Genesis 18:17

Genesis 18:17, in plain English

The LORD reflects aloud, asking whether He should hide from Abraham what He's about to do regarding Sodom and Gomorrah.

Why it's here

This is an internal divine question—God is basically thinking out loud about Abraham. He's about to share something serious and troubling about His judgment on these cities. The question isn't really about whether He should hide it; it's about His relationship with Abraham and what Abraham deserves to know.

Who's speaking

The LORD speaking, perhaps to Himself or to the other divine beings present

Where it sits in the story

God is signaling that Abraham isn't just someone who receives blessings privately. He's being drawn into God's concerns for justice and the fate of nations.

The scholarly reading

The LORD poses a rhetorical question to Himself (as it were) about whether He should conceal from Abraham the approaching judgment on Sodom—questioning the very basis for revealing Himself to Abraham.

Language and setting

The construction הַמְכַסֶּה אָנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם (hamekhasse ani meAvraham, Shall I hide from Abraham) is a rhetorical question that asserts the opposite of what it asks—the implicit answer is 'No, I will not hide.' This soliloquy by the LORD (though audible to Abraham) serves an important function: it moves the narrative into the register of divine deliberation. The LORD is not simply executing predetermined judgment but reasoning through the appropriate relationship between revelation and concealment, between knowledge and ignorance. The question implicitly affirms that Abraham has a particular status among the nations—he is the one to whom God discloses His purposes.

Voice

The LORD, speaking to Himself but in Abraham's presence, articulating the principle of divine disclosure.

Significance

This verse initiates the theological foundation for Abraham's intercession in verses 23-32. The LORD is establishing the principle that Abraham, as the covenant bearer, must know what God is doing and why. This establishes what subsequent biblical theology will call 'the counsel of the LORD' being revealed to the prophets (Amos 3:7). Abraham's status as recipient of divine knowledge creates his standing to question God's justice in the following verses.

15But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.”

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.

19For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”

Read all of Genesis 18 — Strangers arrive at Abraham's tent. One of them is the Lord. And Abraham dares to argue with God about justice.