The Three Visitors
1And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
Sarah Laughs
9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Abraham Intercedes
20And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.
23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: ↔Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.
30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.
32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
The Three Visitors
1Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
3and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don't go away from your servant.
4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant." They said, "Very well, do as you have said."
6Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes."
7Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.
8He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
Sarah Laughs
9They asked him, "Where is Sarah, your wife?" He said, "See, in the tent."
10He said, "I will certainly return to you when the season comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"
13Yahweh said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?'
14Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.
15Sarah denied, saying, "I didn't laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."
16The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
17Yahweh said, "Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
18since Abraham has surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
19For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him."
Abraham Intercedes
20Yahweh said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
21I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know."
22The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.
23Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
24What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
25May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked. May that be far from you. ↔Shouldn't the Judge of all the earth do right?"
26Yahweh said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake."
27Abraham answered, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.
28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?" He said, "I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there."
29He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake."
30He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?" He said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."
31He said, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."
32He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."
33Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
The Three Visitors
1And Jehovah appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
3and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;
5and 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.
6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.
7and Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hasted to dress it.
8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
Sarah Laughs
9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13And Jehovah said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?
14Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.
15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do;
18seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Abraham Intercedes
20And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah.
23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?
24Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked: that be far from thee: ↔shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.
27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes:
28peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.
29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty’s sake.
30And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.
32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.
33And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
The Three Visitors
1And Jehovah appeareth unto him among the oaks of Mamre, and he is sitting at the opening of the tent, about the heat of the day;
2and he lifteth up his eyes and looketh, and lo, three men standing by him, and he seeth, and runneth to meet them from the opening of the tent, and boweth himself towards the earth,
3and saith, 'My lord, if, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes, do not pass on from thy servant;
4let, I pray thee, a little water be accepted, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree;
5and I take a piece of bread, and support your heart; afterwards pass on, because therefore ye have passed over unto your servant;' and they say, 'So thou dost; do.'
6And Abraham hasteth towards the tent, unto Sarah, and saith, 'Hasten three measures of meal, fine flour, knead and make cakes.'
7And Abraham runneth unto the herd, and taketh a calf, tender and good, and giveth unto the young man, and he hasteth to prepare it.
8And he taketh butter and milk, and the calf which he hath prepared, and setteth before them, and he is standing by them under the tree, and they do eat.
Sarah Laughs
9And they say unto him, 'Where is Sarah thy wife?' and he saith, 'Lo — in the tent.'
10And He saith, 'Returning I return unto thee, at the time of life, and lo, a son is to Sarah thy wife;' and Sarah is hearkening at the opening of the tent, and it is behind him.
11And Sarah is hearkening at the opening of the tent, which is behind him;
12And Sarah laugheth within herself, saying, 'After my being worn out, hath there been to me pleasure? — my lord also is old!'
13and Sarah laugheth in her heart, saying, `After I have waxed old I have had pleasure! --my lord also is old!'
14Is anything too wonderful for Jehovah? At the appointed time I return unto thee, about this season in life, and Sarah hath a son.'
15And Sarah denieth, saying, 'I laughed not;' for she hath been afraid; and He saith, 'Nay, but thou didst laugh.'
16And the men rise from thence, and look on the face of Sodom, and Abraham is going with them to send them away;
17and Jehovah said, `Am I concealing from Abraham that which I am doing,
18and Abraham certainly becometh a nation great and mighty, and blessed in him have been all nations of the earth?
19for I have known him, that he commandeth his children, and his house after him (and they have kept the way of Jehovah), to do righteousness and judgment, that Jehovah may bring on Abraham that which He hath spoken concerning him.'
Abraham Intercedes
20And Jehovah saith, 'The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah — because it is great, and their sin because it is very grievous,
21I go down now, and see whether according to its cry which is coming unto Me they have done completely; and if not — I know;'
22and the men turn from thence, and go towards Sodom; and Abraham is yet standing before Jehovah.
23and Abraham draweth nigh and saith, 'Dost Thou also consume righteous with wicked?
24peradventure there are fifty righteous in the midst of the city; dost Thou also consume, and not bear with the place for the sake of the fifty--the righteous who are in its midst?
25Far be it from Thee to do according to this thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked; and the righteous hath been as the wicked — far be it from Thee; ↔doth the Judge of all the earth not do justice?'
26And Jehovah saith, `If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the midst of the city, then have I borne with all the place for their sake.'
27And Abraham answereth and saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord, and I--dust and ashes;
28peradventure there are lacking five of the fifty righteous--dost Thou destroy for five the whole of the city?' and He saith, `I destroy it not, if I find there forty and five.'
29And he addeth again to speak unto Him and saith, `Peradventure there are found there forty?' and He saith, `I do it not, because of the forty.'
30And he saith, `Let it not be, I Pray thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak: peradventure there are found there thirty?' and He saith, `I do it not, if I find there thirty.'
31And he saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there are found there twenty?' and He saith, `I do not destroy it , because of the twenty.'
32And he saith, 'Let not the Lord be displeased, and I speak only this time: peradventure ten are found there?' and He saith, 'I do not destroy for the sake of the ten.'
33And Jehovah goeth on, as soon as He hath finished speaking unto Abraham, and Abraham hath turned back to his place.
Public domain: KJV (1611) · WEB (2020) · ASV (1901) · YLT (1862). Note: Whether the three visitors are the LORD and two angels, or three manifestations of God, or three angels — is debated throughout Jewish and Christian tradition. The text shifts between 'the men' (v.2), 'the LORD' (v.13, 17), and later 'two angels' (Genesis 19:1), suggesting the narrative identifies one of the three with God. Abraham's intercession from 50 righteous down to 10 is one of the most remarkable scenes in the Bible — a human being negotiating with God, and God responding to each request.