a little or few (often adverbial or compar.) · noun, common masculine singular construct
water
מַ֔יִםMa.yim
H4325
water · noun, common masculine plural absolute
you
נָ֣אna'
H4994
'I pray' · interjection
fetched
יֻקַּֽחyu.kach-
H3947
to take (in the widest variety of applications) · verb, hophal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular
wash
וְרַחֲצ֖וּve.ra.cha.Tzu
H7364
to lave (the whole or a part of a thing) · conjunction + verb, qal imperative, 2nd person masculine plural
feet
רַגְלֵיכֶ֑םrag.lei.Khem
H7272
a foot (as used in walking) · noun, common feminine dual construct + pronominal suffix, 2nd person masculine plural
yourselves
וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּve.hi.sha.'a.Nu
H8172
to support one's self · conjunction + verb, niphal imperative, 2nd person masculine plural
tree
הָעֵֽץha.'Etz
H6086
a tree (from its firmness) · definite article + noun, common masculine singular absolute
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Genesis 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall ris…
Genesis 24:32 And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and th…
Genesis 43:24 And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
Luke 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but…
1 Samuel 25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servant…
John 13:5-15 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
1 Timothy 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she…
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Genesis 18:1-8
The appearance of God to Abraham seems to have had in it more of freedom and familiarity, and less of grandeur and majesty, than those we have hitherto read of; and therefore more resembles that great visit which, in the fullness of time, the Son of God was to make to the world, when the Word would be flesh, and appear as one of us. Observe here,
I. How Abraham expected strangers, and how richly his expectations were answered (Gen 18:1): He sat in the tent-door, in the heat of the day; not so much to repose or divert himself as to seek an opportunity of doing good, by giving entertainment to strangers and travellers, there being perhaps no inns to accommodate them. Note, 1. We are likely to…
My Lord, if now I have found favor--The hospitalities offered are just of the kind that are necessary and most grateful, the refreshment of water, for feet exposed to dust and heat by the sandals, being still the first observed among the pastoral people of Hebron.
Adam Clarke on Genesis 18:4
Let a little water - be fetched, and wash your feet, etc. - In these verses we find a delightful picture of primitive hospitality. In those ancient times shoes such as ours were not in use; and the foot was protected only by sandals or soles, which fastened round the foot with straps. It was therefore a great refreshment in so hot a country to get the feet washed at the end of a day's journey; and this is the first thing that Abraham proposes.
Rest yourselves under the tree - We have already heard of the oak grove of Mamre, Gen 12:6, and this was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveler, viz., rest in the shade.
John Gill on Genesis 18:4
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet,.... Which was very refreshing to travellers in hot countries, who walked barefoot or in sandals; and this he proposes to be done by one of his servants, whose business it was, only desires they would give him leave to order it, 1 Samuel 25:41; and so it was usual in other countries, and in later times, for servants to fetch water to wash the hands and feet of guests (l):
and rest yourselves under the tree; before the tent door, under which doubtless were seats to sit down upon, where they might rest their weary limbs; it is very probable this was an oak tree, and which, and a turpentine tree the ancient writers speak of, contin…
The Church Fathers
ON THE MEAL SERVED TO THE ANGELS BY ABRAHAM. — Let water now be brought, and let them wash your feet, and do refresh under the tree . And I will bring bread . If Abraham took them for angels, how could he invite them to this hospitality? For food is a need for our mortal flesh, but not for the immortal nature of the angels. [
But how does he add again, as though speaking to men: "Let water be taken," he says, "and let your feet be washed"? Through these things indeed Abraham, the father and teacher of the nations, teaches you how you ought to receive guests and that you should wash the feet of guests; yet this too is said in a mystery. For he knew that the dominical sacraments are not to be consummated except in the washing of feet. But neither did the weight of that precept escape him, in which it is said by the Savior: "If any will not receive you, shake off even the dust which has clung to your feet, as a testimony against them. Amen I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for that city." He wished therefore to anticipate and to wash their feet, lest perhaps any dust should remain which, shaken off as a testimony of unbelief, could be reserved "for the day of judgment." Therefore the wise Abraham says: "Let water be taken and let your feet be washed."
Moreover he adds, as though speaking to the men, "I will bring water, that you may wash your feet." Learn from blessed Abraham, brothers, to receive strangers gladly and to wash their feet with humility and piety. Wash, I repeat, the feet of pious strangers, lest there remain in them some dust that they will be able to shake off of their feet to your judgment. In the Gospel we read, "Whoever does not receive you—go forth and shake off the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that town." Abraham foresaw this in spirit and for this reason wanted to anticipate it by washing their feet, lest perchance any dust remain that might be kept and shaken off on judgment day as an evidence of unbelief. Therefore the wise Abraham says, "I will bring water, that you may wash your feet." Carefully listen to this, brothers, if you are unwilling to exercise hospitality and to receive even your enemy as a guest. Behold, while blessed Abraham welcomed those men warmly, he merited to receive God in consideration of his hospitality. Christ further confirmed this in the Gospel when he said, "I was a stranger, and you took me in." Therefore do not despise strangers, lest perhaps he himself be the one you have rejected.
Dictionary and topics
Angel — A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a “messenger,” and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam.…
Cook — A person employed to perform culinary service. In early times among the Hebrews cooking was performed by the mistress of the household (Gen. 18:2-6; Judg. 6:19), and the process was very…
Tent — (1.) Heb. ‘ohel (Gen. 9:21, 27). This word is used also of a dwelling or habitation (1 Kings 8:66; Isa. 16:5; Jer. 4:20), and of the temple (Ezek. 41:1). When used of the tabernacle, as in 1 Kings…
Washing The Hands And Feet — As knives and forks were not used in the East, in Scripture times, in eating, it was necessary that the hand, which was thrust into the common dish, should be scrupulously clean; and again, as…
Ablution · Of the feet — Of the feet
Abraham · Angels appear to — Angels appear to
Communion · .Abraham — .Abraham
Condescension Of God · Enters into covenant with Abraham — Enters into covenant with Abraham
Entertainments · Guests at: Had their feet washed when they came a distance — Guests at: Had their feet washed when they came a distance
Feet, The · Of strangers and travellers washed — Of strangers and travellers washed
Pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant In asking thus meekly, and even suppliantly, there is no doubt that Abraham does it, moved by the reason which I have stated. For if he had slaughtered calves for all kinds of travelers, his house would soon have been emptied by his profuse expenditure. He, therefore, did honor to their virtue and their excellent endowments, lest he should pour contempt upon God. Thus, neither was he so liberal as to invite wanderers, or other men of all kinds, who herd together; nor did ambition induce him to deal thus bountifully with these three persons, but rather his love and affection for those gifts of God, and those virtues which appeared in them. As to hi…
When sitting, about mid-day, in the grove of Mamre, in front of his tent, Abraham looked up and unexpectedly saw three men standing at some distance from him (עליו above him, looking down upon him as he sat), viz., Jehovah (Gen 18:13) and two angels (Gen 19:1); all three in human form. Perceiving at once that one of them was the Lord (אדני, i.e., God), he prostrated himself reverentially before them, and entreated them not to pass him by, but to suffer him to entertain them as his guests: "Let a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves (השּׁען( sevle to recline, leaning upon the arm) under the tree." - "Comfort your hearts:" lit., "strengthen the heart," i.e., refr…
My lord: The Hebrew text uses ’adonay (“Lord”), the word that is usually reserved for God. In Hebrew tradition, it was spoken in places where the holy name Yahweh (the Lord) was in the text. Perhaps the text uses ’adonay rather than the more common ’adoni to show that this was the angel of the Lord—i.e., the Lord himself (see study note on 16:7). We don’t know whether Abraham knew his visitors’ identity at the outset, but by the story’s end Abraham certainly knew he had been talking with God.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
— .Abraham to the angels
Isaac · 1. The miraculous — 1. The miraculous
Mamre · .Entertains three angels, and is promised a — .Entertains three angels, and is promised a
Tents · Were pitched: Under trees — Were pitched: Under trees
Travellers · Generally treated with great hospitality — Generally treated with great hospitality
Trees · Afford an agreeable shade in eastern countries during the heat of the day — Afford an agreeable shade in eastern countries during the heat of the day
Water · Was used by Jews: For washing the person — Was used by Jews: For washing the person
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
