Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 18:21
21I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out.”
Genesis 18:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
- New International Version (NIV)that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know."
- New King James Version (NKJV)I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
Context of Genesis 18:21
19For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what he promised him.” 20Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out.” 22The men turned from there and went toward Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Read all of Genesis 18Genesis 18:21 word by word
אֵֽרֲדָה־נָּ֣א וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה הַכְּצַעֲקָתָ֛הּ הַבָּ֥אָה אֵלַ֖י עָשׂ֣וּ׀ כָּלָ֑ה וְאִם־לֹ֖א אֵדָֽעָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I will go downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- now, and seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- whether they have doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- altogetherכָּלָהkâlâh · consumptionH3617
- according to the cryצְעָקָהtsa‛ăqâh · cryH6818
- of it, which is comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto me; and if not, I will knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
Cross-references for Genesis 18:21
- Genesis 11:5Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the humans were building.
- Exodus 3:8and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey — the territory of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- Exodus 33:5For the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites: You are a stiff-necked people. If I went up with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.”
- Micah 1:3Look, the Lord is leaving his place and coming down to trample the heights of the earth.
- John 6:38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
- Job 34:22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide.
- Psalms 90:8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
- Jeremiah 17:1The sin of Judah is inscribed with an iron stylus. With a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars,
- Zephaniah 1:12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who settle down comfortably, who say to themselves: The Lord will do nothing — good or bad.
- Hebrews 4:13No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
- Deuteronomy 8:2Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these forty years in the wilderness, so that he might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
- Deuteronomy 13:3do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.
- Joshua 22:22“The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows, and may Israel also know. Do not spare us today, if it was in rebellion or treachery against the Lord
- Psalms 139:1Lord, you have searched me and known me.
- Luke 16:15And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.
Commentaries on Genesis 18:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21I will go down now, etc. - A lesson to magistrates, teaching them not to judge according to report, but accurately to inquire into the facts themselves - Jarchi.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-33Verses 1-33 - The Visit of the Lord to Abraham 2. השׂתחיה vayı̂śtachû “bow,” or bend the body in token of respect to God or man. The attitude varies from a slight inclination of the body to entire prostration with the forehead touching the ground. 6. סאה se'ah a “seah,” about an English peck, the third part of an ephah. The ephah contained ten omers. The omer held about five pints. This chapter describes Abraham‘s fellowship with God. On the gracious…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 The two who are supposed to have been created angels went toward Sodom. The one who is called Jehovah throughout the chapter, continued with Abraham, and would not hide from him the thing he intended to do. Though God long forbears with sinners, from which they fancy that the Lord does not see, and does not regard; yet when the day of his wrath comes, he will look toward them. The Lord will give Abraham an opportunity to intercede with him…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21God, who knows everything, was cautious in his judgment. He knew the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. This careful examination showed God's justice in a way humans could understand. He would not destroy the people unless he was certain they were wicked.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. I will go down ... and see--language used after the manner of men. These cities were to be made examples to all future ages of God's severity; and therefore ample proof given that the judgment was neither rash nor excessive (Eze 18:23; Jr 18:7).Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 18:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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