Genesis 18 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק י״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Genesis 18 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיֵּרָאand appearedאֵלָיוto himיְהֹוָהthe LORDבְּאֵלֹנֵיat the great trees ofמַמְרֵאMamreוְהוּאas heיֹשֵׁבwas sittingפֶּתַח־הָאֹהֶלin the door of the tentכְּחֹםin the heat ofהַיּוֹם׃the day

   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. 2

   וַיִּשָּׂאand he liftedעֵינָיוhis eyesוַיַּרְאand sawוְהִנֵּהand beholdשְׁלֹשָׁהthreeאֲנָשִׁיםmenנִצָּבִיםwere standingעָלָיוupon himוַיַּרְאand sawוַיָּרׇץand he ranלִקְרָאתָםto meet themמִפֶּתַחfrom the opening ofהָאֹהֶלthe tentוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּand bowed himselfאָרְצָה׃to the earth

   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. 3

   וַיֹּאמַרand saidאֲדֹנָיLordאִם־נָאif nowמָצָאתִיI have foundחֵןfavorבְּעֵינֶיךָin your eyesאַל־נָאdo not I prayתַעֲבֹרpass byמֵעַלfrom uponעַבְדֶּךָ׃Your servant

   And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4. 4

   יֻקַּח־נָאlet be brought pleaseמְעַט־מַיִםa little waterוְרַחֲצוּand washרַגְלֵיכֶםyour feetוְהִשָּׁעֲנוּand rest yourselvesתַּחַתunderהָעֵץ׃the tree

   Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5. 5

   וְאֶקְחָהand I will bringפַת־לֶחֶםa piece of breadוְסַעֲדוּthat you may refreshלִבְּכֶםyour heartsאַחַרafterתַּעֲבֹרוּyou will pass onכִּי־עַל־כֵּןinasmuch asעֲבַרְתֶּםyou have comeעַל־עַבְדְּכֶםto your servantוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidכֵּןthusתַּעֲשֶׂהyou makeכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבַּרְתָּ׃you have said

   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. 6

   וַיְמַהֵרand he hurriedאַבְרָהָםAbrahamהָאֹהֱלָהto the tentאֶל־שָׂרָהto Sarahוַיֹּאמֶרand saidמַהֲרִיquicklyשְׁלֹשׁthreeסְאִיםseahsקֶמַחflourסֹלֶתfine flourלוּשִׁיknead itוַעֲשִׂיand makeעֻגוֹת׃bread cakes

   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. 7

   וְאֶל־הַבָּקָרand the herdרָץhe ranאַבְרָהָםAbrahamוַיִּקַּחand tookבֶּן־בָּקָרa calfרַךְtenderוָטוֹבand goodוַיִּתֵּןand gaveאֶל־הַנַּעַרto a young manוַיְמַהֵרand he hurriedלַעֲשׂוֹתto prepareאֹתוֹ׃it

   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. 8

   וַיִּקַּחand tookחֶמְאָהbutterוְחָלָבand milkוּבֶן־הַבָּקָרand the calfאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשָׂהhe madeוַיִּתֵּןand gaveלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themוְהוּא־עֹמֵדand he stoodעֲלֵיהֶםby themתַּחַתunderהָעֵץthe treeוַיֹּאכֵלוּ׃and they ate

   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. 9

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאֵׄלָיׄוׄunto himאַיֵּהwhere isשָׂרָהSarahאִשְׁתֶּךָyour wifeוַיֹּאמֶרand saidהִנֵּהbeholdבָאֹהֶל׃in the tent

   And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10. 10

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidשׁוֹבsurelyאָשׁוּבI returnאֵלֶיךָto youכָּעֵתas yetחַיָּהlivingוְהִנֵּה־בֵןand behold a sonלְשָׂרָהto Sarahאִשְׁתֶּךָyour wifeוְשָׂרָהand Sarahשֹׁמַעַתwas listeningפֶּתַחdoor ofהָאֹהֶלthe tentוְהוּאand it wasאַחֲרָיו׃after him

    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. 11

    וְאַבְרָהָםand Abrahamוְשָׂרָהand Sarahזְקֵנִיםwere oldבָּאִיםadvancedבַּיָּמִיםin the daysחָדַלceasedלִהְיוֹתto beלְשָׂרָהwith Sarahאֹרַחthe mannerכַּנָּשִׁים׃like the women

    Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12. 12

    וַתִּצְחַקand she laughedשָׂרָהSarahבְּקִרְבָּהּwithin herselfלֵאמֹרsayingאַחֲרֵיafterבְלֹתִיI am worn outהָיְתָה־לִּיwas to meעֶדְנָהpleasureוַאדֹנִיand my lordזָקֵן׃is old

    Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13. 13

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֶל־אַבְרָהָםunto Abrahamלָמָּהwhyזֶּהthisצָחֲקָהdid she laughשָׂרָהSarahלֵאמֹרsayingהַאַףis it indeedאֻמְנָםreallyאֵלֵדwill I bear a childוַאֲנִיand Iזָקַנְתִּי׃being old

    And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14. 14

    הֲיִפָּלֵאis it too hardמֵיְהֹוָהfrom the LORDדָּבָרanythingלַמּוֹעֵדat the appointed timeאָשׁוּבI returnאֵלֶיךָto youכָּעֵתas yetחַיָּהlivingוּלְשָׂרָהand to Sarahבֵן׃son

    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. 15

    וַתְּכַחֵשׁand she deniedשָׂרָהSarahלֵאמֹרsayingלֹאnotצָחַקְתִּיI laughedכִּיbecauseיָרֵאָהshe was afraidוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלֹאnotכִּיbecauseצָחָקְתְּ׃you laughed

    Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

16. 16

    וַיָּקֻמוּand rose upמִשָּׁםfrom thereהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menוַיַּשְׁקִפוּand they looked downעַל־פְּנֵיupon the face ofסְדֹםSodomוְאַבְרָהָםand Abrahamהֹלֵךְgoingעִמָּםwith themלְשַׁלְּחָם׃to send them off

    And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

17. 17

    וַיהֹוָהand the LORDאָמָרhe had saidהַמְכַסֶּהis it hidingאֲנִיIמֵאַבְרָהָםfrom AbrahamאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲנִיIעֹשֶׂה׃do

    And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18. 18

    וְאַבְרָהָםand Abrahamהָיוֹsurelyיִהְיֶהshall beלְגוֹיa nationגָּדוֹלgreatוְעָצוּםand mightyוְנִבְרְכוּ־בוֹand shall be blessed in himכֹּלallגּוֹיֵיnations ofהָאָרֶץ׃the earth

    Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19. 19

    כִּיforיְדַעְתִּיוI knew himלְמַעַןin order thatאֲשֶׁרwhichיְצַוֶּהcommandsאֶת־בָּנָיוhis sonsוְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹand his householdאַחֲרָיוafter himוְשָׁמְרוּand they will keepדֶּרֶךְthe way ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDלַעֲשׂוֹתto doצְדָקָהrighteousnessוּמִשְׁפָּטand judgmentלְמַעַןin order thatהָבִיאbringingיְהֹוָהthe LORDעַל־אַבְרָהָםupon Abrahamאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּרthat which He spokeעָלָיו׃upon him

    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. 20

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהֹוָהthe LORDזַעֲקַתthe cry ofסְדֹםSodomוַעֲמֹרָהand Gomorrahכִּי־רָבָּהbecause it is greatוְחַטָּאתָםand their sinכִּיbecauseכָבְדָהit is heavyמְאֹד׃exceedingly

    And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21. 21

    אֵרְדָה־נָּאI will go down nowוְאֶרְאֶהso I may seeהַכְּצַעֲקָתָהּwhether according to its outcryהַבָּאָהthe comingאֵלַיto meעָשׂוּthey didכָּלָהaltogetherוְאִם־לֹאand if notאֵדָעָה׃I will know

    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. 22

    וַיִּפְנוּand they turnedמִשָּׁםfrom thereהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menוַיֵּלְכוּand they wentסְדֹמָהto Sodomוְאַבְרָהָםand Abrahamעוֹדֶנּוּwhile he stillעֹמֵדstandingלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהֹוָה׃the LORD

    And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

23. 23

    וַיִּגַּשׁand drew nearאַבְרָהָםAbrahamוַיֹּאמַרand saidהַאַףis it indeedתִּסְפֶּהshall it consumeצַדִּיקrighteousעִם־רָשָׁע׃with wicked

    And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24. 24

    אוּלַיperhapsיֵשׁthereחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyצַדִּיקִםrighteousבְּתוֹךְamongהָעִירthe cityהַאַףis it indeedתִּסְפֶּהshall it consumeוְלֹא־תִשָּׂאand not spareלַמָּקוֹםthe placeלְמַעַןin order thatחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyהַצַּדִּיקִםthe righteousאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּקִרְבָּהּ׃within it

    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. 25

    חָלִלָהfar be itלְּךָfrom youמֵעֲשֹׂתfrom doingכַּדָּבָרaccording to the wordהַזֶּהthisלְהָמִיתto slayצַדִּיקrighteousעִם־רָשָׁעwith wickedוְהָיָהand beכַצַּדִּיקas the righteous personכָּרָשָׁעas the wicked personחָלִלָהfar be itלָּךְto youהֲשֹׁפֵטshall the Judge ofכׇּל־הָאָרֶץall the earthלֹאnotיַעֲשֶׂהhe shall doמִשְׁפָּט׃judgment

    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. 26

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהֹוָהthe LORDאִם־אֶמְצָאif I might findבִסְדֹםin Sodomחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyצַדִּיקִםrighteousבְּתוֹךְamongהָעִירthe cityוְנָשָׂאתִיand I will forgiveלְכׇל־הַמָּקוֹםto all the placeבַּעֲבוּרָם׃for them

    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. 27

    וַיַּעַןand he answeredאַבְרָהָםAbrahamוַיֹּאמַרand saidהִנֵּה־נָאbehold I prayהוֹאַלְתִּיI have undertakenלְדַבֵּרto speakאֶל־אֲדֹנָיto Lordוְאָנֹכִיyet Iעָפָרdustוָאֵפֶר׃and ashes

    And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

28. 28

    אוּלַיperhapsיַחְסְרוּןthere lackחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyהַצַּדִּיקִםthe righteousחֲמִשָּׁהfiveהֲתַשְׁחִיתwill you destroyבַּחֲמִשָּׁהfor fiveאֶת־כׇּל־הָעִירall the cityוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלֹאnotאַשְׁחִיתI shall destroyאִם־אֶמְצָאif I might findשָׁםthereאַרְבָּעִיםfortyוַחֲמִשָּׁה׃and five

    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. 29

    וַיֹּסֶףand continuedעוֹדany moreלְדַבֵּרto speakאֵלָיוto himוַיֹּאמַרand saidאוּלַיperhapsיִמָּצְאוּןthere be foundשָׁםthereאַרְבָּעִיםfortyוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלֹאnotאֶעֱשֶׂהI doבַּעֲבוּרbecause ofהָאַרְבָּעִים׃the forty

    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. 30

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאַל־נָאdo not I prayיִחַרbe angry withלַאדֹנָיto the Lordוַאֲדַבֵּרָהand let me speakאוּלַיperhapsיִמָּצְאוּןthere be foundשָׁםthereשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלֹאnotאֶעֱשֶׂהI doאִם־אֶמְצָאif I might findשָׁםthereשְׁלֹשִׁים׃thirty

    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. 31

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidהִנֵּה־נָאbehold I prayהוֹאַלְתִּיI have undertakenלְדַבֵּרto speakאֶל־אֲדֹנָיto Lordאוּלַיperhapsיִמָּצְאוּןthere be foundשָׁםthereעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלֹאnotאַשְׁחִיתI shall destroyבַּעֲבוּרbecause ofהָעֶשְׂרִים׃the twenty

    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. 32

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאַל־נָאdo not I prayיִחַרbe angry withלַאדֹנָיto the Lordוַאֲדַבְּרָהand let me speakאַךְ־הַפַּעַםbut this onceאוּלַיperhapsיִמָּצְאוּןthere be foundשָׁםthereעֲשָׂרָהtenוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלֹאnotאַשְׁחִיתI shall destroyבַּעֲבוּרbecause ofהָעֲשָׂרָה׃the ten

    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. 33

    וַיֵּלֶךְand wentיְהֹוָהthe LORDכַּאֲשֶׁרwhenכִּלָּהhe had finishedלְדַבֵּרto speakאֶל־אַבְרָהָםunto Abrahamוְאַבְרָהָםand Abrahamשָׁבreturnedלִמְקֹמוֹ׃to his place

    And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.