Genesis 18:1-10

Good News Translation

A Son Is Promised to Abraham

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the sacred trees of Mamre. As Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day, ^2 (A)he looked up and saw three men standing there. As soon as he saw them, he ran out to meet them. Bowing down with his face touching the ground, ³ he said, “Sirs, please do not pass by my home without stopping; I am here to serve you. ⁴ Let me bring some water for you to wash your feet; you can rest here beneath this tree. ⁵ I will also bring a bit of food; it will give you strength to continue your journey. You have honored me by coming to my home, so let me serve you.”

They replied, “Thank you; we accept.”

⁶ Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, take a sack of your best flour, and bake some bread.” ⁷ Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to get it ready. ⁸ He took some cream, some milk, and the meat, and set the food before the men. There under the tree he served them himself, and they ate.

⁹ Then they asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?”

“She is there in the tent,” he answered.

^10 (B)One of them said, “Nine months from now^[a] I will come back, and your wife Sarah will have a son.”

Sarah was behind him, at the door of the tent, listening.