥חַתunder הָעֵֽץ׃the tree

וְאֶקְחָ֨הso let me bring פַת־a piece of לֶ֜חֶםbread וְסַעֲד֤וּand sustain you לִבְּכֶם֙heart your אַחַ֣רafter תַּעֲבֹ֔רוּyou will pass on כִּֽי־for עַל־since כֵּ֥ןthus עֲבַרְתֶּ֖םyou have passed by עַֽל־at עַבְדְּכֶ֑םservant your וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּand they said כֵּ֥ןthus תַּעֲשֶׂ֖הyou will do כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רjust as דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃you have said

וַיְמַהֵ֧רand he hurried אַבְרָהָ֛םAbraham הָאֹ֖הֱלָהthe tent towards אֶל־to שָׂרָ֑הSarah וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he said מַהֲרִ֞יbring quickly שְׁלֹ֤שׁthree סְאִים֙seahs קֶ֣מַחflour סֹ֔לֶתfine flour ל֖וּשִׁיknead it וַעֲשִׂ֥יand make עֻגֽוֹת׃bread cakes

וְאֶל־and to הַבָּקָ֖רthe herd רָ֣ץhe ran אַבְרָהָ֑םAbraham וַיִּקַּ֨חand he took בֶּן־a young one of בָּקָ֜רthe herd רַ֤ךְtender וָטוֹב֙and good וַיִּתֵּ֣ןand he gave it אֶל־to הַנַּ֔עַרthe servant וַיְמַהֵ֖רand he hurried לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתto prepare אֹתֽוֹ׃obj. it

וַיִּקַּ֨חand he brought חֶמְאָ֜הcurds וְחָלָ֗בand milk וּבֶן־and the young one of הַבָּקָר֙the herd אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich עָשָׂ֔הhe had prepared וַיִּתֵּ֖ןand he set it לִפְנֵיהֶ֑םto before them וְהֽוּא־and he עֹמֵ֧דwas standing עֲלֵיהֶ֛םwith them תַּ֥חַתunder הָעֵ֖ץthe tree וַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃and they ate

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּand they said אֵׄלָׄ֔יׄוׄto him אַיֵּ֖הwhere?שָׂרָ֣הis Sarah אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָwife your וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he said הִנֵּ֥הthere!בָאֹֽהֶל׃in the tent

וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he said שׁ֣וֹבcertainly to return אָשׁ֤וּבI will return אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙to you כָּעֵ֣תabout the time חַיָּ֔הliving וְהִנֵּה־and there!בֵ֖ןa son לְשָׂרָ֣הwill belong to Sarah אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָwife your וְשָׂרָ֥הand Sarah שֹׁמַ֛עַתwas listening פֶּ֥תַחthe opening of הָאֹ֖הֶלthe tent וְה֥וּאand it אַחֲרָֽיו׃was behind him

וְאַבְרָהָ֤םand Abraham וְשָׂרָה֙and Sarah זְקֵנִ֔יםwere old בָּאִ֖יםhaving come בַּיָּמִ֑יםin the days חָדַל֙it had ceased לִהְי֣וֹתto be לְשָׂרָ֔הto Sarah אֹ֖רַחa way כַּנָּשִֽׁים׃like the women

וַתִּצְחַ֥קand she laughed שָׂרָ֖הSarah בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּin inner being her לֵאמֹ֑רto saying אַחֲרֵ֤יafter בְלֹתִי֙am worn out I הָֽיְתָה־has it belonged?לִּ֣יto the meעֶדְנָ֔הpleasure וַֽאדֹנִ֖יand lord my זָקֵֽן׃he is old

וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he said יְהוָ֖הYahweh אֶל־to אַבְרָהָ֑םAbraham לָ֣מָּהto why?זֶּה֩this צָחֲקָ֨הdid she laugh שָׂרָ֜הSarah לֵאמֹ֗רto saying הַאַ֥ף¿ also אֻמְנָ֛םreally אֵלֵ֖דwill I bear a child וַאֲנִ֥יand I זָקַֽנְתִּי׃I am old

הֲיִפָּלֵ֥א¿ is it too difficult מֵיְהוָ֖הfor Yahweh דָּבָ֑רanything לַמּוֹעֵ֞דto the appointed time אָשׁ֥וּבI will return אֵלֶ֛יךָto you כָּעֵ֥תabout the time חַיָּ֖הliving וּלְשָׂרָ֥הand will belong to Sarah בֵֽן׃a son

וַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁand she denied שָׂרָ֧ה׀Sarah לֵאמֹ֛רto saying לֹ֥אnot צָחַ֖קְתִּיI laughed כִּ֣י׀for יָרֵ֑אָהshe was afraid וַיֹּ֥אמֶר׀and he said לֹ֖אIn-כִּ֥יdeed צָחָֽקְתְּ׃you laughed

וַיָּקֻ֤מוּand they arose מִשָּׁם֙from there הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםthe men וַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּand they looked down עַל־on פְּנֵ֣יthe face of סְדֹ֑םSodom וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םand Abraham הֹלֵ֥ךְwas walking עִמָּ֖םwith them לְשַׁלְּחָֽם׃to send off them

וַֽיהֹוָ֖הand Yahweh אָמָ֑רhe said הַֽמְכַסֶּ֤ה¿ be concealing אֲנִי֙will I מֵֽאַבְרָהָ֔םfrom Abraham אֲשֶׁ֖רthat which אֲנִ֥יI עֹשֶֽׂה׃am about to do

וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םand Abraham הָי֧וֹcertainly to become יִֽהְיֶ֛הhe will become לְג֥וֹיinto a nation גָּד֖וֹלgreat וְעָצ֑וּםand mighty וְנִ֨בְרְכוּand they will be blessedב֔וֹby the himכֹּ֖לall גּוֹיֵ֥יthe nations of הָאָֽרֶץ׃the earth

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said יְהוָ֔הYahweh זַעֲקַ֛תthe outcry of סְדֹ֥םSodom וַעֲמֹרָ֖הand Gomorrah כִּי־for רָ֑בָּהit is great וְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔םand sin their כִּ֥יthat כָבְדָ֖הit is heavy מְאֹֽד׃exceedingly

אֵֽרֲדָה־I will go down נָּ֣אplease וְאֶרְאֶ֔הso I may see הַכְּצַעֲקָתָ֛הּ¿ according to outcry its הַבָּ֥אָהthat it has come אֵלַ֖יto me עָשׂ֣וּ׀have they done כָּלָ֑הcompletion וְאִם־and if לֹ֖אnot אֵדָֽעָה׃I will know

וַיִּפְנ֤וּand they turned away מִשָּׁם֙from there הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםthe men וַיֵּלְכ֖וּand they went סְדֹ֑מָהSodom towards וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םand Abraham עוֹדֶ֥נּוּstill was he עֹמֵ֖דstanding לִפְנֵ֥יto before יְהוָֽה׃Yahweh

וַיִּגַּ֥שׁand he drew near אַבְרָהָ֖םAbraham וַיֹּאמַ֑רand he said הַאַ֣ף¿ also תִּסְפֶּ֔הwill you sweep away צַדִּ֖יקthe righteous עִם־with רָשָֽׁע׃the wicked

אוּלַ֥יperhaps יֵ֛שׁthere חֲמִשִּׁ֥יםare fifty צַדִּיקִ֖םrighteous people בְּת֣וֹךְin the midst of הָעִ֑ירthe city הַאַ֤ף¿ also תִּסְפֶּה֙will you sweep it away וְלֹא־and not תִשָּׂ֣אwill you forgive?לַמָּק֔וֹםto the place לְמַ֛עַןfor the sake of חֲמִשִּׁ֥יםfifty הַצַּדִּיקִ֖םthe righteous people אֲשֶׁ֥רwho בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃are in midst its

חָלִ֨לָהfar be itלְּךָ֜to the youמֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת׀from doing כַּדָּבָ֣רaccording to the manner הַזֶּ֗הthe this לְהָמִ֤יתto put to death צַדִּיק֙the righteous עִם־with רָשָׁ֔עthe wicked וְהָיָ֥הand it will be כַצַּדִּ֖יקas the righteous person כָּרָשָׁ֑עas the wicked person חָלִ֣לָהfar be itלָּ֔ךְto the youהֲשֹׁפֵט֙¿ the judge of כָּל־all הָאָ֔רֶץthe earth לֹ֥אnot יַעֲשֶׂ֖הwill he do מִשְׁפָּֽט׃justice

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said יְהוָ֔הYahweh אִם־if אֶמְצָ֥אI will find בִסְדֹ֛םin Sodom חֲמִשִּׁ֥יםfifty צַדִּיקִ֖םrighteous people בְּת֣וֹךְin the midst of הָעִ֑ירthe city וְנָשָׂ֥אתִיand I will forgive לְכָל־to all הַמָּק֖וֹםthe place בַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃for sake of them

וַיַּ֥עַןand he answered אַבְרָהָ֖םAbraham וַיֹּאמַ֑רand he said הִנֵּה־here!נָ֤אplease הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙I have undertaken לְדַבֵּ֣רto speak אֶל־to אֲדֹנָ֔יthe Lord וְאָנֹכִ֖יand I עָפָ֥רam dust וָאֵֽפֶר׃and ashes

א֠וּלַיperhaps יַחְסְר֞וּןthey will lack !חֲמִשִּׁ֤יםfifty הַצַּדִּיקִם֙the righteous people חֲמִשָּׁ֔הfive הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית¿ will you destroy בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖הfor five אֶת־obj.כָּל־all הָעִ֑ירthe city וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said לֹ֣אnot אַשְׁחִ֔יתI will destroy it אִם־if אֶמְצָ֣אI will find שָׁ֔םthere אַרְבָּעִ֖יםforty וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃and five

וַיֹּ֨סֶףand he repeated ע֜וֹדagain לְדַבֵּ֤רto speak אֵלָיו֙to him וַיֹּאמַ֔רand he said אוּלַ֛יperhaps יִמָּצְא֥וּןthey will be found !שָׁ֖םthere אַרְבָּעִ֑יםforty וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said לֹ֣אnot אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔הI will do it בַּעֲב֖וּרfor sake of הָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃the forty

וַ֠יֹּאמֶרand he said אַל־may not נָ֞אplease יִ֤חַרit burn לַֽאדֹנָי֙to the Lord וַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָהand let me speak אוּלַ֛יperhaps יִמָּצְא֥וּןthey will be found !שָׁ֖םthere שְׁלֹשִׁ֑יםthirty וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said לֹ֣אnot אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔הI will do it אִם־if אֶמְצָ֥אI will find שָׁ֖םthere שְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃thirty

וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he said הִנֵּֽה־here!נָ֤אplease הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙I have undertaken לְדַבֵּ֣רto speak אֶל־to אֲדֹנָ֔יthe Lord אוּלַ֛יperhaps יִמָּצְא֥וּןthey will be found !שָׁ֖םthere עֶשְׂרִ֑יםtwenty וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said לֹ֣אnot אַשְׁחִ֔יתI will destroy it בַּעֲב֖וּרfor sake of הָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃the twenty

וַ֠יֹּאמֶרand he said אַל־may not נָ֞אplease יִ֤חַרit burn לַֽאדֹנָי֙to the Lord וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣הand let me speak אַךְ־only הַפַּ֔עַםthis time אוּלַ֛יperhaps יִמָּצְא֥וּןthey will be found !שָׁ֖םthere עֲשָׂרָ֑הten וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said לֹ֣אnot אַשְׁחִ֔יתI will destroy it בַּעֲב֖וּרfor sake of הָעֲשָׂרָֽה׃the ten

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְand he went יְהוָ֔הYahweh כַּאֲשֶׁ֣רjust as כִּלָּ֔הhe had finished לְדַבֵּ֖רto speak אֶל־to אַבְרָהָ֑םAbraham וְאַבְרָהָ֖םand Abraham שָׁ֥בhe returned לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃to place his

Frequently asked questions

Is this a Bible translation?

No — it's a word-for-word rendering of the original Hebrew text, tagged with Strong's numbers, so you can see exactly which original word underlies each part of the verse. For a devotional reading, see our Bible verses by topic section, which uses the King James Version.

What do the faded (italic) words mean?

They're words the Hebrew implies grammatically but that wouldn't be spoken as a separate word in natural English — shown here so nothing from the original text is hidden.

How do I look up what a word means?

Click any word — it links straight to that word's entry in our Strong's Concordance, with the full definition and how it's used elsewhere in the Bible.

← Genesis 17 All chapters Genesis 19 →

Need a different tool?

Explore the whole Calcs family here.

Think we tagged a word wrong?

Let us know.