Genesis 19ESV
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Genesis19

English Standard Version

1The to in the , and was in the of . When them, he to them and himself with his to the

2and , My , to your and spend the and your . Then you may rise up and on your . They , ; we will the in the .

3But he them ; so they to him and his . And he them a and , and they .

4But they , the of the , the of , both and , the to the , the .

5And they to , are the to you ? Bring them to us, that we may them.

6 to the men at the , the him,

7and , I you, my , do not act so .

8 , I have who have not any . Let me bring them to you, and to them as you . to , for they have under the of my .

9But they , ! And they , This to , and he has the ! we will with you with them. Then they against the , and drew to the .

10But the their and into the with them and the .

11And they with the who were at the of the , both and , so that they out for the .

12Then the to , you ? , , , or you have in the , bring them of the .

13For are about to this , the against its people has become the Lord, and the Lord has us to it.

14So and to his , who were to his , ! Get of , for the Lord is about to the . But he to his to be .

15 , the , , ! your and your who are , you be in the of the .

16But he . So the and his and his by the , the Lord being to him, and they and the .

17And as they them , one , your . Do not or in the . to the , you be .

18And to them, , , my .

19 , your has in your , and you have in my . But I to the , lest the me and I .

20 , this is enough to to, and is a . Let me —is it not a ?—and my will be !

21He to him, , I you also, that I will not the of you have .

22 , for I you . the of the was .

23The had on the when to .

24Then the Lord on and and from the Lord out of .

25And he , and the , and the of the , and what on the .

26But Lot’s , him, , and she became a of .

27And went in the to the where he had the Lord.

28And he and and the of the , and he and, , the of the like the of a .

29So it was that, when the of the , and out of the of the when he the in had .

30Now out of and in the with his , for he was to in . So he in a with his .

31And the to the , Our is , and there is not a on to come to us after the of all the .

32 , let us our , and we will with him, that we may from our .

33So they their that . And the and with her . He did when she or when she .

34The next , the to the , , I with my . Let us make him . Then you and with him, that we may from our .

35So they their . And the and with him, and he did when she or when she .

36Thus the of by their .

37The a and his . is the of the to this .

38The also a and his . He is the of the to this .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 19.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The destruction of Sodom, and the deliverance of Lot. (1–29). The sin and disgrace of Lot. (30–38).

vv1-29

Lot was good, but there was not one more of the same character in the city. All the people of Sodom were very wicked and vile. Care was therefore taken for saving Lot and his family. Lot lingered; he trifled. Thus many who are under convictions about their spiritual state, and the necessity of a change, defer that needful work. The salvation of the most righteous men is of God's mercy, not by their own merit. We are saved by grace. God's power also must be acknowledged in bringing souls out of a sinful state If God had not been merciful to us, our lingering had been our ruin. Lot must flee for his life. He must not hanker after Sodom. Such commands as these are given to those who, through grace, are delivered out of a sinful state and condition. Return not to sin and Satan. Rest not in self and the world. Reach toward Christ and heaven, for that is escaping to the mountain, short of which we must not stop. Concerning this destruction, observe that it is a revelation of the wrath of God against sin and sinners of all ages. Let us learn from hence the evil of sin, and its hurtful nature; it leads to ruin.

vv30-38

See the peril of security. Lot, who kept chaste in Sodom, and was a mourner for the wickedness of the place, and a witness against it, when in the mountain, alone, and, as he thought, out of the way of temptation, is shamefully overtaken. Let him that thinks he stands high, and stands firm, take heed lest he fall. See the peril of drunkenness; it is not only a great sin itself, but lets in many sins, which bring a lasting wound and dishonour. Many a man does that, when he is drunk, which, when he is sober, he could not think of without horror. See also the peril of temptation, even from relations and friends, whom we love and esteem, and expect kindness from. We must dread a snare, wherever we are, and be always upon our guard. No excuse can be made for the daughters, nor for Lot. Scarcely any account can be given of the affair but this, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? From the silence of the Scripture concerning Lot henceforward, learn that drunkenness, as it makes men forgetful, so it makes them to be forgotten.

Cross References

Genesis 19
v72 Peter 2:7thematic

Peter explicitly identifies Lot as a 'righteous man' vexed by the filthy conversation of the wicked.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v26Luke 17:32allusion

Jesus directly warns his disciples regarding judgment by commanding them to 'Remember Lot's wife' looking back.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v2Hebrews 13:2thematic

Alludes to Lot and Abraham entertaining angels unawares through hospitable reception of strangers.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v5Judges 19:22allusion

A striking moral parallel where wicked men surround a house demanding to carnally 'know' a male guest.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v292 Peter 2:7thematic

New Testament verification that God delivered 'just Lot,' vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.

Supported by JFB

v29Genesis 18:22-33thematic

God explicitly remembered His covenant-friend Abraham's intercession by rescuing Lot from the impending destruction.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v5Romans 1:26thematic

Paul's theological description of the unnatural, shameful lusts that characterized Sodom's sin.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Isaiah 3:9thematic

Isaiah describes Israel's open, impudent boasting of their sin, declaring it 'as Sodom'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v8Judges 19:23thematic

Parallel moral compromise offering daughters to protect male guests under the shadow of the roof.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

Classical Old Testament summary of the standard covenant curse depicting the brimstone and burning of Sodom.

Supported by JFB

v24Jude 1:7thematic

Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth as an eternal warning, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v24Luke 17:29allusion

Jesus cites the historical reality of the day when fire and brimstone rained from heaven.

Supported by JFB

v8Romans 3:8contrast

Contrasts with Lot's compromise, showing the biblical principle that we must not do evil for good.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v112 Kings 6:18thematic

Another historical event where God smote an attacking force with blindness to deliver His servants.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v142 Peter 3:4thematic

Parallels the sons-in-law's mocking disbelief with end-time scoffers who mock warnings of judgment.

Supported by JFB

v14Luke 17:28thematic

Jesus highlights the worldly complacency and sudden ruin of Sodom as a pattern of His coming.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v37Deuteronomy 2:9thematic

God commands Israel not to distress Moab, because He gave Ar to the descendants of Lot.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v38Deuteronomy 2:19thematic

God commands Israel not to distress Ammon, because their territory was given to the children of Lot.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Genesis 18:22thematic

Connects back to the two angels departing from Mamre to head down toward Sodom.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Genesis 18:4thematic

Lot's identical offer of hospitality (washing feet, resting) mirrors Abraham's earlier welcome.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v15Numbers 16:26thematic

Moses warns the congregation to depart from the wicked tents lest they be consumed in their sins.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v17Genesis 19:26thematic

The tragic outcome of disobeying the command 'look not behind thee' in this immediate context.

Supported by JFB

v21Job 42:8thematic

Illustrates God 'accepting' a mediator's prayer, parallel to accepting Lot's request for Zoar's sparing.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v24Job 1:16thematic

Parallels the volcanic/atmospheric imagery of 'the fire of God fallen from heaven' burning up victims.

Supported by JFB

v32Genesis 9:21thematic

Parallels the tragic vulnerability of godly patriarchs falling into shameful sin through excessive wine.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v24Isaiah 13:19thematic

Prophetic allusion comparing the total overthrow of Babylon to God's historic destruction of Sodom.

Supported by JFB

v26Genesis 19:17thematic

Lot's wife explicitly violated the angel's strict command given in verse 17: 'look not behind thee.'

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v30Genesis 19:20thematic

Lot fled Zoar for the mountain, fearing to stay in the city he previously begged to save.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v37Deuteronomy 23:3thematic

The tragic legacy: Moabites and Ammonites are excluded from entering the congregation of the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Poole