27
Abrahamאַבְרָהָםansweredוַיַּעַןand said,וַיֹּאמַר“Look,הִנֵּה נָאI have venturedהוֹאַלְתִּיto speakלְדַבֵּרto Adonai,אֶל אֲדֹנָיthough Iוְאָנֹכִיam dustעָפָרand ashes.וָאֵפֶר
Genesis 18:27
Study it in the app“Abraham answered and said, “Look, I have ventured to speak to Adonai, though I am dust and ashes.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 18:27, word by word
- 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- answeredיַּעַןyaan
answer
To reply to what was said.
Where else “yaan” appears- and saidיֹּאמַרyomar
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomar” appears- I have venturedהוֹאַלְתִּיhoalti
undertake, venture
Make up one's mind to do something; venture, be willing.
Where else “hoalti” appears- to speakדַבֵּרdaber
speak
To speak, say something; above all God to his people.
Where else “daber” appears- to Adonaiאֲדֹנָadona
Adonai, Lord
"Adonai": "my Lord", said only to God. It is a title of respect that acknowledges his authority. It is not another god besides YHWH: often it goes with his name, "Adonai YHWH", Lord YHWH.
Where else “adona” appears- am dustעָפָרafar
dust
Dry, loose earth, fine as dust; God formed man from it.
Where else “afar” appears- and ashesאֵפֶרefer
ashes
Ashes. "Dust and ashes" is a way of saying one is of very little account.
Where else “efer” appears
The context
26YHWH said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 · This verse (above)
28Perhaps the fifty righteous will lack five; will you destroy for the five the whole city?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find there forty-five.”
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?