Genesis 18:4 BSB

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 18:4

wash your feet. A common practice to this day; needed from use of sandals and bare feet; Compare Genesis 24:32 ; Genesis 43:24 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 18:3-5

"And said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on: forasmuch as ye are come to your servant. And they said, So do as thou hast said.""I pray thee, my Lord, ... thy servant ... your servant..." This language is extravagant by our standards today, but here it... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 18:4

Genesis 18:4. Wash your feet— It was a custom to wash the feet of guests, deduced from the earliest times to the apostles' days; see ch. Genesis 19:2.Genesis 24:32; Genesis 24:32.Judges 19:21; Judges 19:21. Hence St. Paul appoints widows to be chosen, 1Ti 5:10 if they have lodged strangers, if they have washed the saints' feet. See Luke 7:44.John 13:0; John 13:0. This must have been a great refreshment in those hot countries, where men travelled barefooted or in sandals only. Rest yourselves... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 18:1-15

8. Yahweh’s visit to Abraham 18:1-15Chapters 18 and 19 constitute one integrated story, but we shall consider this episode in the Abraham narrative section by section. Like the Flood story, it has a chiastic structure, this time focusing on the announcement of the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19:12-13). [Note: See Wenham, Genesis 16-50, p. 41, for the chiasm.] Again there is a mass destruction with only one man and his family escaping. Both stories end with intoxication and shameful treatment... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 18:3-11

Abraham’s hospitality reflects oriental custom as practiced in his day and, in some respects, even today in the Middle East. He was behaving more wisely than he realized since he did not yet know that his guests were divine visitors (Genesis 18:8). "Where is Sarah?" (Genesis 18:9) recalls God’s earlier questions about Adam (Genesis 3:9) and Abel (Genesis 4:9). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:1-33

The Visit of the Angels to Abraham. The Judgment of Sodom announced. Abraham intercedes on its BehalfIn this beautiful narrative the writer dwells on the unique revelations of God’s purposes with which Abraham was favoured. In after times the patriarch received the title of ’the friend of God’ (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). The chapter is from the Primitive document. The religious lessons, the vivid description, and the consciousness of God’s immediate presence and interest in... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 18:4

(4) Wash your feet.—This is the first necessity of Oriental hospitality (Judges 19:21), not merely because the feet, protected only by sandals, are soiled by the dirt of the roads, but because it cools the whole body, and allays the feverishness caused by the heat of travelling. Thus refreshed they are “to rest,” Heb., to lay themselves down, in the shade. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 18:1-33

Abraham's Intercession Genesis 18:16-33 When Scott the commentator was dying, we are told that he spoke much to those around him on the way in which his prayers for others had been answered. He thought he had failed less in the duty of intercession than in any other. Whether that be true of Scott or not, it is surely very true of Abraham. His nearness to God is never more apparent than when he intercedes for Sodom. Meyer notes these features of his prayer: (1) It was lonely prayer. 'He waited... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:1-33

ABRAHAM’S INTERCESSION FOR SODOMGenesis 18:1-33THE scene with which this chapter opens is one familiar to the observer of nomad life in the East. During the scorching heat and glaring light of noon, while the birds seek the densest foliage and the wild animals lie panting in the thicket and everything is still and silent as midnight, Abraham sits in his tent door under the spreading oak of Mamre. Listless, languid, and dreamy as he is, he is at once aroused into brightest wakefulness by the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 18:1-33

CHAPTER 18 The Sixth Communication and Jehovah Visits Abraham 1. The manifestation (Genesis 18:1-2 ) 2. Abraham’s welcome (Genesis 18:3-8 ) 3. The promise repeated (Genesis 18:9-10 ) 4. Sarah’s laughter (Genesis 18:11-15 ) 5. The departure towards Sodom (Genesis 18:16 ) 6. Abraham’s intercession (Genesis 18:17-33 ) This most remarkable visitation was the answer of Jehovah to Abraham’s obedience of faith. The one in the middle was none other than Jehovah in human form; the other two... read more