Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now let a little water be fetched, 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:
- NKJV Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
- NASB Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and make yourselves comfortable under the tree;
- NLT Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Abraham offers water to wash their feet and rest in the shade.
Overview
Foot-washing and rest were customary courtesies to weary travelers in the ancient Near East. Abraham's care for his guests' comfort shows generous, attentive hospitality. The same humble service of washing feet would later be embodied supremely by Christ (John 13).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Gen 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.
- Gen 19:2and 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 will spend the night in the square.”
- Gen 43:24And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.
- 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 her tears and wiped them with her hair.
- John 13:5–15After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
- 1 Sam 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.”
- 1 Tim 5:10and 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 18:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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