Genesis 19:22

22 Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar. [a]

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 Look, there is a town nearby where I can flee, and it is a small place. Please let me flee there—is it not a small place? Then my life will be saved.”
21 “Very well,” he answered, “I will grant this request as well, and will not demolish the town you indicate.
22 Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar.
23 And by the time the sun had risen over the land, Lot had reached Zoar.
24 Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.

Footnotes 1

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