Genesis 19:22

22 Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you get there." Because Lot called it small, the town was named Zoar.

Genesis 19:22 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 19:22

Haste thee, escape thither
Seeing he had granted him his request, he is urgent upon him to be gone, and not to delay upon any account, or make other excuses:

for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither;
that is, consistent with the decree of God, that Lot and his family should be delivered and preserved, and with his promise made to him, that he would not overthrow that city; and therefore the catastrophe which would befall all the cities at once could not begin until he was safely arrived there:

therefore the name of the city was called Zoar;
in later times, and probably first by Lot, from his use of the word "little", which was his request, which Zoar signifies; it before was called Bela, see ( Genesis 14:2 ) .

Genesis 19:22 In-Context

20 Do you see that little town? It is near enough. Let me go over there - you can see it is just a small place - and I will be safe."
21 He answered, "All right, I agree. I won't destroy that town.
22 Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you get there." Because Lot called it small, the town was named Zoar.
23 The sun was rising when Lot reached Zoar.
24 Suddenly the Lord rained burning sulfur on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. zoar: [This name sounds like the Hebrew for "small."]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.