Genesis — Chapter 18

King James Version (KJV)

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Genesis 18:1 And the LORD ^Rappeared unto him in the ^Tplains of ^RMamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Genesis 18:2 ^RAnd he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, ^Rthree men stood by him: and when he saw them, ^Rhe ran to meet them from the tent door, and ^Rbowed himself toward the ground,

Genesis 18:3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found ^Rfavour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and ^Rwash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

Genesis 18:5 ^RAnd I will fetch a morsel of bread, and ^RTcomfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore ^RTare ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, ^TMake ready quickly ^Rthree measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

Genesis 18:7 ^RAnd 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.

Genesis 18:8 And ^Rhe took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he ^Rstood by them under the tree, ^Rand they did eat.

Genesis 18:9 And they said unto him, ^RWhere is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, ^Rin the tent.

Genesis 18:10 And ^Rhe said, I will certainly return unto thee ^Raccording to the time of life; and, ^Rlo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

Genesis 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were ^Rold and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after ^Rthe manner of women.

Genesis 18:12 Therefore Sarah ^Rlaughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, ^Rmy lord being old also?

Genesis 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, ^RWherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Genesis 18:14 ^RIs any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed ^RI will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Genesis 18:15 Then Sarah ^Rdenied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, ^RNay; but thou didst laugh.

Genesis 18:16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them ^Rto bring them on the way.

Genesis 18:17 ^RAnd the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely ^Rbecome a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Genesis 18:19 ^RFor I know him, that he will ^Rcommand his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; ^Rthat the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Genesis 18:20 And the LORD said, Because ^Rthe cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their ^Rsin is very grievous;

Genesis 18:21 ^RI will go down now, and ^Rsee whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, ^RI will know.

Genesis 18:22 And ^Rthe men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham ^Rstood yet before the LORD.

Genesis 18:23 And Abraham ^Rdrew near, and said, ^RWilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Genesis 18:24 Peradventure ^Rthere be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not ^Rspare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Genesis 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and ^Rthat the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: ^RShall not the ^RJudge of all the earth do right?

Genesis 18:26 ^RAnd the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

Genesis 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, ^RI have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but ^Rdust and ashes:

Genesis 18:28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: ^Rwilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, ^RIf I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

Genesis 18:29 ^RAnd 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.

Genesis 18:30 ^RAnd 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.

Genesis 18:31 ^RAnd 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.

Genesis 18:32 And he said, ^ROh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, ^RI will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

Genesis 18:33 ^RAnd the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: ^Rand Abraham returned unto his place.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 18:1–8 — Abraham Receives the Visitors

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Abraham receives three visitors near Mamre and quickly offers water, rest, and food. His household prepares a generous meal, and Abraham serves them.

Key Truth: Abraham responds to his visitors with prompt and generous hospitality.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 18:9–15 — Sarah Is Promised a Son

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The promise of a son to Sarah is stated again. Sarah laughs because of her age, and the LORD answers with the question, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?”

Key Truth: The promised birth rests on the LORD’s power and appointed time.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 18:16–22 — The LORD Speaks Concerning Sodom

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

As the visitors turn toward Sodom, the LORD speaks concerning Abraham and the grievous sin of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Key Truth: The LORD identifies the seriousness of Sodom and Gomorrah’s sin and speaks of justice and judgment.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 18:23–33 — Abraham Intercedes

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Abraham asks whether the righteous will be destroyed with the wicked and appeals repeatedly concerning the number of righteous people who might be found in Sodom, ending with ten.

Key Truth: Abraham appeals to the righteousness of the Judge of all the earth while interceding for the city.

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