Genesis 18
BasisBijbel
God belooft voor de derde keer aan Abraham dat hij een zoon zal krijgen
18 Op een dag kwam de Heer naar Abraham toe bij de eikenbomen van Mamré. Abraham zat op dat moment bij de ingang van zijn tent. Het was op het heetst van de dag. 2 Hij keek op en zag dat er drie mannen voor hem stonden. Hij stond op en liep naar hen toe. 3 Hij boog diep en zei: "Wilt u alstublieft mijn gasten zijn? 4 Laat mij water voor u halen, zodat u uw voeten kan wassen. En rust wat uit onder de boom hier. 5 Ik zal u wat te eten brengen, zodat u een beetje opknapt voordat u verder reist. Want daarvoor bent u toch bij mij langsgekomen!" Ze zeiden: "Graag!"
6 Abraham ging snel naar Sara in de tent en zei: "Ga vlug deeg maken en brood bakken!" 7 Daarna liep Abraham naar de koeien en koos een gezond, vet kalf uit. Hij bracht het naar de knecht, die het snel voor hem ging slachten en klaarmaken. 8 Toen het eten klaar was, zette hij het voor de mannen neer, met boter en melk. Hij bleef onder de boom staan terwijl zij aten.
9 Toen vroegen ze hem: "Waar is je vrouw Sara?" Hij zei: "Daar, in de tent." 10 En Hij zei tegen hem: "Over een jaar kom Ik bij je terug. Dan zal je vrouw Sara een zoon hebben." Sara luisterde bij de ingang van de tent, die achter Hem was. 11 Abraham en Sara waren al heel erg oud. Sara was allang te oud om nog kinderen te kunnen krijgen. 12 Daarom lachte Sara in zichzelf en dacht: "Alsof ik nog naar mijn man zou verlangen, nu we allebei al zo oud zijn!" 13 Toen zei de Heer tegen Abraham: "Waarom lacht Sara daar? Waarom zegt ze: 'Alsof ik nog een kind zou krijgen, terwijl ik al zo oud ben!'? 14 Voor de Heer is niets te wonderlijk! Op de juiste tijd, over een jaar, zal Ik bij jullie terugkomen. Dan zal Sara een zoon hebben." 15 Toen loog Sara en zei: "Ik heb niet gelachen." Want ze was bang. Maar de Heer zei: "Dat is niet waar. Je hebt wél gelachen."
Gods beslissing over Sodom en Gomorra
16 Toen vertrokken de mannen in de richting van Sodom. Abraham liep een eind met hen mee. 17 De Heer dacht: "Ik zal niet voor Abraham verbergen wat Ik ga doen. 18 Want Abraham zal een groot en machtig volk worden. Door de zegen die op hem is, zullen alle mensen van de aarde gezegend worden. 19 Want hem heb Ik uitgekozen. Hij moet zijn zonen leren hoe ze met Mij moeten leven. Hij zal hen leren eerlijk en rechtvaardig te zijn. Want dan kan Ik doen wat Ik aan Abraham heb beloofd." 20 Daarom zei de Heer: "Er wordt luid geklaagd over wat de mensen in Sodom en Gomorra doen. Want ze doen er verschrikkelijke dingen. 21 Ik wil gaan kijken of het inderdaad zo erg is als Ik gehoord heb. Ik wil het weten."
22 Toen gingen de mannen naar Sodom. Maar Abraham bleef voor de Heer staan. 23 Hij kwam dichterbij en zei: "Maar stel dat er ook goede mensen in de stad zijn. Zult U hen dan samen met de slechte mensen doden? 24 Misschien zijn er 50 goede mensen in die stad. Zult U hen dan ook doden? Wilt U de stad dan niet heel laten, om die 50 onschuldige mensen te redden? 25 Het past helemaal niet bij U om onschuldige mensen samen met schuldige mensen te doden. Want dan loopt het met allebei hetzelfde af! Dat past helemaal niet bij U! U, de Rechter van de hele aarde, kan toch niet onrechtvaardig zijn?" 26 De Heer antwoordde: "Als Ik in Sodom 50 goede mensen vind, zal Ik de hele stad niet straffen, om die 50 mensen te redden." 27 Abraham antwoordde: "Ik ben zo brutaal geweest om tegen de Heer te spreken, ook al ben ik maar een mens. 28 Misschien zijn er vijf mensen te weinig. Zult U dan, omdat er vijf te weinig zijn, de hele stad verwoesten?" En Hij zei: "Ik zal de stad niet verwoesten, als Ik er 45 goede mensen vind." 29 Abraham zei: "Misschien vindt U er maar 40 goede mensen." En Hij zei: "Dan zal Ik het niet doen, om die 40 te redden." 30 En Abraham zei: "Heer, word alstublieft niet boos als ik nóg iets zeg. Maar misschien vindt U er maar 30 goede mensen." En de Heer zei: "Ik zal het niet doen als Ik er maar 30 vind." 31 En Abraham zei: "Ik ben zo brutaal om weer tegen de Heer te spreken. Maar misschien vindt U er maar 20 goede mensen." En de Heer zei: "Dan zal Ik de stad niet verwoesten, om die 20 te redden." 32 En Abraham zei: "Heer, word alstublieft niet boos als ik nog één keer iets zeg. Maar misschien vindt U er maar 10 goede mensen." En Hij zei: "Dan zal Ik de stad niet verwoesten, om die 10 te redden." 33 Toen Hij uitgesproken was met Abraham, ging de Heer weg. En Abraham ging naar huis terug.
Genesis 18
EasyEnglish Bible
God promises a son to Abraham
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the special oak trees of Mamre. It was the hot time of day and Abraham was sitting by the door of his tent. 2 Abraham looked up and he saw three men. He ran in a hurry to meet them. He bent down to the ground to respect them.[a]
3 Abraham said, ‘Please sir, stop here and let me serve you. That would make me very happy. 4 Let us bring some water so that you can all wash your feet. Then you can rest under this tree. 5 Let me also bring some food for you to eat. Now that you have come to my home, you should rest and become strong again. Then you will be ready to continue with your journey.’ The men replied, ‘That is good. Please do what you have said.’
6 Abraham went quickly to the tent. He said to Sarah, ‘Be quick! Get plenty of good flour and make bread with it.’ 7 Then Abraham ran to his cows. He chose a very nice young cow. He gave it to his servant. The servant quickly prepared it for the men to eat. 8 Then Abraham also brought some cream and some milk, as well as the meat from the cow. He put all the food in front of the men. While they ate it, Abraham stood near them, under a tree.
9 Then the men asked Abraham, ‘Where is Sarah, your wife?’ Abraham replied, ‘She is there in the tent.’
10 Then one of the men said, ‘I will certainly return to you at about this time next year. At that time Sarah, your wife, will have a son!’
Sarah was listening to all this. She was at the door of the tent, near to where they were talking. 11 Abraham and Sarah were now very old. Sarah was past the age when she could give birth to a child. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself. She thought, ‘I have become old and weak. My husband is also old. I will never have a baby and be happy like that.’
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh like that? She said, “I am too old to have a child.” 14 But surely, nothing is too difficult for the Lord to do. At this time next year, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.’
15 Then Sarah was afraid. So she told a lie. She said, ‘I did not laugh.’ But the Lord said, ‘Yes, you did laugh.’
God decides to punish the people in Sodom
16 Then Abraham's visitors started to leave. They looked down in the valley towards Sodom. Abraham was walking with them to say ‘goodbye’ to them. 17 Then the Lord said to himself, ‘I should tell Abraham what I have decided to do. 18 Abraham's descendants will become a great nation of people. They will be very powerful. Through him, I will bless all the nations of the earth.[b] 19 I have chosen him so that he will teach my message to his children and their families. He will teach them to do what is right and what is fair. Then I, the Lord, will do for Abraham everything that I have promised to him.’
20 So the Lord said to Abraham, ‘I have heard how bad the people in Sodom and Gomorrah are. Everybody says that their sins are very bad. 21 So I must go down there to see if it is really true. I will see if those people are as bad as everybody says they are. Then I will know what is true.’
22 The other two men then turned away and they went towards Sodom. But Abraham stayed there to talk with the Lord.
23 Then Abraham went near to the Lord and he asked, ‘Will you destroy the good people as well as the bad people? 24 There might be 50 people in the city who live in a good way. Will you still destroy the whole city? Or will you leave it there, because there are 50 good people in it? 25 Will you kill them all, the good people and the bad people? Surely you would not do anything like that! You would not punish good people in the same way as bad people. You are the great judge of everyone on the earth. You will surely do what is right!’
26 The Lord replied, ‘If I see that there are 50 good people in the city of Sodom, I will not destroy that place. Because of those 50 good people, I will leave the city there.’
27 Then Abraham spoke again. He said, ‘I have been brave enough to speak to the Lord. I know that I am nothing more than dust and ashes.[c] 28 But let me ask you this. What will you do if there are 45 good people in the city? Will you destroy the city, because there are only five fewer good people there?’ The Lord replied, ‘If I see that there are 45 good people in the city, I will not destroy it.’
29 Abraham spoke to God again. He said, ‘What will you do if only 40 good people are there?’ The Lord said, ‘Because of 40 good people, I will not destroy the city.’
30 Then Abraham said, ‘Please do not be angry, Lord. Let me speak again. What will you do if there are only 30 good people there?’ The Lord answered, ‘I will not destroy the city if I find 30 good people there.’
31 Abraham said, ‘I have been brave to speak to you, Lord. What will you do if only 20 good people are there?’ The Lord said, ‘Because of 20 good people, I will not destroy the city.’
32 After all that, Abraham said, ‘Please do not be angry, Lord. Let me speak just one more time. If there are only ten good people there, what will you do?’ The Lord replied, ‘Because of ten good people, I will not destroy the city.’[d]
33 The Lord had finished speaking with Abraham. So he continued on his journey. Abraham returned home.
Footnotes
- 18:2 This was a visit from the Lord God himself, but Abraham did not know that until later in their meeting.
- 18:18 See Genesis 12:2-3.
- 18:27 Abraham said that he is not important enough to argue with the Lord God. He was only a human that God himself has made.
- 18:32 Abraham's nephew, Lot, was living in Sodom. Abraham did not want God to kill Lot and his family. This is why Abraham asked God not to kill everyone in the city.
Genesis 18
King James Version
18 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
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