Genesis 18:17
New International Version
Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

New Living Translation
“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked.

English Standard Version
The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Berean Standard Bible
And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

King James Bible
And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

New King James Version
And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,

New American Standard Bible
The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

NASB 1995
The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

NASB 1977
And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Yahweh said, “Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am about to do,

Amplified Bible
The LORD said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do,

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do;

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said to himself, "I should tell Abraham what I am going to do,

English Revised Version
And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said, "I shouldn't hide what I am going to do from Abraham.

Good News Translation
And the LORD said to himself, "I will not hide from Abraham what I am going to do.

International Standard Version
"Should I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do," the LORD asked,

Majority Standard Bible
And the LORD said, ?Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

NET Bible
Then the LORD said, "Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

New Heart English Bible
And God said, "Will I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

World English Bible
Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and YHWH said, “Am I concealing from Abraham that which I am doing,

Young's Literal Translation
and Jehovah said, 'Am I concealing from Abraham that which I am doing,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham what I do?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to do:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said: “How could I hide what I am about to do from Abraham,

New American Bible
The LORD considered: Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said, Shall I hide from my servant Abraham the thing which I am going to do,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said: “Will I hide from my Servant Abraham the thing that I do;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraam my servant what things I intend to do?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abraham Begs for Sodom
16When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off. 17And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.…

Cross References
Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

Psalm 25:14
The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.

James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

Isaiah 41:8
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—

Galatians 3:8
The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

2 Chronicles 20:7
Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?

Exodus 33:11
Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.

John 16:12-15
I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. / However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. / He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. ...

Ephesians 3:3-5
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. / In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, / which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” / But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Matthew 13:11
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Luke 10:21-24
At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. / All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” / Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

2 Kings 4:27
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

2 Chronicles 20:7
Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

Psalm 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

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Abraham Hide
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.














And the LORD said
This phrase introduces a divine monologue, emphasizing the direct communication from God. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred tetragrammaton, which signifies God's eternal and unchanging nature. This personal name of God underscores His covenant relationship with Abraham. Historically, this reflects the intimate relationship God had with His chosen people, a relationship that is foundational to the narrative of the Old Testament. The use of "said" indicates a deliberate and purposeful communication, highlighting the importance of what follows.

Shall I hide
The phrase "Shall I hide" suggests a rhetorical question, indicating God's intention to reveal rather than conceal. The Hebrew root "kāsâ" means to cover or conceal, and its use here implies that God is considering transparency with Abraham. This reflects the biblical theme of God as a revealer of mysteries to His prophets and friends, as seen in Amos 3:7, "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets." It underscores the privilege of being in a covenant relationship with God, where divine plans are shared with His people.

from Abraham
Abraham is central to this narrative, and his name, meaning "father of many nations," is significant in understanding his role in God's plan. The mention of Abraham here is not just about an individual but about the patriarch of a chosen people through whom God would bless all nations. Historically, Abraham is a pivotal figure in the Abrahamic faiths, and this moment highlights his unique position as a recipient of divine revelation. It also reflects the biblical principle that God engages with humanity through chosen individuals to fulfill His purposes.

what I am about to do?
This phrase indicates God's forthcoming actions, which in the context of Genesis 18, refer to the impending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. The Hebrew verb "ʿāśâ" (to do or make) is used here, emphasizing God's active role in the unfolding events. This reflects the biblical theme of divine justice and mercy, as God involves Abraham in His plans, allowing him to intercede for the righteous. It also points to the broader scriptural narrative where God’s actions are purposeful and aligned with His character of holiness and justice. The question posed by God invites reflection on His nature as both just and relational, engaging with humanity in His sovereign plans.

Verse 17. - And the Lord said (to himself), Shall I hide from Abraham - the LXX. interpolate, τοῦ παιδός μου; but, as Philo observes, τοῦ φιλοῦ μου would have been a more appropriate designation for the patriarch (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23) that thing which I do. I.e. propose to do, the present being used for the future, where, as m the utterances of God, whose will is equivalent to his deed, the action is regarded by the Speaker as being already as good as finished (vide Ewald, 'Hebrews Synt.,' § 135; Gesenius, § 126).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the LORD
וַֽיהֹוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said,
אָמָ֑ר (’ā·mār)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Shall I
אֲנִי֙ (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

hide
הַֽמְכַסֶּ֤ה (ham·ḵas·seh)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

from Abraham
מֵֽאַבְרָהָ֔ם (mê·’aḇ·rā·hām)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

what
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am about to do?
עֹשֶֽׂה׃ (‘ō·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT Law: Genesis 18:17 Yahweh said Will I hide from Abraham (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 18:16
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