Genesis 18:23-25

23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[a] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

Genesis 18:23-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 18

Another appearance of God to Abraham is here recorded; three persons are seen by him in an human form, whom he kindly invites to stop with him, and generously entertains them, Ge 18:1-8; they inquire concerning Sarah his wife, and one of them renews the promise of her bearing a son to him, which occasions laughter in her, for which she is reproved, Ge 18:9-15; upon their departure the Lord thought fit, for reasons given, to make known to Abraham his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 18:16-22; when Abraham intercedes for the preservation of those cities in a most importunate and affectionate manner, Ge 18:23-33.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Exodus 23:7; Lev 4:3,22,27; Numbers 16:22; Deuteronomy 27:25; 2 Samuel 24:17; Psalms 11:4-7; Psalms 94:21; Ezekiel 18:4; 2 Peter 2:9
  • 2. ver 26; Jeremiah 5:1
  • 3. Genesis 44:7,17; Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 8:3-7; Job 34:10
  • 4. Isaiah 5:20; Amos 5:15; Malachi 2:17; Malachi 3:18
  • 5. Deuteronomy 1:16-17
  • 6. Judges 11:27; Job 9:15; Psalms 7:11; Psalms 94:2; Hebrews 12:23
  • 7. Genesis 20:4; Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Ezra 9:15; Nehemiah 9:33; Job 8:3,20; Job 34:10; Job 36:23; Psalms 58:11; Psalms 75:7; Psalms 94:2; Psalms 119:137; Isaiah 3:10-11; Ezekiel 18:25; Daniel 4:37; Daniel 9:14; Malachi 2:17; Romans 3:6

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "forgive" ; also in verse 26
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