Bible Strands
Genesis 18:16
When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrative places three men preparing to depart from Abraham’s camp while Abraham stands nearby. This occurs immediately after the Lord’s dialogue regarding Sodom and Sarah’s denial of her laughter.
The words — וַ/יַּשְׁקִ֖פוּ (va/i.yash.Ki.fu) denotes a downward or distant gaze, literally translated as "and they looked down." הָֽ/אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (ha./'a.na.Shim) simply identifies the travelers as "the men."
The thread — The motif of accompanying travelers to their departure recurs in Acts 15:3, Acts 20:38, and Acts 21:5, where groups walk with departing figures to see them off. This pattern mirrors Abraham’s physical escort of the visitors toward Sodom.
Why it lands — The text records a physical escort and a directional gaze toward a city under judgment, establishing Abraham’s proximity to the events about to unfold. It requires the reader to note the deliberate positioning of the patriarch relative to the coming verdict.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
Cross-references
- Acts 21:5 But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us.
- Acts 15:3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
- Acts 20:38 They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
- 3 John 1:6 They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
- Romans 15:24 I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.