Genesis 18:3-5

18:3 He said, “My lord, ¹  if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. ²  18:4 Let a little water be brought so that ³  you may all ⁴  wash your feet and rest under the tree. 18:5 And let me get ⁵  a bit of food ⁶  so that you may refresh yourselves ⁷  since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.” ⁸  “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.”

[18:3]  ¹ tc The MT has the form אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “Master”) which is reserved for God. This may reflect later scribal activity. The scribes, knowing it was the Lord, may have put the proper pointing with the word instead of the more common אֲדֹנִי (’adoni, “my master”).

[18:3]  ² tn Heb “do not pass by from upon your servant.”

[18:4]  ³ tn The imperative after the jussive indicates purpose here.

[18:4]  ⁴ tn The word “all” has been supplied in the translation because the Hebrew verb translated “wash” and the pronominal suffix on the word “feet” are plural, referring to all three of the visitors.

[18:5]  ⁵ tn The Qal cohortative here probably has the nuance of polite request.

[18:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “a piece of bread.” The Hebrew word לֶחֶם (lekhem) can refer either to bread specifically or to food in general. Based on Abraham’s directions to Sarah in v. 6, bread was certainly involved, but v. 7 indicates that Abraham had a more elaborate meal in mind.

[18:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “strengthen your heart.” The imperative after the cohortative indicates purpose here.

[18:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “so that you may refresh yourselves, after [which] you may be on your way – for therefore you passed by near your servant.”