The Meaning of Genesis 18:4 Explained

Genesis 18:4

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

YLT: let, I pray thee, a little water be accepted, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree;

Darby: Let now a little water be fetched, that ye may wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

ASV: let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 18:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 18:1-15 - Abraham Entertains Heavenly Visitors
The Son of God is the central figure here. He loves the homes of men. It has ever been His wont to visit the homes and hearts of those who love him. See Proverbs 8:31. Abraham knew well that the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, had come to dwell with him. Others might see only three men, but he recognized his divine friend, addressing Him as "My Lord;" and when the two angels went forward alone to do their awful work in Sodom, he entered into close converse with the wondrous central figure, who remained with him still. He gave personal service, and so did Sarah. They gave their very best, fine, tender, and good. And in their love the Lord found satisfaction and rest. But remember that He still stands at the door and knocks. Ponder John 14:23; Revelation 3:20. Christ tells His secrets to those He loves. His proposals and promises are so great that we can almost laugh with incredulity, but the question of Genesis 18:14 is answered by Jeremiah 32:17. Reckon on God's faithfulness; He cannot fail those who trust Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 18

1  The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels
9  Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son
16  The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham
23  Abraham makes intercession for its inhabitants

What do the individual words in Genesis 18:4 mean?

Let be brought please a little water and wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree
יֻקַּֽח־ נָ֣א מְעַט־ מַ֔יִם וְרַחֲצ֖וּ רַגְלֵיכֶ֑ם וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ תַּ֥חַת הָעֵֽץ

יֻקַּֽח־  Let  be  brought 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
נָ֣א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
מְעַט־  a  little 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
מַ֔יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וְרַחֲצ֖וּ  and  wash 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רָחַץ  
Sense: to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe.
רַגְלֵיכֶ֑ם  your  feet 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person masculine plural
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ  and  rest  yourselves 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁעַן  
Sense: to lean on, trust in, support.
תַּ֥חַת  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
הָעֵֽץ  the  tree 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.