Genesis 18:21-31

21 I shall come down, and see whether they have [ful]filled in work the cry that came to me, that I know whether it is not so. (and so I shall go down there, and see whether their deeds have warranted the outcry that came to me, and so that I know if it is so, or not.)
22 And they turned them[selves] from thence, and went to Sodom. Abraham soothly stood yet before the Lord, (And then two of the men went forth from there, and went down to Sodom. But Abraham stood yet before the Lord,)
23 and nighed, and said, Whether thou shalt lose a just man with the wicked? (and he came over, and said to him, Shalt thou destroy the righteous along with the wicked?)
24 if fifty just men be in the city, shall they perish together, and shalt thou not spare that place for fifty just men, if they be therein? (what if fifty righteous people be in the city, shall they perish along with the others, and shalt thou not spare that place for fifty righteous people, if they be there?)
25 Far be it from thee that thou do this thing, and slay the just with the wicked, and that a just man be made as a wicked man; this is not thine that deemest all [the] earth; thou shalt not make this doom. (Far be it from thee that thou do this thing, and kill the righteous along with the wicked, and that the righteous be made like the wicked; this is not thee who judgest all the earth; nay, thou shalt not make such a judgement.)
26 And the Lord said to him, If I shall find in Sodom fifty just men in the midst of the city, I shall forgive to all the place for them. (And the Lord said to him, If I shall find in Sodom fifty righteous people in the midst of the city, I shall forgive the whole place for their sake.)
27 Abraham answered and said, For I began once (For once I began), I shall speak to my Lord, since I am (but) dust and ashes;
28 what if less than fifty just men by five be, shalt thou do away all the city for five and forty? And the Lord said, I shall not do away, if I shall find five and forty there. (what if there be five less than fifty righteous people there, shalt thou do away all the city for forty-five? And the Lord said, I shall not do them all away, if I shall find forty-five righteous people there.)
29 And again Abraham said to him, But if forty be there, what shalt thou do? The Lord said, I shall not smite for forty (I shall not strike them all down, for the sake of forty righteous people).
30 Abraham said, Lord, I beseech, take thou (it) not into indignation, if I speak (again); what if thirty be found there? The Lord answered, I shall not do (it), if I shall find thirty there.
31 Abraham said, For I began once, I shall speak to my Lord; what if twenty be found there? The Lord said, I shall not slay for twenty. (Abraham said, For once I began, I shall speak again to my Lord; what if twenty be found there? The Lord said, I shall not slay them all, for the sake of twenty.)

Genesis 18:21-31 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.