Genesis 18 (NET)

NET Bible® Scripture text without NET Bible notes. Verse anchors allow direct linking to exact verses.

Genesis 18:1¹The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest time of the day.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:2²Abraham looked up and saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:3³He said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:4⁴Let a little water be brought so that you may all wash your feet and rest under the tree.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:5⁵And let me get a bit of food so that you may refresh yourselves since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.” “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:6⁶So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Take three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:7⁷Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:8⁸Abraham then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them. They ate while he was standing near them under a tree.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:9⁹Then they asked him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “There, in the tent.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:10¹⁰One of them said, “I will surely return to you when the season comes round again, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” (Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, not far behind him.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:11¹¹Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years; Sarah had long since passed menopause.)Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:12¹²So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:13¹³The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child when I am old?’Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:14¹⁴Is anything impossible for the Lord? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:15¹⁵Then Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. But the Lord said, “No! You did laugh.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:16¹⁶When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom. (Now Abraham was walking with them to see them on their way.)Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:17¹⁷Then the Lord said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:18¹⁸After all, Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on the earth may receive blessing through him.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:19¹⁹I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:20²⁰So the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatantCopy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:21²¹that I must go down and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. If not, I want to know.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:22²²The two men turned and headed toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the Lord.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:23²³Abraham approached and said, “Will you really sweep away the godly along with the wicked?Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:24²⁴What if there are fifty godly people in the city? Will you really wipe it out and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty godly people who are in it?Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:25²⁵Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:26²⁶So the Lord replied, “If I find in the city of Sodom fifty godly people, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:27²⁷Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord (although I am but dust and ashes),Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:28²⁸what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are lacking?” He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:29²⁹Abraham spoke to him again, “What if forty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:30³⁰Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak! What if thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:31³¹Abraham said, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:32³²Finally Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Genesis 18:33³³The Lord went on his way when he had finished speaking to Abraham. Then Abraham returned home.Copy Link KJV+Strong’s Many Bible Versions

Study Genesis 18

Full Commentary

Open the full commentary units for this chapter: Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 18:16-33.

Lite Commentary

Open the lite commentary units for this chapter: Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 18:16-33.

Simple Commentary

Open the simple commentary units for this chapter: Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 18:16-33.

Book Overview

Read the book-level overview and orientation.