Berean Standard Bible

Genesis 18:16-33

16When the men got upוַיָּקֻ֤מוּvai.ya.Ku.muH6965to leaveמִשָּׁם֙mi.ShamH8033, theyהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582looked outוַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּvai.yash.Ki.fuH8259overעַל־ פְּנֵ֣י'al- pe.NeiH5921 H6440Sodomסְדֹ֑םse.DomH5467,and Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85walked alongהֹלֵ֥ךְho.LekhH1980with themעִמָּ֖ם'i.MamH5973to see them offלְשַׁלְּחָֽם׃le.sha.le.ChamH7971.

17And the LORDוַֽיהֹוָ֖הva.Yah.wehH3068saidאָמָ֑ר'a.MarH559, “Shall Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589hideהַֽמְכַסֶּ֤הham.kha.SehH3680from Abrahamמֵֽאַבְרָהָ֔םme.'av.ra.HamH85whatאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589am about to doעֹשֶֽׂה׃'o.SehH6213?

18Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85will surely becomeH1961a greatגָּד֖וֹלga.DolH1419and powerfulוְעָצ֑וּםve.'a.TzumH6099nationלְג֥וֹיle.GoyH1471, and through himallכֹּ֖לkolH3605the nationsגּוֹיֵ֥יgo.YeiH1471of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776will be blessedוְנִ֨בְרְכוּve.Niv.re.khuH1288.

19Forכִּ֣יkiH3588I have chosenיְדַעְתִּ֗יוye.da'.TivH3045himלְמַעַן֩le.ma.'AnH4616,so thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834he will commandיְצַוֶּ֜הye.tza.VehH6680אֶת־'et-H853his childrenבָּנָ֤יוba.NavH1121andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853his householdבֵּיתוֹ֙bei.ToH1004after himאַחֲרָ֔יו'a.cha.RavH310to keepוְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ve.sha.me.RuH8104the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068by doingלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213what is rightצְדָקָ֖הtze.da.KahH6666and justוּמִשְׁפָּ֑טu.mish.PatH4941,in order thatלְמַ֗עַןle.Ma.'anH4616the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068may bringהָבִ֤יאha.Vi'H935uponעַל־'al-H5921Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔ם'av.ra.HamH85אֵ֥ת'etH853whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834He has promisedדִּבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696עָלָֽיו׃'a.LavH5921.”

20Then the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “The outcryזַעֲקַ֛תza.'a.KatH2201against Sodomסְדֹ֥םse.DomH5467and Gomorrahוַעֲמֹרָ֖הva.'a.mo.RahH6017is greatרָ֑בָּהRa.bahH7231.Becauseכִּי־ki-H3588their sinוְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔םve.Cha.ta.TamH2403כִּ֥יkiH3588is soמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966grievousכָבְדָ֖הkha.ve.DahH3513,

21I will go downאֵֽרֲדָה־ נָּ֣א'e.ra.dah- na'H3381 H4994to seeוְאֶרְאֶ֔הve.'er.'EhH7200if their actionsעָשׂ֣וּ׀'a.SuH6213fullyכָּלָ֑הka.LahH3617justify the outcryהַכְּצַעֲקָתָ֛הּha.ke.tza.'a.ka.TahH6818that has reachedהַבָּ֥אָהha.Ba.'ahH935Meאֵלַ֖י'e.LaiH413.Ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518notלֹ֖אlo'H3808,I will find outאֵדָֽעָה׃'e.Da.'ahH3045.”

22And the two menהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582turnedוַיִּפְנ֤וּvai.yif.NuH6437awayמִשָּׁם֙mi.ShamH8033and wentוַיֵּלְכ֖וּvai.ye.le.KhuH1980toward Sodomסְדֹ֑מָהse.Do.mahH5467,but Abrahamוְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔םve.'Av.ra.HamH85remainedעוֹדֶ֥נּוּo.De.nuH5750standingעֹמֵ֖ד'o.MedH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

23Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85stepped forwardוַיִּגַּ֥שׁvai.yi.GashH5066and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “Will You reallyהַאַ֣ףha.'AfH637sweep awayתִּסְפֶּ֔הtis.PehH5595the righteousצַדִּ֖יקtza.DikH6662withעִם־'im-H5973the wickedרָשָֽׁע׃ra.Sha'H7563?

24What ifאוּלַ֥י'u.LaiH194there areיֵ֛שׁyeshH3426fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteous onesצַדִּיקִ֖םtza.di.KimH6662inבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892?Will You reallyהַאַ֤ףha.'AfH637sweep it awayתִּסְפֶּה֙tis.PehH5595and notוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808spareתִשָּׂ֣אti.Sa'H5375the placeלַמָּק֔וֹםla.ma.KomH4725for the sake ofלְמַ֛עַןle.Ma.'anH4616the fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteous onesהַצַּדִּיקִ֖םha.tza.di.KimH6662whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834are thereבְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃be.kir.BahH7130?

25Far be itחָלִ֨לָהcha.Li.lahH2486from Youto doמֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת׀me.'a.SotH6213suchהַזֶּ֗הha.ZehH2088a thingכַּדָּבָ֣רka.da.VarH1697—to killלְהָמִ֤יתle.ha.MitH4191the righteousצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662withעִם־'im-H5973the wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563,so that the righteousכַצַּדִּ֖יקkha.tza.DikH6662and the wickedכָּרָשָׁ֑עka.ra.Sha'H7563are treated alikeוְהָיָ֥הve.ha.YahH1961.Far be itחָלִ֣לָהcha.Li.lahH2486from You!Will notלֹ֥אlo'H3808the Judgeהֲשֹׁפֵט֙ha.sho.FetH8199of allכָּל־kol-H3605the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776doיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.SehH6213what is rightמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish.PatH4941?”

26So the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Ifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֥א'em.Tza'H4672fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteous onesצַדִּיקִ֖םtza.di.KimH6662withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892of Sodomבִסְדֹ֛םvis.DomH5467,on their accountבַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃ba.'a.vu.RamH5668I will spareוְנָשָׂ֥אתִיve.na.Sa.tiH5375the wholeלְכָל־le.kholH3605placeהַמָּק֖וֹםha.ma.KomH4725.”

27Then Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85answeredוַיַּ֥עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.Ya.'an vai.yo.MarH559 H6030, “Now thatהִנֵּה־ נָ֤אhi.neh- na'H2009 H4994I have venturedהוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ho.'Al.tiH2974to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696toאֶל־'el-H413the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136—though Iוְאָנֹכִ֖יve.'a.no.KhiH595am but dustעָפָ֥ר'a.FarH6083and ashesוָאֵֽפֶר׃va.'E.ferH665—

28supposeא֠וּלַי'U.laiH194the fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֤יםcha.mi.ShimH2572righteous onesהַצַּדִּיקִם֙ha.tza.di.KimH6662lackיַחְסְר֞וּןyach.se.RunH2637fiveחֲמִשָּׁ֔הcha.mi.ShahH2568.Will You destroyהֲתַשְׁחִ֥יתha.tash.ChitH7843the wholeכָּל־kol-H3605cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892for the lack of fiveבַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖הba.cha.mi.ShahH2568אֶת־'et-H853?”He repliedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Ifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֣א'em.Tza'H4672forty-fiveאַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃'ar.ba.'Im va.cha.mi.ShahH705 H2568thereשָׁ֔םShamH8033,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843it.”

29Once againוַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֜וֹדvai.Yo.sef odH3254 H5750Abrahamspokeלְדַבֵּ֤רle.da.BerH1696toאֵלָיו֙'e.LavH413the LORD, “Supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194fortyוַיֹּאמַ֔ר אַרְבָּעִ֑יםvai.yo.Mar 'ar.ba.'ImH705 H559are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”He answeredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “On accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the fortyהָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃ha.'ar.ba.'ImH705,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808do itאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213.”

30Then Abraham saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559, “May the Lordלַֽאדֹנָי֙la.do.NaiH136notאַל־ נָ֞א'al- na'H408 H4994be angryיִ֤חַרYi.charH2734,but let me speakוַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָהva.'a.da.Be.rahH1696further.Supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֑יםshe.lo.ShimH7970are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”He repliedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Ifאִם־'im-H518I findאֶמְצָ֥א'em.Tza'H4672thirtyשְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃she.lo.ShimH7970thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808do itאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213.”

31And Abraham saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Now thatהִנֵּֽה־ נָ֤אhi.neh- na'H2009 H4994I have venturedהוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ho.'Al.tiH2974to speakלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696toאֶל־'el-H413the Lordאֲדֹנָ֔י'a.do.NaiH136,supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194twentyעֶשְׂרִ֑ים'es.RimH6242are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”He answeredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “On accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the twentyהָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃Ha.'es.RimH6242,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843it.”

32Finally, Abraham saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559, “May the Lordלַֽאדֹנָי֙la.do.NaiH136notאַל־ נָ֞א'al- na'H408 H4994be angryיִ֤חַרYi.charH2734,but let me speakוַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה אַךְ־va.'a.da.be.Rah 'akh-H1696 H389once moreהַפַּ֔עַםha.Pa.'amH6471.Supposeאוּלַ֛י'u.LaiH194tenעֲשָׂרָ֑ה'a.sa.RahH6235are foundיִמָּצְא֥וּןyi.ma.tze.'UnH4672thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?”And He answeredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “On accountבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of the tenהָעֲשָׂרָֽה׃ha.'a.sa.RahH6235,I will notלֹ֣אlo'H3808destroyאַשְׁחִ֔ית'ash.ChitH7843it.”

33Whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka.'a.SherH834the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068had finishedכִּלָּ֔הki.LahH3615speakingלְדַבֵּ֖רle.da.BerH1696withאֶל־'el-H413Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85,He departedוַיֵּ֣לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980,and Abrahamוְאַבְרָהָ֖םve.'av.ra.HamH85returnedשָׁ֥בshavH7725homeלִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃lim.ko.MoH4725.

Read all of Genesis 18

Commentaries on Genesis 18