God’s Word Translation
Genesis 18:25
25It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?”
Genesis 18:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
- New International Version (NIV)Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Context of Genesis 18:25
23Abraham came closer and asked, “Are you really going to sweep away the innocent with the guilty? 24What if there are 50 innocent people in the city? Are you really going to sweep them away? Won’t you spare that place for the sake of the 50 innocent people who are in it? It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?” 26The Lord said, “If I find 50 innocent people inside the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27Abraham asked, “Consider now, if I may be so bold as to ask you, although I’m ⌞only⌟ dust and ashes,
Read all of Genesis 18Genesis 18:25 word by word
חָלִ֨לָה לְּךָ֜ מֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת׀ כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה לְהָמִ֤ית צַדִּיק֙ עִם־רָשָׁ֔ע וְהָיָ֥ה כַצַּדִּ֖יק כָּרָשָׁ֑ע חָלִ֣לָה לָּ֔ךְ הֲשֹׁפֵט֙ כָּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- That be farחָלִ֫ילָהchâlîylâh châlilâh · forbidH2486
- from thee to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- after this mannerדָּבָרdâbâr · ChroniclesH1697
- to slayמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- with the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- from thee: Shall not the Judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- of all the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- rightמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
Cross-references for Genesis 18:25
- Jeremiah 12:1O Lord, even if I would argue my case with you, you would always be right. Yet, I want to talk to you about your justice. Why do wicked people succeed? Why do treacherous people have peace and quiet?
- Job 8:20“Certainly, God does not reject a person of integrity or give a helping hand to wicked people.
- Job 9:22It is all the same. That is why I say, ‘He destroys ⌞both⌟ the man of integrity and the wicked.’
- Ecclesiastes 7:15I have seen it all in my pointless life: Righteous people die in spite of being righteous. Wicked people go on living in spite of being wicked.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12A sinner may commit a hundred crimes and yet live a long life. Still, I know with certainty that it will go well for those who fear God, because they fear him.
- Isaiah 3:10Tell the righteous that blessings will come to them. They will taste the fruit of their labor.
- Isaiah 57:1Righteous people die, and no one cares. Loyal people are taken away, and no one understands. Righteous people are spared when evil comes.
- Malachi 3:18Then you will again see the difference between righteous people and wicked people, between the one who serves God and the one who doesn’t serve him.
- Deuteronomy 32:4He is a rock. What he does is perfect. All his ways are fair. He is a faithful God, who does no wrong. He is honorable and reliable.
- Job 8:3Does God distort justice, or does the Almighty distort righteousness?
- Job 34:17Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern? Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty?
- Psalms 11:5The Lord tests righteous people, but he hates wicked people and the ones who love violence.
- Psalms 58:11Then people will say, “Righteous people certainly have a reward. There is a God who judges on earth.”
- Psalms 94:2Arise, O Judge of the earth. Give arrogant people what they deserve.
- Psalms 98:9in the Lord’s presence because he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice and its people with fairness.
- Romans 3:6That’s unthinkable! Otherwise, how would God be able to judge the world?
Commentaries on Genesis 18:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? - God alone is the Judge of all men. Abraham, in thus addressing himself to the person in the text, considers him either as the Supreme Being or his representative.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. 23-33Verses 23-33 Here is the first solemn prayer upon record in the Bible; and it is a prayer for the sparing of Sodom. Abraham prayed earnestly that Sodom might be spared, if but a few righteous persons should be found in it. Come and learn from Abraham what compassion we should feel for sinners, and how earnestly we should pray for them. We see here that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Abraham, indeed, failed in his request for…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-33Abraham probably thought there were more righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah than there were (see study note on 19:14). Concerned for them, he made a legal appeal to the Lord based on God's justice. His prayer might seem bold, as if he were negotiating with God. But he approached God with true humility and respect. He did not try to convince God to act against his will. Instead, he prayed for the well-being of others (compare with Lot’s prayer…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-3323. Abraham drew near, and said, &c.--The scene described is full of interest and instruction--showing in an unmistakable manner the efficacy of prayer and intercession. (See also Pr 15:8; Jas 5:16). Abraham reasoned justly as to the rectitude of the divine procedure (Ro 3:5, 6), and many guilty cities and nations have been spared on account of God's people (Mt 5:13; 24:22).Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 18:25
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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