Genesis 18:28

28 quid si minus quinquaginta iustis quinque fuerint delebis propter quinque universam urbem et ait non delebo si invenero ibi quadraginta quinque

Genesis 18:28 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:28

Peradventure there should lack five of the fifty righteous,
&c.] Or there should be but forty five; for Abraham perceived, by the Lord's answer, that there were not fifty righteous persons in the place: wilt thou destroy all the city for [lack of] five?
Abraham proceeds gradually in his requests, and does not ask too much at once, lest he should not succeed: and he said, if l find there forty and five, I will not destroy [it];
that is, forty five righteous persons.

Genesis 18:28 In-Context

26 dixitque Dominus ad eum si invenero Sodomis quinquaginta iustos in medio civitatis dimittam omni loco propter eos

27 respondens Abraham ait quia semel coepi loquar ad Dominum meum cum sim pulvis et cinis

28 quid si minus quinquaginta iustis quinque fuerint delebis propter quinque universam urbem et ait non delebo si invenero ibi quadraginta quinque

29 rursumque locutus est ad eum sin autem quadraginta inventi fuerint quid facies ait non percutiam propter quadraginta

30 ne quaeso inquit indigneris Domine si loquar quid si inventi fuerint ibi triginta respondit non faciam si invenero ibi triginta