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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
Genesis 18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abraham’s Three Visitors
18 Then the Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre(A) while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. 2 He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him.(B) When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed to the ground. 3 Then he said, “My lord,[a] if I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves.[b] This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.”
“Yes,” they replied, “do as you have said.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures[c] of fine flour and make bread.”[d] 7 Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then Abraham took curds[e] and milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served[f] them as they ate under the tree.
Sarah Laughs
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he answered.
10 The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!”(C) Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.
11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years.[g] Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.[h](D) 12 So she laughed to herself: “After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old, will I have delight?”(E)
13 But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ 14 Is anything impossible for the Lord?(F) At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”
15 Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said, because she was afraid.
But He replied, “No, you did laugh.”
Abraham’s Plea for Sodom
16 The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off. 17 Then the Lord said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?(G) 18 Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.(H) 19 For I have chosen[i] him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what He promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. 21 I will go down(I) to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to Me. If not, I will find out.”
22 The men turned from there and went toward Sodom(J) while Abraham remained standing before the Lord.[j] 23 Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?(K) 24 What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will You really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in it? 25 You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”(L)
26 The Lord said, “If I find 50 righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”(M)
27 Then Abraham answered, “Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord—even though I am dust and ashes— 28 suppose the 50 righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.”
29 Then he spoke to Him again, “Suppose 40 are found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it on account of 40.”
30 Then he said, “Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose 30 are found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find 30 there.”
31 Then he said, “Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose 20 are found there?”
He replied, “I will not destroy it on account of 20.”
32 Then he said, “Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time.(N) Suppose 10 are found there?”
He answered, “I will not destroy it on account of 10.” 33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned to his place.
Footnotes
- Genesis 18:3 Or My Lord, or The Lord
- Genesis 18:5 Lit may sustain your heart
- Genesis 18:6 Lit three seahs; about 21 quarts
- Genesis 18:6 A round, thin, unleavened bread
- Genesis 18:8 Or butter
- Genesis 18:8 Lit was standing by
- Genesis 18:11 Lit days
- Genesis 18:11 Lit The way of women had ceased for Sarah
- Genesis 18:19 Lit known
- Genesis 18:22 Ancient Jewish tradition reads while the Lord remained standing before Abraham
Génesis 18
Reina Valera Contemporánea
Génesis 18
Reina Valera Contemporánea
Promesa del nacimiento de Isaac
18 Después el Señor se le apareció a Abrahán en el encinar de Mamre, mientras él estaba sentado a la entrada de su tienda, en el calor del día. 2 Al levantar los ojos vio que allí, junto a él, había tres varones. Al verlos, rápidamente se levantó de la entrada de su tienda para recibirlos. Se postró en tierra, 3 y dijo:
«Señor, si en verdad he hallado gracia ante tus ojos, te ruego que no te apartes de este siervo tuyo. 4 Mandaré traer un poco de agua, para que ustedes se laven los pies, y luego podrán descansar debajo de un árbol. 5 Traeré también un bocado de pan, para que recobre fuerzas su corazón, y luego seguirán su camino. ¡Para eso han pasado ustedes cerca de este su siervo!»
Y ellos dijeron:
«Haz todo tal y como has dicho.»
6 Entonces Abrahán fue de prisa a la tienda de Sara, y le dijo: «Toma pronto tres medidas de flor de harina, amásala, y cuece unos panes.» 7 Luego corrió Abrahán a donde estaban las vacas y tomó un becerro tierno y bueno, se lo dio al criado, y éste se apresuró a prepararlo. 8 Tomó además mantequilla y leche, y el becerro que había preparado, y poniéndolo ante ellos se quedó a su lado debajo del árbol, mientras ellos comían.
9 Ellos le dijeron:
«¿Dónde está Sara, tu mujer?»
Y él respondió:
«Aquí, en la tienda.»
10 Uno de ellos dijo:
«Ten por seguro que volveré a ti, y conforme al tiempo de gestación Sara tu mujer tendrá un hijo.»(A)
Sara, que estaba a la entrada de la tienda detrás de él, escuchaba todo. 11 Abrahán y Sara eran ya viejos y de edad avanzada, y Sara ya no tenía lo que es costumbre en las mujeres. 12 Por eso Sara se rió consigo misma, y dijo:
«¿Después de haber envejecido voy a tener placer, si también mi señor(B) ya está viejo?»
13 Pero el Señor le dijo a Abrahán:
«¿Por qué se ríe Sara? Ha dicho: “¿Será cierto que voy a dar a luz siendo ya vieja?” 14 ¿Acaso hay para Dios algo que sea difícil?(C) En el momento indicado volveré a ti, y conforme al tiempo de gestación Sara tendrá un hijo.»
15 Sara lo negó, y dijo:
«No me reí. Más bien, tuve miedo.»
Pero él dijo:
«No es cierto. Tú te reíste.»
Abrahán intercede por Sodoma
16 Aquellos varones se fueron de allí, y miraron en dirección a Sodoma. Abrahán los acompañaba. 17 Entonces el Señor dijo:
«¿Acaso voy a ocultarle a Abrahán lo que voy a hacer? 18 ¡Si Abrahán va a ser una nación grande y fuerte, y en él serán bendecidas todas las naciones de la tierra! 19 Yo sé que él ordenará a sus hijos y a sus descendientes que sigan el camino del Señor, y que sean justos y rectos, para que el Señor cumpla en Abrahán su promesa.»
20 Entonces el Señor le dijo:
«Puesto que el clamor contra Sodoma y Gomorra va en aumento, y su pecado se ha agravado demasiado, 21 voy ahora a descender allá, para ver si lo que han hecho corresponde a las quejas que han llegado hasta mí. Si no es así, lo sabré.»
22 Y aquellos varones se apartaron de allí, y fueron hacia Sodoma; pero Abrahán seguía estando delante del Señor. 23 Y se acercó Abrahán y le dijo:
«¿Acaso vas a destruir al justo con el injusto? 24 Tal vez haya cincuenta justos en la ciudad. ¿Acaso destruirás ese lugar, y no lo perdonarás por los cincuenta justos que estén allí adentro? 25 ¡Lejos sea de ti hacer morir al justo con el impío, y tratar al justo como al impío! ¡Jamás hagas tal cosa! ¿Acaso el Juez de toda la tierra no debe hacer lo que es justo?»
26 El Señor respondió:
«Si dentro de la ciudad de Sodoma encuentro a cincuenta justos, por ellos perdonaré a todos los que estén allí.»
27 Abrahán replicó y dijo:
«Aquí estoy ahora, atreviéndome a hablar con mi Señor, aunque sólo soy polvo y ceniza. 28 Pero tal vez falten cinco justos para completar los cincuenta; ¿por faltar esos cinco destruirás toda la ciudad?»
Y el Señor dijo:
«No la destruiré, si encuentro sólo cuarenta y cinco.»
29 Abrahán volvió a hablarle, y dijo:
«Tal vez sólo se hallen cuarenta...»
Y el Señor respondió:
«Aun por esos cuarenta no lo haré.»
30 Abrahán insistió:
«Espero que mi Señor no se enoje, si sigo hablando; pero tal vez sólo se encuentren treinta...»
Y el Señor respondió:
«Aun si encuentro treinta, no lo haré.»
31 Abrahán dijo:
«Aquí estoy ahora, atreviéndome a hablar con mi Señor; tal vez sólo se encuentren veinte...»
Y el Señor contestó:
«Aun por esos veinte, no la destruiré.»
32 Pero Abrahán volvió a decir:
«Espero que mi Señor no se enoje si hablo una vez más; pero tal vez se encuentren sólo diez...»
Y el Señor respondió:
«Aun por esos diez, no la destruiré.»
33 Cuando el Señor terminó de hablar con Abrahán, se fue de allí; y Abrahán volvió a su lugar.
New International Version (NIV) 
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Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC)
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