Genesis 18 · Verse 4

Genesis 18:4

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
Genesis 18:4, King James Version

Genesis 18:4 in other translations

BSBLet a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
WEBNow let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
ASVlet now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
YLTlet, I pray thee, a little water be accepted, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree;
DARBYLet now a little water be fetched, that ye may wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
BBELet me get water for washing your feet, and take your rest under the tree:
WebsterLet a little water, I pray you, be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

What does Genesis 18:4 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Let a little water - be fetched, and wash your feet, etc. - In these verses we find a delightful picture of primitive hospitality. In those ancient times shoes such as ours were not in use; and the foot was protected only by sandals or soles, which fastened round the foot with straps. It was therefore a great refreshment in so hot a country to get the feet washed at the end of a day's journey; and this is the first thing that Abraham proposes. Rest yourselves under the tree - We have already heard of the oak grove of Mamre, Gen 12:6, and this was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveler, viz., rest in the shade.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 18:1-8

Abraham was waiting to entertain any weary traveller, for inns were not to be met with as among us. While Abraham was thus sitting, he saw three men coming. These were three heavenly beings in human bodies. Some think they were all created angels; others, that one of them was the Son of God, the Angel of the covenant. Washing the feet is customary in those hot climates, where only sandals are worn. We should not be…

Read the full comment on Genesis 18:1-8 →

Genesis 18:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יֻקַּֽח\־yu.kach-let it be broughtH3947
נָ֣אna'pleaseH4994
מְעַט\־me.'at-a little ofH4592
מַ֔יִםMa.yimwaterH4325
וְרַחֲצ֖וּve.ra.cha.Tzuand washH7364
רַגְלֵיכֶ֑םrag.lei.Khemfeet yourH7272
וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּve.hi.sha.'a.Nuand support yourselfH8172
תַּ֥חַתTa.chatunderH8478
הָעֵֽץ\׃ha.'Etzthe treeH6086

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 18:4

  • Genesis 43:24

    And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

  • Genesis 24:32

    And 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.

  • Genesis 19:2

    And 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.

  • Luke 7:44

    And 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.

  • 1 Samuel 25:41

    And 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.

  • John 13:5-15

    After 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. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. …

  • 1 Timothy 5:10

    Well 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
wash your feet.In those ancient times, shoes such as ours, were not in use; and the foot was protected only with sandals or soles, fastened round the foot with straps. It was, therefore, not only necessary from motives of cleanliness, but also a very great refreshment, in so hot a country, to get the feet washed at the end of a day's journey; and this is the first thing that Abraham proposes.
19:2; 24:32; 43:24; 1Sa 25:41; Lu 7:44; Joh 13:5-15; 1Ti 5:10
tree.Rest in the shade was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveller.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 18:3

    And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

  • Genesis 18:4

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

  • Genesis 18:5

    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.

Read all of Genesis 18

Genesis 18:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que se traiga ahora un poco de agua, y lavad vuestros pies; y recostaos debajo de un árbol,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qu’on prenne, je te prie, un peu d’eau, et vous laverez vos pieds, et vous vous reposerez sous l’arbre;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es werde doch ein wenig Wasser geholt, und waschet eure Füße; und lagert euch unter dem Baume,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		sed afferam pauxillum aquæ, et lavate pedes vestros, et requiescite sub arbore.