Genesis 19:5

5 1And they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? 2Bring them out to us, that we 3may know them."

Genesis 19:5 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 19:5

And they called unto Lot
With a loud voice, that he might hear, they being in the street, and he within doors; and perhaps there might be a court before his house, through which there was a passage up to it, as seems from ( Genesis 19:6 ) :

and said unto him, where are the men which came in to thee this night?
for though they were angels, they appeared like men, and they seemed to be so to them who saw them go into Lot's house:

bring them out unto us, that we may know them;
not who they were, and from whence they came, and what their business was; nor did they pretend anything of this kind to hide and cover their design from Lot, but they were open and impudent, and declared their sin without shame and blushing, which is their character, ( Isaiah 3:9 ) ; their meaning was, that they might commit that unnatural sin with them, they were addicted to, and in common used, and which from them to this day bears the name of Sodomy. As lawful copulation with a man's wife is modestly expressed by knowing her, ( Genesis 4:1 Genesis 4:17 Genesis 4:25 ) ; so this unlawful and shocking copulation of man with man is expressed by this phrase; and that this was their meaning is plain from Lot's answer to them, ( Genesis 19:8 ) .

Genesis 19:5 In-Context

3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house.
5 And they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them."
6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him,
7 and said, "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Isaiah 3:9; [Genesis 13:13]
  • 2. Judges 19:22
  • 3. Romans 1:24, 27; Jude 7
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.