יהוה appeared appeared Or “initiated communication (with); made contact (with)”—without indicating a visual experience—as in 12.7; 17.1; 26.2, 24; 35.9–10; 48.3–4; and seven passages elsewhere in the Bible. to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot.
Looking up, he saw three figures ” Or “agents [of the divine],” as the notice of the advent of divine communication in v. 1 (see previous note) implies an agency situation that casts these participants in their defining role as agents. Trad. “men.” Cf. Rashbam, Ramban; see further the Dictionary under ’ish; Agent. standing near him. Perceiving this, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the gr
Translation Notes
*figures — Lit. “participants whose involvement defines the depicted situation.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וישא
317
עיניו
146
וירא
217
והנה
66
שלשה
635
אנשים
401
נצבים
192
עליו
116
וירא
217
וירץ
306
לקראתם
771
מפתח
528
האהל
41
וישתחו
730
ארצה
296
Genesis 18:3
Gematria: 2165
ויאמראדניאםנאמצאתיחןבעיניךאלנאתעברמעלעבדך
he said, “My lords! My lords Or “My lord,” referring either to the delegation’s apparent leader or to God. If it please you, do not go on past your servant.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
אדני
65
אםנא
92
מצאתי
541
חן
58
בעיניך
162
אלנא
82
תעבר
672
מעל
140
עבדך
96
Genesis 18:4
Gematria: 2401
יקחנאמעטמיםורחצורגליכםוהשענותחתהעץ
Let a little water be brought; bathe your feet and recline under the tree.
And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves; then go on—seeing that you have come your servant’s way.” They replied, “Do as you have said.”
Then one said, “I will return to you next year, next year Heb. ka-‘et ḥayyah; cf. Gen. 17.21; 2 Kings 4.16–17. and your wife Sarah shall have a son!” Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
שוב
308
אשוב
309
אליך
61
כעת
490
חיה
23
והנהבן
118
לשרה
535
אשתך
721
ושרה
511
שמעת
810
פתח
488
האהל
41
והוא
18
אחריו
225
Genesis 18:11
Gematria: 2784
ואברהםושרהזקניםבאיםבימיםחדללהיותלשרהארחכנשים
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; Sarah had stopped having her periods. her periods Heb. ’oraḥ ka-nashim, lit. “the way of women”; NJPS “the periods of women.” (Perhaps, in light of Akkadian ’arḥu “month,” the lit. meaning is actually “women’s menses.”)
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואברהם
254
ושרה
511
זקנים
207
באים
53
בימים
102
חדל
42
להיות
451
לשרה
535
ארח
209
כנשים
420
Genesis 18:12
Gematria: 3167
ותצחקשרהבקרבהלאמראחריבלתיהיתהליעדנהואדניזקן
And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Now that I’ve lost the ability, I’ve lost the ability Precise force of Heb. veloti uncertain. NJPS “I am withered,” trad. “I am waxed old.” am I to have enjoyment—with my husband so old?”
Then יהוה יהוה The agent who is speaking is labeled with the principal’s name, to underscore that the following message is delivered on the principal’s behalf. (A narrative convention throughout the Hebrew Bible; cf. Kimhi at 31.3.) said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I in truth bear a child, old as I am?’
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
יהוה
26
אלאברהם
279
למה
75
זה
12
צחקה
203
שרה
505
לאמר
271
האף
86
אמנם
131
אלד
35
ואני
67
זקנתי
567
Genesis 18:14
Gematria: 2024
היפלאמיהוהדברלמועדאשובאליךכעתחיהולשרהבן
Is anything too wondrous for יהוה ? I will return to you at the same season next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
היפלא
126
מיהוה
66
דבר
206
למועד
150
אשוב
309
אליך
61
כעת
490
חיה
23
ולשרה
541
בן
52
Genesis 18:15
Gematria: 3311
ותכחששרהלאמרלאצחקתיכייראהויאמרלאכיצחקת
Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was frightened. Came the reply, “You did laugh.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ותכחש
734
שרהלאמר
776
לא
31
צחקתי
608
כייראה
246
ויאמרלא
288
כי
30
צחקת
598
Genesis 18:16
Gematria: 2661
ויקמומשםהאנשיםוישקפועלפניסדםואברהםהלךעמםלשלחם
The agents ” See note at 18.2. set out from there and looked down toward Sodom, Abraham walking with them to see them off.
For I have singled him out, that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of יהוה by doing what is just and right, in order that יהוה may bring about for Abraham what has been promised him.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
כי
30
ידעתיו
500
למען
190
אשר
501
יצוה
111
אתבניו
469
ואתביתו
825
אחריו
225
ושמרו
552
דרך
224
יהוה
26
לעשות
806
צדקה
199
ומשפט
435
למען
190
הביא
18
יהוה
26
עלאברהם
348
את
401
אשרדבר
707
עליו
116
Genesis 18:20
Gematria: 2092
ויאמריהוהזעקתסדםועמרהכירבהוחטאתםכיכבדהמאד
Then יהוה said, “The outrage of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave!
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
יהוה
26
זעקת
577
סדם
104
ועמרה
321
כירבה
237
וחטאתם
464
כי
30
כבדה
31
מאד
45
Genesis 18:21
Gematria: 1807
ארדהנאואראההכצעקתההבאהאליעשוכלהואםלאאדעה
I will go down to see whether they have acted altogether according to the outcry that has reached Me; if not, I will take note.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ארדהנא
261
ואראה
213
הכצעקתה
690
הבאה
13
אלי
41
עשוכלה
431
ואםלא
78
אדעה
80
Genesis 18:22
Gematria: 1819
ויפנומשםהאנשיםוילכוסדמהואברהםעודנועמדלפנייהוה
The agents went on from there to Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before יהוה.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויפנו
152
משם
380
האנשים
406
וילכו
72
סדמה
109
ואברהם
254
עודנו
136
עמד
114
לפני
170
יהוה
26
Genesis 18:23
Gematria: 2339
ויגשאברהםויאמרהאףתספהצדיקעםרשע
Abraham came forward and said, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty?
What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it?
Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”
And he said, “Let not my lord be angry if I speak but this last time: What if ten should be found there?” “I will not destroy, for the sake of the ten.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויאמר
257
אלנא
82
יחר
218
לאדני
95
ואדברה
218
אךהפעם
216
אולי
47
ימצאון
197
שם
340
עשרה
575
ויאמר
257
לא
31
אשחית
719
בעבור
280
העשרה
580
Genesis 18:33
Gematria: 1955
וילךיהוהכאשרכלהלדבראלאברהםואברהםשבלמקמו
Having finished speaking to Abraham, יהוה departed; and Abraham returned to his place.