The Meaning of Genesis 18:5 Explained

Genesis 18:5

KJV: 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.

YLT: and I bring a piece of bread, and support ye your heart; afterwards pass on, for therefore have ye passed over unto your servant;' and they say, 'So mayest thou do as thou has spoken.'

Darby: And I will fetch a morsel of bread; and refresh yourselves; after that ye shall pass on; for therefore have ye passed on towards your servant. And they said, So do as thou hast said.

ASV: and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on: forasmuch as ye are come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 18:5 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 18:5 mean?

And I will bring a morsel of bread that you may refresh your hearts afterward you may pass by inasmuch upon thus you have come to your servant And they said Yes you may do as you have said
וְאֶקְחָ֨ה פַת־ לֶ֜חֶם וְסַעֲד֤וּ לִבְּכֶם֙ אַחַ֣ר תַּעֲבֹ֔רוּ כִּֽי־ עַל־ כֵּ֥ן עֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם עַֽל־ עַבְדְּכֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֵּ֥ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ

וְאֶקְחָ֨ה  And  I  will  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
פַת־  a  morsel 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: פַּת 
Sense: fragment, bit, morsel (of bread), piece.
לֶ֜חֶם  of  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
וְסַעֲד֤וּ  that  you  may  refresh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: סָעַד  
Sense: to support, sustain, stay, establish, strengthen, comfort.
לִבְּכֶם֙  your  hearts 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
אַחַ֣ר  afterward 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
תַּעֲבֹ֔רוּ  you  may  pass  by 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
כִּֽי־  inasmuch 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
כֵּ֥ן  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
עֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם  you  have  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
עַבְדְּכֶ֑ם  your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ  And  they  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
כֵּ֥ן  Yes 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה  you  may  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
דִּבַּֽרְתָּ  you  have  said 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.