Genesis 18:2

1 Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.

And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3 “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.

4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
KJV
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,
WEB
He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
ASV
and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
DARBY
And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, three men standing near him. And when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent-door, and bowed himself to the earth,
BLB
And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him. And he saw [them], and he ran to meet them from the entrance of the tent, and he bowed himself to the earth.
ÅB
Da han så opp, fikk han se tre menn som sto foran ham; og da han ble dem var, løp han dem i møte fra teltdøren og bøyde seg til jorden
OTB
Abraham løftet blikket og så tre menn stå i nærheten. Da han så dem, løp han fra inngangen til teltet for å møte dem og bøyde seg dypt mot jorden.
B1930
Da han så op, fikk han se tre menn som stod foran ham; og da han blev dem var, løp han dem i møte fra teltdøren og bøide sig til jorden

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Hebrews 13:2

    Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 18:22

    And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 19:1

    Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown,

    Read in context
  • Judges 13:3

    The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 23:7

    Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 44:14

    When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 5:13

    Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 43:26

    When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.

    Read in context