The Oak (Terebinth) of Mamre

Abraham pitched his tent and built an altar 'in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron.' Where the KJV says 'plain,' the Hebrew word is usually understood to mean great trees, oaks or terebinths, as many modern translations render it. There the LORD appeared to Abraham in the heat of the day, and Abraham ran to welcome three visitors, washing their feet and serving them a meal 'under the tree' as they promised that Sarah would bear a son. Great trees often mark holy places in Scripture: Jacob buried idols under the oak by Shechem, Joshua set up a covenant stone under an oak, and the angel of the LORD met Gideon under the oak at Ophrah.

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Strongest connections in Scripture

Genesis 18 Genesis 13

Key Passages

Under the Tree at Mamre

Genesis 18:1-8

Abraham welcomes the LORD's visitors with generous hospitality in the shade of the trees of Mamre.

A¹nd the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

² 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, ³ And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: ⁴ Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 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. ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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.