Genesis 19:22

22 haste thee, and be thou saved there, for I may not do anything till thou enter [in] thither. Therefore the name of that city was called Zoar. (haste thee, and be thou made safe there, for I shall not do anything until thou hast entered in there. And so that is why that city was called Zoar, or Small.)

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 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.
21 And he said to Lot, Lo! also in this I have received thy prayers, that I destroy not the city, for which thou hast spoken; (And he said to Lot, Lo! also in this I have received thy prayers, and I shall not destroy the city, of which thou hast spoken;)
22 haste thee, and be thou saved there, for I may not do anything till thou enter [in] thither. Therefore the name of that city was called Zoar. (haste thee, and be thou made safe there, for I shall not do anything until thou hast entered in there. And so that is why that city was called Zoar, or Small.)
23 (And so) The sun rose (up) on [the] earth, and Lot entered into Zoar.
24 Therefore the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire, from the Lord of heaven, (And so the Lord rained down fire and brimstone from the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah,)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.