Genesis 18:22

18:22 The two men turned and headed toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the Lord.

Genesis 29:16

29:16 (Now Laban had two daughters; the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel.

Genesis 40:2

40:2 Pharaoh was enraged with his two officials, the cupbearer and the baker,

Genesis 49:14

49:14 Issachar is a strong-boned donkey

lying down between two saddlebags.


tn Heb “And the men turned from there.” The word “two” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied here for clarity. Gen 19:1 mentions only two individuals (described as “angels”), while Abraham had entertained three visitors (18:2). The implication is that the Lord was the third visitor, who remained behind with Abraham here. The words “from there” are not included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

tn Heb “went.”

tc An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition reads “but the Lord remained standing before Abraham.” This reading is problematic because the phrase “standing before” typically indicates intercession, but the Lord would certainly not be interceding before Abraham.

tn Heb “and to Laban [there were] two daughters.” The disjunctive clause (introduced here by a conjunction and a prepositional phrase) provides supplemental material that is important to the story. Since this material is parenthetical in nature, vv. 16-17 have been set in parentheses in the translation.

tn The Hebrew word סָרִיס (saris), used here of these two men and of Potiphar (see 39:1), normally means “eunuch.” But evidence from Akkadian texts shows that in early times the title was used of a court official in general. Only later did it become more specialized in its use.