Genesis 18:4
in Genesis 18Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
KJV
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
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This verse in Genesis 18
Commentary
6 notes on this verseBut how does he continue again as if speaking to men: "Let water be received," the text says, "and your feet be washed"?Abraham, the father and teacher of nations, is indeed teaching you by these things how you ought to receive guests and that you should wash the feet of guests. Nevertheless even this is said mysteriously. For he knew that the mysteries of the Lord were not to be completed except in the washing of feet.
This site's exposition
if I have found favor in your sight
on Genesis 18:3-5
Abraham addresses him as lord, Adonai in Hebrew, the word for a man of rank. Clarke takes that as a sign he still did not know who stood there. The offer is small, a little water, a bit of bread, a wash for their feet and rest under the tree. He calls himself their servant twice.
This site's exposition
wash your feet
Water for the feet comes first in the offer. Adam Clarke explains that travellers then wore only soles strapped to the foot, so a day on the road in that heat left the feet caked with dust. Rest under the tree is the second courtesy.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
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.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
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.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יֻקַּֽח־ | yukach- | let it be brought | H3947 → | 966 times |
| נָ֣א | na' | please | H4994 → | 404 times |
| מְעַט־ | meat- | a little of | H4592 → | 101 times |
| מַ֔יִם | mayim | water | H4325 → | 581 times |
| וְרַחֲצ֖וּ | verachatzu | and wash | H7364 → | 72 times |
| רַגְלֵיכֶ֑ם | ragleikhem | feet your | H7272 → | 247 times |
| וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ | vehishaanu | and support yourself | H8172 → | |
| תַּ֥חַת | tachat | under | H8478 → | 505 times |
| הָעֵֽץ׃ | haetz | the tree | H6086 → | 328 times |
יֻקַּֽח־let it be brought
yukach-H3947 →966 times
נָ֣אplease
na'H4994 →404 times
מְעַט־a little of
meat-H4592 →101 times
מַ֔יִםwater
mayimH4325 →581 times
וְרַחֲצ֖וּand wash
verachatzuH7364 →72 times
רַגְלֵיכֶ֑םfeet your
ragleikhemH7272 →247 times
וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּand support yourself
vehishaanuH8172 →
תַּ֥חַתunder
tachatH8478 →505 times
הָעֵֽץ׃the tree
haetzH6086 →328 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 7:44And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with…
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:10
and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Genesis 19:2
and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 5:10
Through
Genesis 24:32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
it leads to
- Judges 19:21
So he brought him to his house and fed his donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Genesis 43:24
And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 7:44
And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Judges 19:21
Through
1 Samuel 25:41She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
it leads to
- Ruth 2:10
At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though…
- John 13:3–5
Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.
- Ruth 2:10
Through
Genesis 43:24And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.
it leads to
- Genesis 24:32
So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
- Genesis 24:32
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 83.4; John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 4.2.