Genesis 18:30

30 He said, "Don't be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak. What if thirty are there?" The LORD said, "I won't do it if I find thirty there."

Genesis 18:30 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:30

And he said unto him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I
will speak
He feared, through his importunity, he should be wearisome to him and incur his displeasure; this being often the case among men, especially when inferiors are soliciting their superiors, and, not content with one favour, are pressing for more:

Peradventure there shall thirty be found there;
the abatement is larger than before; he only made an abatement of five at a time, now ten at once, and so he proceeds;

and he said, I will not do [it], if I find thirty there;
not destroy the place for their sake.

Genesis 18:30 In-Context

28 what if there are five fewer innocent people than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city over just five?" The LORD said, "If I find forty-five there, I won't destroy it."

29 Once again Abraham spoke, "What if forty are there?" The LORD said, "For the sake of forty, I will do nothing."

30 He said, "Don't be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak. What if thirty are there?" The LORD said, "I won't do it if I find thirty there."

31 Abraham said, "Since I've already decided to speak with my Lord, what if twenty are there?" The LORD said, "I won't do it, for the sake of twenty."

32 Abraham said, "Don't be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak just once more. What if there are ten?" And the LORD said, "I will not destroy it because of those ten."