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Genesis 18
Common English Bible
Genesis 18
Common English Bible
Isaac’s birth announced
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he sat at the entrance of his tent in the day’s heat. 2 He looked up and suddenly saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from his tent entrance to greet them and bowed deeply. 3 He said, “Sirs, if you would be so kind, don’t just pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought so you may wash your feet and refresh yourselves under the tree. 5 Let me offer you a little bread so you will feel stronger, and after that you may leave your servant and go on your way—since you have visited your servant.”
They responded, “Fine. Do just as you have said.”
6 So Abraham hurried to Sarah at his tent and said, “Hurry! Knead three seahs[a] of the finest flour and make some baked goods!” 7 Abraham ran to the cattle, took a healthy young calf, and gave it to a young servant, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then Abraham took butter, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, put the food in front of them, and stood under the tree near them as they ate.
9 They said to him, “Where’s your wife Sarah?”
And he said, “Right here in the tent.”
10 Then one of the men said, “I will definitely return to you about this time next year. Then your wife Sarah will have a son!”
Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were both very old. Sarah was no longer menstruating. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, I’m no longer able to have children and my husband’s old.
13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Me give birth? At my age?’ 14 Is anything too difficult for the Lord? When I return to you about this time next year, Sarah will have a son.”
15 Sarah lied and said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was frightened.
But he said, “No, you laughed.”
Abraham pleads for Sodom
16 The men got up from there and went over to look down on Sodom. Abraham was walking along with them to send them off 17 when the Lord said, “Will I keep from Abraham what I’m about to do? 18 Abraham will certainly become a great populous nation, and all the earth’s nations will be blessed because of him. 19 I have formed a relationship with him so that he will instruct his children and his household after him. And they will keep to the Lord’s path, being moral and just so that the Lord can do for Abraham everything he said he would.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The cries of injustice from Sodom and Gomorrah are countless, and their sin is very serious! 21 I will go down now to examine the cries of injustice that have reached me. Have they really done all this? If not, I want to know.”
22 The men turned away and walked toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing in front of the Lord.[b] 23 Abraham approached and said, “Will you really sweep away the innocent[c] with the guilty?[d] 24 What if there are fifty innocent people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not save the place for the sake of the fifty innocent people in it? 25 It’s not like you to do this, killing the innocent with the guilty as if there were no difference. It’s not like you! Will the judge of all the earth not act justly?”
26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will save it because of them.”
27 Abraham responded, “Since I’ve already decided to speak with my Lord, even though I’m just soil and ash, 28 what if there are five fewer innocent people than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city over just five?”
The Lord said, “If I find forty-five there, I won’t destroy it.”
29 Once again Abraham spoke, “What if forty are there?”
The Lord said, “For the sake of forty, I will do nothing.”
30 He said, “Don’t be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak. What if thirty are there?”
The Lord said, “I won’t do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham said, “Since I’ve already decided to speak with my Lord, what if twenty are there?”
The Lord said, “I won’t do it, for the sake of twenty.”
32 Abraham said, “Don’t be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak just once more. What if there are ten?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it because of those ten.” 33 When the Lord finished speaking with Abraham, he left; but Abraham stayed there in that place.
Footnotes
- Genesis 18:6 One seah is seven and a half quarts.
- Genesis 18:22 Some ancient manuscripts read but the Lord remained standing in front of Abraham.
- Genesis 18:23 Or righteous
- Genesis 18:23 Or wicked
Genesis 18
English Standard Version
Genesis 18
English Standard Version
18 And the Lord appeared to him by the (A)oaks[a] of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. (B)When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord,[b] if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a (C)little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that (D)you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—(E)since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs[c] of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is (F)in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you (G)about this time next year, and (H)Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now (I)Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 (J)So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, (K)“After I am worn out, and (L)my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 (M)Is anything too hard[d] for the Lord? (N)At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it,[e] saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, (O)“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be (P)blessed in him? 19 For I have (Q)chosen[f] him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “Because (R)the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 (S)I will go down to see whether they have done altogether[g] according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, (T)I will know.”
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
22 (U)So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham (V)still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, (W)“Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, (X)so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! (Y)Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, (Z)“If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered and said, (AA)“Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, (AB)“Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Footnotes
- Genesis 18:1 Or terebinths
- Genesis 18:3 Or My lord
- Genesis 18:6 A seah was about 7.7 quarts or 7.3 liters
- Genesis 18:14 Or wonderful
- Genesis 18:15 Or acted falsely
- Genesis 18:19 Hebrew known
- Genesis 18:21 Or they deserve destruction; Hebrew they have made a complete end
Génesis 18
La Biblia de las Américas
Génesis 18
La Biblia de las Américas
Promesa del nacimiento de Isaac
18 Y el Señor se le apareció(A) en el encinar[a] de Mamre(B), mientras él estaba sentado a la puerta de la tienda en el calor del día. 2 Cuando alzó los ojos y miró, he aquí, tres hombres(C) estaban parados frente a él; y al verlos corrió de la puerta de la tienda a recibirlos, y se postró en tierra, 3 y dijo: Señor mío[b], si ahora he hallado gracia ante tus ojos, te ruego que no pases de largo junto a tu siervo. 4 Que se traiga[c] ahora un poco de agua y lavaos los pies(D), y reposad[d] bajo el árbol; 5 y yo traeré[e] un pedazo de pan para que os alimentéis[f](E), y después sigáis adelante, puesto que habéis visitado[g] a vuestro siervo. Y ellos dijeron: Haz así como has dicho. 6 Entonces Abraham fue de prisa a la tienda donde estaba Sara, y dijo: Apresúrate a preparar tres[h] medidas[i] de flor de harina, amásala y haz tortas de pan. 7 Corrió también Abraham a la vacada y tomó un becerro tierno y bueno, y se lo dio al criado, que se apresuró a prepararlo. 8 Tomó también cuajada y leche y el becerro que había preparado, y lo puso delante de ellos; y él se quedó de pie junto a ellos bajo el árbol mientras[j] comían.
9 Entonces ellos le dijeron: ¿Dónde está Sara tu mujer? Y él respondió: Allí[k] en la tienda. 10 Y aquel dijo: Ciertamente volveré a ti por este tiempo el año próximo[l]; y he aquí, Sara tu mujer tendrá un hijo(F). Y Sara estaba escuchando a la puerta de la tienda que estaba detrás de él. 11 Abraham y Sara eran ancianos, entrados en años[m](G); y a Sara le había cesado ya la costumbre de las mujeres(H). 12 Y Sara se rió para sus adentros, diciendo: ¿Tendré placer después de haber envejecido(I), siendo también viejo mi señor(J)? 13 Y el Señor dijo a Abraham: ¿Por qué se rió Sara, diciendo: «¿Concebiré en verdad[n] siendo yo tan vieja?». 14 ¿Hay algo demasiado difícil[o] para el Señor(K)? Volveré a ti al tiempo señalado, por este tiempo el año próximo[p], y Sara tendrá un hijo(L). 15 Pero Sara lo negó, porque tuvo miedo, diciendo: No me reí. Y Él dijo: No es así, sino que te has reído.
Abraham intercede por Sodoma y Gomorra
16 Entonces los hombres se levantaron de allí, y miraron hacia Sodoma(M); y Abraham iba con ellos para despedirlos. 17 Y el Señor dijo: ¿Ocultaré a Abraham(N) lo que voy a hacer(O), 18 puesto que ciertamente Abraham llegará a ser una nación grande y poderosa, y en él serán benditas todas las naciones de la tierra(P)? 19 Porque yo lo he escogido[q](Q) para que mande a sus hijos y a su casa después de él que guarden el camino del Señor(R), haciendo justicia y juicio, para que el Señor cumpla en[r] Abraham(S) todo lo que Él ha dicho acerca de él(T). 20 Y el Señor dijo: El clamor de Sodoma y Gomorra ciertamente es grande, y su pecado es sumamente grave(U). 21 Descenderé ahora(V) y veré si han hecho en todo conforme a su clamor, el cual ha llegado hasta mí; y si no, lo sabré.
22 Y se apartaron de allí los hombres y fueron hacia Sodoma(W), mientras Abraham estaba todavía de pie delante del Señor(X). 23 Y Abraham se acercó, y dijo: ¿En verdad destruirás al justo junto con el impío(Y)? 24 Tal vez haya cincuenta justos dentro de la ciudad; ¿en verdad la destruirás y no perdonarás el lugar por amor a los cincuenta justos que hay en ella? 25 Lejos de ti hacer tal cosa[s]: matar al justo con el impío, de modo que el justo y el impío sean tratados de la misma manera. ¡Lejos de ti! El Juez de toda la tierra, ¿no hará justicia[t](Z)? 26 Entonces el Señor dijo: Si hallo en Sodoma cincuenta justos dentro de la ciudad, perdonaré a todo el lugar por consideración a ellos(AA). 27 Y Abraham respondió, y dijo: He aquí, ahora me he atrevido[u] a hablar al Señor, yo que soy polvo y ceniza(AB). 28 Tal vez falten cinco para los cincuenta justos, ¿destruirás por los cinco a toda la ciudad? Y Él respondió: No la destruiré si hallo allí cuarenta y cinco. 29 Abraham le habló de nuevo, y dijo: Tal vez se hallen allí cuarenta. Y Él respondió: No lo haré, por consideración a los cuarenta. 30 Entonces Abraham dijo: No se enoje ahora el Señor, y hablaré; tal vez se hallen allí treinta. Y Él respondió: No lo haré si hallo allí treinta. 31 Y Abraham dijo: He aquí, ahora me he atrevido[v] a hablar al Señor; tal vez se hallen allí veinte. Y Él respondió: No la destruiré por consideración a los veinte. 32 Entonces dijo Abraham: No se enoje ahora el Señor, y hablaré solo esta vez(AC); tal vez se hallen allí diez. Y Él respondió: No la destruiré por consideración a los diez. 33 Y el Señor se fue tan pronto como acabó de hablar con Abraham(AD); y Abraham volvió a su lugar.
Footnotes
- Génesis 18:1 O, los terebintos
- Génesis 18:3 U, Oh Señor
- Génesis 18:4 Lit., Que se tome
- Génesis 18:4 Lit., apoyaos
- Génesis 18:5 Lit., tomaré
- Génesis 18:5 Lit., sustentéis vuestro corazón
- Génesis 18:5 Lit., venido
- Génesis 18:6 Lit., Apresura tres
- Génesis 18:6 Heb., seah; un seah equivale aprox. a 7.3 litros
- Génesis 18:8 Lit., y
- Génesis 18:9 Lit., He aquí
- Génesis 18:10 Lit., cuando el tiempo reviva
- Génesis 18:11 Lit., días
- Génesis 18:13 Lit., ¿Ciertamente en verdad concebiré
- Génesis 18:14 O, maravilloso
- Génesis 18:14 Lit., cuando el tiempo reviva
- Génesis 18:19 Lit., conocido
- Génesis 18:19 Lit., traiga sobre
- Génesis 18:25 Lit., de esta manera
- Génesis 18:25 O, juicio
- Génesis 18:27 Lit., he comenzado
- Génesis 18:31 Lit., he comenzado
Genesis 18
New International Version
Genesis 18
New International Version
The Three Visitors
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham(A) near the great trees of Mamre(B) while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent(C) in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up(D) and saw three men(E) standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.(F)
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes,(G) my lord,[a] do not pass your servant(H) by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet(I) and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat,(J) so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”(K)
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf(L) and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds(M) and milk(N) and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them.(O) While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?”(P) they asked him.
“There, in the tent,(Q)” he said.
10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,(R) and Sarah your wife will have a son.”(S)
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old,(T) and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.(U) 12 So Sarah laughed(V) to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord(W) is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’(X) 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?(Y) I will return to you at the appointed time next year,(Z) and Sarah will have a son.”(AA)
15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Abraham Pleads for Sodom
16 When the men(AB) got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham(AC) what I am about to do?(AD) 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation,(AE) and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.[c] 19 For I have chosen him(AF), so that he will direct his children(AG) and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord(AH) by doing what is right and just,(AI) so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”(AJ)
20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom(AK) and Gomorrah is so great(AL) and their sin so grievous(AM) 21 that I will go down(AN) and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
22 The men(AO) turned away and went toward Sodom,(AP) but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.[d](AQ) 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?(AR) 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[e] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?(AS) 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing(AT)—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous(AU) and the wicked alike.(AV) Far be it from you! Will not the Judge(AW) of all the earth do right?”(AX)
26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.(AY)”
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,(AZ) 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry,(BA) but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more.(BB) What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten,(BC) I will not destroy it.”
33 When the Lord had finished speaking(BD) with Abraham, he left,(BE) and Abraham returned home.(BF)
Footnotes
- Genesis 18:3 Or eyes, Lord
- Genesis 18:6 That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms
- Genesis 18:18 Or will use his name in blessings (see 48:20)
- Genesis 18:22 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition but the Lord remained standing before Abraham
- Genesis 18:24 Or forgive; also in verse 26
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.