Genesis 18:26

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.)

Genesis 18:26 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:26

If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city
Sodom is particularly mentioned because Lot dwelt there, and being the metropolis, and the city of greatest note, as Jarchi observes, it is put for the rest; and the sense is, if fifty righteous persons could be found in all the five cities, mercy should be shown them: then will I spare all the place for their sakes;
not Sodom only, but the whole country, of which Sodom was the chief; the Lord takes up and agrees to the number Abraham pitched upon, and grants the request he makes.

Genesis 18:26 In-Context

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.)