Three Strangers Visit Abraham, Something Funny Happens

GENESIS 18:1 TO 18:15

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

This is the story of three mysterious strangers who visited Abraham and it's unexpected outcome. Namely, that Sarah gives birth to a son as an old woman after laughing at the suggestion before it ever happens. Follow any link in this summary to jump to that section in the Scripture below.

As Abraham is seeking shelter in his tent from the heat of the day, three men suddenly appear outside. Abraham runs to greet them and welcomes them to rest and refuel with him. After Abraham has a meal prepared for them by his wife Sarah and feeds them, the voice of God foretells that the aged Sarah will have a son. The idea of having a child at her advanced age causes Sarah to laugh within herself. Then God says, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." Although Sarah, not wanting to offend God, denied having laughed, God corrected her saying she did laugh.

Later on after the visit and three chapers later, Sarah would give birth to a baby boy (Genesis 21), fulfilling God's promise. Abraham and Sarah name their son Isaac which means: "laughter" in Hebrew. After Isaac is born Sarah says, "God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me." And this funny old story continues to live on making history still today.

Abraham and the Three Angels, by Giambattista Tiepolo Gianbattista (1696-1770) Image

End of article commentary on ‘Three Strangers’. Below is the full story Scripture.

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Three Strangers, Full Scripture

Genesis 18

  • 1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

  • 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

  • 3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

  • 4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

  • 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

  • 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

  • 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

  • 8 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.

  • 9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

  • 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

  • 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

  • 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

  • 13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

  • 14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

  • 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

  • This is the end of Bible verses related to ‘Three Strangers’. To see this story in its biblical context, see the summary and overview of the Book of Genesis.


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