Genesis 18 16

Genesis 18:16 kjv

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

Genesis 18:16 nkjv

Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way.

Genesis 18:16 niv

When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.

Genesis 18:16 esv

Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.

Genesis 18:16 nlt

Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.

Genesis 18 verses

Genesis 18 16 meaning

Genesis 18:16 describes the departure of the three divine visitors from Abraham's dwelling at Mamre. The men stood up and turned their attention toward Sodom, indicating their intended destination and the ominous purpose associated with it. Abraham, demonstrating customary hospitality and his close relationship with these divine guests, accompanied them a certain distance to see them off. This verse marks a crucial transition from the private revelation of Isaac's birth to the revelation of God's imminent judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 18 16 Context

Genesis chapter 18 opens with the Lord appearing to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, in the form of three men. This appearance is followed by Abraham's exceptional display of hospitality, quickly providing water, preparing a meal of finest flour cakes, a tender calf, curds, and milk, and serving it himself under the tree. The primary purpose of this visit is to reaffirm God's promise that Sarah would bear a son, Isaac, within the year, a promise met with Sarah's internal laughter and subsequent gentle rebuke by the Lord. Verse 16 serves as a transition point immediately after this reaffirmation of the promise of life and blessing. The "men" (divine messengers, with one being the Lord Himself) shift their attention from Abraham's immediate family to the wider region, specifically towards Sodom, signalling the next major divine intervention – one of judgment and destruction, which will follow in Chapter 19. Abraham’s accompanying them foreshadows his imminent intercession for Sodom and his unique standing as God's friend, to whom God reveals His plans. The historical and cultural context underscores the importance of hospitality in the ancient Near East, which Abraham exemplified, and sets the stage for God's just actions against cities known for egregious wickedness. There is an implied polemic against pagan deities who were often depicted as arbitrary or uncaring; here, Yahweh reveals His counsel and acts justly.

Genesis 18 16 Word analysis

• And the men: Hebrew, וַיָּקֻמוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים (vayaqumu ha'anashim). "The men" (הָאֲנָשִׁים ha'anashim) refers back to the three visitors in Gen 18:2, understood to be two angels and the pre-incarnate Christ or the Lord Himself. This is evident by the distinct singular "Lord" (יְהוָה YHWH) speaking throughout the preceding conversation (Gen 18:13-15) and subsequently (Gen 18:17ff). Their identity emphasizes the divine authority behind their actions.
• rose up: Hebrew, וַיָּקֻמוּ (vayaqumu). This verb denotes a literal rising or standing up, signaling a clear intention to depart or begin a new action. It indicates a decisive move from resting to active motion, implying a change in agenda.
• from there: Hebrew, מִשָּׁם (misham). Refers to the location where they had been resting and conversing, Abraham's camp near the oaks of Mamre.
• and looked toward Sodom: Hebrew, וַיַּשְׁקִפוּ עַל-פְּנֵי סְדֹם (vayashqifu al-p'nei Sedom). The verb וַיַּשְׁקִפוּ (vayashqifu) means "to look down upon," "to gaze out," or "to peer." This is not a casual glance but an intentional and deliberate fixing of their sight, imbued with purpose and often with a sense of overview or judgment (cf. Gen 11:5, 7 where the Lord "comes down to look" at the Tower of Babel; Ps 14:2 where God "looks down from heaven"). The phrase "upon the face of Sodom" (עַל-פְּנֵי סְדֹם al-p'nei Sedom) highlights a direct focus on the city itself, not just its general direction, setting the stage for its coming judgment.
• and Abraham went with them: Hebrew, וְאַבְרָהָם הֹלֵךְ עִמָּם (v'Avraham holekh im'am). This uses a participle ("going") indicating ongoing action, that Abraham began to walk with them. This act is not commanded but is a natural outflow of his deep hospitality and emerging friendship with God. It speaks to his privileged relationship.
• to send them off: Hebrew, לְשַׁלְּחָם (l'shalecham). This describes the cultural custom of accompanying honored guests part of the way upon their departure as a mark of respect and esteem, ensuring their safety and expressing warm wishes. This act of "sending off" or "accompanying" is common in biblical narratives and highlights Abraham's reverence and affection for his visitors. This customary practice inadvertently positions Abraham to receive further revelation and intercede for the doomed cities.

Genesis 18 16 Bonus section

The act of Abraham accompanying the divine guests echoes the broader biblical theme of "walking with God." Enoch (Gen 5:24) and Noah (Gen 6:9) walked with God, denoting intimacy, obedience, and alignment with His will. Abraham's gesture here, while a cultural practice, becomes symbolic of his ongoing fellowship and unique closeness with the Lord, setting him apart as the one to whom God would disclose His intentions regarding Sodom's judgment. This intimacy underscores why God would declare in the following verse, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" (Gen 18:17), an incredible privilege afforded to few. The directional "looking toward Sodom" is significant not just as a geographical reference but as an action revealing God's absolute knowledge of the depth of sin within those cities, signaling a judgment that is both necessary and deserved, rather than arbitrary.

Genesis 18 16 Commentary

Genesis 18:16 functions as a critical bridge between two pivotal divine activities: the reaffirmation of the promise of life (Isaac) and the impending execution of judgment (Sodom). The transition is marked by the intentional departure of the divine visitors, their purposeful gaze towards Sodom symbolizing the Lord's omniscient overview and fixed intent to judge, not whimsically, but justly, in response to severe iniquity. Abraham's accompanying them is more than a mere courtesy; it's a demonstration of a deep, burgeoning friendship with God, highlighting his role as God's chosen servant and friend. This act of escorting positions him to receive God's subsequent confidential revelation about Sodom, leading directly into his powerful intercession. The verse therefore encapsulates themes of divine intention, human-divine relationship, and the contrast between blessing (for Abraham) and impending judgment (for Sodom). It subtly highlights God's justice, showing He doesn't act impulsively but with prior knowledge and deliberate action, revealing His heart even concerning severe judgments to those closest to Him.