Genesis 19:22

22 But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.[a] )

Genesis 19:22 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
New Living Translation (NLT)
22 But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”)
The Message Bible (MSG)
22 But hurry up. Run for it! I can't do anything until you get there." That's why the town was called Zoar, that is, Smalltown.
American Standard Version (ASV)
22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
22 Run there quickly, because I can't do anything until you get there." (The city is named Zoar [Small].)
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
22 Hurry up! Run there, for I cannot do anything until you get there." Therefore the name of the city is Zoar.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
22 But run there quickly. I can't do anything until you reach it." The town was named Zoar. Zoar means "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 Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”
21 He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of.
22 But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar. )
23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land.
24 Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Genesis 13:10

Footnotes 1

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