Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and 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.
- BSB Let a little water be brought, that you may 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 24:32And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.
- Gen 19:2And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
- Gen 43:24And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
- Luke 7:44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
- John 13:5–15After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
- 1 Sam 25:41And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
- 1 Tim 5:10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.