Genesis 19:18

18 And Lot said to them, My Lord (My lords), I beseech,

Genesis 19:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 19:18

And Lot said unto them
Supposing three present, not observing that the two angels had left him that had brought him thither; though it is but to one of them he addresses himself, even to him who had bid him make the best of his way to the mountain, as appears by what follows: oh, not so, my Lord;
that is, let me not be obliged to go so far as to the mountain; though R. Samuel takes it to be an assent, and interprets the phrase of his being willing: but this does not agree with what follows, and is rejected by Aben Ezra, who relates it; and who also observes, that the word "Lord" is a common name, that is, that belongs to a creature; but Jarchi says their Rabbins take it to be an holy name, that is, a name that belongs to God, and gives a good reason why it is so to be understood here; since the person spoken to had it in his power to kill or make alive, to save or destroy, as the following words show; so Ben Melech and the Targum of Oukelos render it by Jehovah.

Genesis 19:18 In-Context

16 While he dissembled, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, and of his two daughters; for the Lord spared him. And they led out him, and set him without the city. (And while he hesitated, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, and the hands of his two daughters; for the Lord had spared him. And they led them away, and brought them outside the city.)
17 There they spake to him, and said, Save thou thy life; do not thou behold behind thy back, neither stand thou in all the country(side) about, but make thee safe in the hill(s); lest also thou perish (al)together. (And they spoke to him there, and said, Save thou thy life; do not thou look behind thy back, nor stand thou in all the countryside about, but make thee safe in the hills; lest also thou altogether perish.)
18 And Lot said to them, My Lord (My lords), I beseech,
19 for thy servant hath found grace before thee, and thou hast magnified thy grace and mercy, which thou hast done to me, (so) that thou shouldest save my life, (I am most grateful); (but) I may not be saved in the hill(s), lest peradventure evil (over)take me, and I die (but I cannot be saved in the hills, for before that I can get there, the destruction shall surely overtake me, and I shall die);
20 a little city is here beside (there is a little city here), to which I may flee, and I shall be safe therein; whether it is not (such) a little city? and my soul shall live therein.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.