17
YHWHוַיהֹוָהsaid,אָמָר“Shall I hideהַמְכַסֶּהfrom AbrahamמֵאַבְרָהָםwhatאֲשֶׁרIאֲנִי אֲנִיam doing,עֹשֶׂה
Genesis 18:17
Study it in the app“YHWH said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 18:17, word by word
- YHWHיהֹוָהyhova
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yhova” appears- saidאָמָרamar
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “amar” appears- “Shall I hideמְכַסֶּהmechase
conceal
To keep something secret, or forgive a wrong.
Where else “mechase” appears- from Abrahamאַבְרָהָםavraham
Abraham
Abraham, the name God gave to Abram; it sounds like "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5). The father of the people of Israel, to whom God promised the land and blessing for all the families of the earth.
Where else “avraham” appears- am doingעֹשֶׂהose
do
To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.
Where else “ose” appears
The context
16Then the men got up from there and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them on their way.
17 · This verse (above)
18since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?
To study Genesis 18 in a group
1. What it says
What did Abraham do when he saw the three men, and what did they announce about Sarah (vv. 2-10)?
2. What it means
What does the question “Is anything too difficult for YHWH?” teach (v. 14)?
3. How I live it
Whom can you welcome this week to your home or table with Abraham’s generosity?