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Genesis 18:4

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Please let me bring some water so you can wash your feet, and then rest in the shade under this tree.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Abraham is warmly welcoming three visitors by offering them water to wash their dusty feet and a place to rest in the shade.

📚 Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, offering hospitality to strangers was a sacred duty, as travelers often endured harsh desert conditions and relied on hosts for basic needs like water and rest. Abraham, while sitting at the entrance of his tent in the region of Mamre, encounters three mysterious visitors who are later revealed to be divine messengers, and he immediately proposes they wash their feet and relax under a tree as a gesture of welcome. This act reflects the cultural emphasis on hospitality in Abraham's time, which was essential for survival and social harmony in nomadic societies.

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