Study it in the app“He lifted his eyes and looked, and look, three men were standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed down to the ground.”
He liftedוַיִּשָּׂאhis eyesעֵינָיוand looked,וַיַּרְאand look,וְהִנֵּהthreeשְׁלֹשָׁהmenאֲנָשִׁיםwere standingנִצָּבִיםnear him.עָלָיוWhen he saw them,וַיַּרְאhe ranוַיָּרָץfrom the entranceמִפֶּתַחof the tentהָאֹהֶלto meet themלִקְרָאתָםand bowed downוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּto the ground.אָרְצָה
lift up
To direct the eyes upward, make the voice loud, or put up the hand.
Where else “yisa” appearseye
The organ with which one sees; so "lift the eyes" means to look.
Where else “enay” appearssee
To see with one's eyes.
Where else “yar” appearsthree
A quantity of three: three persons or things together.
Where else “shelosha” appearsman
An adult male person; also each man of a people, a trade or a place.
Where else “anashim” appearsstand
To remain upright in a place without moving.
Where else “nitsavim” appearsrun
To move quickly on foot, at a run.
Where else “yarats” appearsentrance, door
Entrance, doorway, door, opening.
Where else “petach” appearstent
A home of cloth or skins on poles, where herdsmen lived; also one's home.
Where else “ohel” appearsmeet
To go out to greet someone who arrives, in order to receive him.
Where else “kerata” appearsbow down
To bow to the ground before someone in respect.
Where else “yishtachu” appearsground
What is underfoot: bowing down to touch it.
Where else “artsa” appearsVerse 1 says that YHWH appeared to Abraham; what Abraham sees is three men. Later one of them speaks as YHWH (18:10, 13), and the other two are the messengers who arrive at Sodom (18:22; 19:1). The text does not explain further.
1YHWH appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent in the heat of the day.
2 · This verse (above)
3He said, “Adonai, if I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant.
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?
