Who were the three
mysterious strangers that visited Abraham?

Who were the three
mysterious strangers that visited Abraham?

Q. In Genesis 18, did Abraham know the three strangers that came to his tent or was he just being hospitable based on custom?

A. Let's take a look at the scriptures discussing the meeting in question.

" And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 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.

" And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead [it], and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave [it] unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set [it] before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat." (Genesis 18:1-8)

My off-the-cuff response would be that Abraham was being hospitable based on custom ---- but he may have also known one of them personally. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, from Moody Bible Institute, page 24, has this comment for Genesis 18:2 (italicized above):

"Abraham proved extraordinarily hospitable. He did everything for his guests that Oriental hospitality could suggest. His manner was all that could be asked."

JFB Commentary by The Zondervan Corporation, page 28, has this to say about verse 2 --

"he ran to meet them . . .When the visitor is an ordinary person, the host merely rises; but if of superior rank, the custom is to advance a little towards the stranger, and after a very low bow, turn and lead him to the tent, putting an arm round his waist, or tapping him on the shoulder as they go, to assure him of welcome."

In Genesis 18:1, the word "Lord" is Strong's Concordance #3068 Yehovah, generally pronounced as Jehovah. (Other pronunciations include Yahweh and Yahveh. The name is so sacred that orthodox Jews will not even attempt to pronounce it. Instead they usually use the term "Hashem" or "Adonai".)

We know from previous scriptures, Genesis 12:1, Genesis 15:1, and Genesis 17:1 that Abraham had seen the "Lord" appearing to him as Yehovah. In John 8:53, in a dialogue between Jesus and the Jews, Jesus is asked the question,

"Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do you make yourself out to be?"

We note Christ's response to this question in verses 56-58:

"Your father rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet 50 years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM'" (NKJV, throughout).

This indicates a high probability that Jesus was the Yehovah whom Abraham saw that day on the plains of Mamre in the heat of the day. In Genesis 18:3, the word "Lord" is the same word as in verse 1, but is plural, which would seem to indicate that Abraham could not determine that they were heavenly beings --- for they appeared as men. It wasn't until after the three had eaten, verses 9-15, that Abraham realized the true identity of his visitors and their purpose.

The account recorded in the 18th chapter of Genesis bespeaks the very high esteem that Abraham held in the eyes of God. That is why he is called "Abraham My friend" in Isaiah 41:8; that is why he is called God's "friend forever" in 2Chron. 20:7; and that is also why in James 2:23, " . . . he was called the friend of God". And, as an added twist, Abraham had just been circumcised 3 days before meeting the three visitors!!

Answer Given By: Tommy West