Genesis 18:22-32

22 Then ¹the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before ²the LORD.

23 Abraham came near and said, "³Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24 "Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?

25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not ⁴the Judge of all the earth deal justly?"

26 So the LORD said, "⁵If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account."

27 And Abraham replied, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but ⁶dust and ashes.

28 "Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?" And He said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five * there."

29 He spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose forty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do it on account of the forty."

30 Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

31 And he said, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the twenty."

32 Then he said, "⁷Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the ten."

Genesis 18:22-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 18

Another appearance of God to Abraham is here recorded; three persons are seen by him in an human form, whom he kindly invites to stop with him, and generously entertains them, Ge 18:1-8; they inquire concerning Sarah his wife, and one of them renews the promise of her bearing a son to him, which occasions laughter in her, for which she is reproved, Ge 18:9-15; upon their departure the Lord thought fit, for reasons given, to make known to Abraham his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 18:16-22; when Abraham intercedes for the preservation of those cities in a most importunate and affectionate manner, Ge 18:23-33.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 18:16; Genesis 19:1
• 2. Genesis 18:1, 17
• 3. Exodus 23:7; Numbers 16:22; 2 Samuel 24:17; Psalms 11:4-7
• 4. Deuteronomy 1:16, 17; Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 8:3, 20; Psalms 58:11; Psalms 94:2; Isaiah 3:10, 11; Romans 3:5, 6
• 5. Jeremiah 5:1
• 6. Genesis 3:19; Job 30:19; Job 42:6
• 7. Judges 6:39

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "forgive"
• [b]. Lit "after this manner"
• [c]. Lit "do justice"
• [d]. Or "forgive"
• [e]. Lit "undertaken"
• [f]. Lit "undertaken"