Genesis 18:8

Verse

Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

American Standard Version (1901)

And 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.

Bible in Basic English

And he took butter and milk and the young ox which he had made ready and put it before them, waiting by them under the tree while they took food.

Douay-Rheims 1899

He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree.

Free Bible Version

Then he took some yogurt, milk, and the cooked meat, and placed the food in front of them. He stood nearby under a tree while they ate.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he tooke butter and milke, and the calfe, which he had prepared, and set before them, and stoode himselfe by them vnder the tree, and they did eate.

King James (Authorized) Version

And 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.

One Unity Resource Bible

He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

Plain English Version

Then Abraham gave the men the cooked meat, and some cheese and milk. And Abraham stood near them in the shade of that tree, and he looked after them while they ate that food.

Translation for Translators

When the meat was cooked, Abraham brought some curds and milk and the meat that had been prepared, and set them in front of his visitors. Then he stood near them, under a tree, while they ate.

Unlocked Literal Bible

He took curds and milk, and the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

Noah Webster Bible

And 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.

World English Bible

He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

Young's Literal Translation

and he taketh butter and milk, and the son of the herd which he hath prepared, and setteth before them; and he is standing by them under the tree, and they do eat.

Context

The Three Visitors

⁷Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.⁸Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

Sermons

(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5

Chuck Smith

1.8K

Summary

In Genesis 18:8, Abraham generously serves his visitors by preparing a meal that includes freshly baked bread. This act of hospitality reflects the cultural value of showing kindness to strangers and guests. It also demonstrates Abraham's humility and willingness to serve others, setting an example of graciousness and generosity for believers to follow. The simple yet profound gesture of offering bread to his visitors showcases Abraham's faith in action and his desire to honor God through hospitality.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

And he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat - Nothing is more common in Hindostan than to see travelers and guests eating under the shade of trees. Feasts are scarcely ever held in houses. The house of a Hindoo serves for sleeping and cooking, and for shutting up the women; but is never considered as a sitting or dining room - Ward.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And he took butter and milk,.... Jarchi says, it was the fat of the milk gathered from the top of it, he means cream, and is different both from butter and from milk: this was either Abraham himself, who took and brought these, as Sarah or her maidens might bring the cakes when baked; or else Abraham's young man, since it follows: and the calf which he had dressed; either the whole of it, or some principal parts of it, reckoned the finest and choicest; though by what follows it seems to be Abraham himself, who may be said to dress the calf, it being done by his orders: and set it before them; a table being placed under the tree, he set, or ordered to be set, all those provisions before the three men, to feed upon, the cakes and butter, the milk and fatted calf: and he stood by them under the tree; not only to bid them welcome, but to minister to them; nor will this seem strange, or that the above several things were chiefly done by Abraham and Sarah, when it is observed that the greatest personages in the eastern countries, in early times, used to perform such services, and still do to this day, as a late traveller (r) informs us:"it is here (says he) no disgrace for persons of the highest character to busy themselves in what we should reckon menial employments; the greatest prince assists in the most laborious actions of husbandry; neither is he ashamed to fetch a lamb from his herd and kill it, while the princess his wife is impatient till she has prepared her fire and her kettle to seethe and dress it: the custom that still continues of walking either barefoot or with slippers requires the ancient compliment of bringing water upon the arrival of a stranger to wash his feet; and who is the person that presents himself first to do this office, and to give the "mar habbeh", or welcome, but the master of the family himself? who always distinguishes himself by being the most officious; and, after his entertainment is prepared, accounts it a breach of respect to sit down with his guests, but stands up all the time and serves them.''All which serves greatly to illustrate this passage; and the same learned author observes, that in this manner we find Achilles and Patroclus employed, as described by Homer (s), in providing an entertainment: and they did eat; or seemed to eat, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi; though as they assumed bodies so animated as to be capable of talking and walking, why not of eating and drinking? and there must have been a consumption of food some way or other, or Abraham would have known they had not eaten: we read of angels' food, Psa 78:25; our English poet had a notion of angels eating, and represents Eve providing a repast for the angel, which he owns to be no ungrateful food (t). (r) Dr. Shaw's Travels, p. 237, 238. Ed. 2. (s) Iliad. 9. ver. 205. (t) Milton's Paradise Lost, B. 5. ver. 412, &c.

Genesis 18:8

The Three Visitors

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

American Standard Version (1901)

And 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.

Bible in Basic English

And he took butter and milk and the young ox which he had made ready and put it before them, waiting by them under the tree while they took food.

Douay-Rheims 1899

He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree.

Free Bible Version

Then he took some yogurt, milk, and the cooked meat, and placed the food in front of them. He stood nearby under a tree while they ate.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he tooke butter and milke, and the calfe, which he had prepared, and set before them, and stoode himselfe by them vnder the tree, and they did eate.

King James (Authorized) Version

And 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.

One Unity Resource Bible

He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

Plain English Version

Then Abraham gave the men the cooked meat, and some cheese and milk. And Abraham stood near them in the shade of that tree, and he looked after them while they ate that food.

Translation for Translators

When the meat was cooked, Abraham brought some curds and milk and the meat that had been prepared, and set them in front of his visitors. Then he stood near them, under a tree, while they ate.

Unlocked Literal Bible

He took curds and milk, and the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

Noah Webster Bible

And 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.

World English Bible

He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

Young's Literal Translation

and he taketh butter and milk, and the son of the herd which he hath prepared, and setteth before them; and he is standing by them under the tree, and they do eat.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Genesis 18:8

Verse

Context

The Three Visitors

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Genesis 18:8

The Three Visitors

(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary