God’s Word Translation
Genesis 18:26
26The Lord said, “If I find 50 innocent people inside the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Genesis 18:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the Lord said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”
Context of Genesis 18:26
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? 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?” The 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, 28what if there are 45 innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of 5 fewer people?” The Lord answered, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.”
Read all of Genesis 18Genesis 18:26 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א בִסְדֹ֛ם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר וְנָשָׂ֥אתִי לְכָל־הַמָּק֖וֹם בַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- If I findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- in Sodomסְדֹםsedôm · SodomH5467
- fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
- righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- withinתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- then I will spareנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
- all the placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
Cross-references for Genesis 18:26
- Isaiah 6:13Even if one out of ten people is left in it, the land will be burned again. When a sacred oak or an oak is cut down, a stump is left The holy seed will be the land’s stump.”
- Isaiah 10:22Although your people Israel may be as ⌞numerous as⌟ the grains of sand on the seashore, only a few will return. Destruction will be complete and fair.
- Isaiah 19:24When that day comes, Israel will be one-third ⌞of God’s people⌟, along with Egypt and Assyria. They will be a blessing on the earth.
- Isaiah 65:8This is what the Lord says: When someone finds juice for new wine in a cluster of grapes, another person will say, “Don’t destroy it, because there’s a blessing in it.” In the same way, I will do this for my servants: I will not destroy everything.
- Jeremiah 5:1Walk around the streets of Jerusalem. Look around, and think about these things. Search the city squares. See if you can find anyone who does what is right and seeks the truth. Then I will forgive Jerusalem.
- Ezekiel 22:30“ ‘I looked for someone among you who could build walls or stand in front of me by the gaps in the walls to defend the land and keep it from being destroyed. But I couldn’t find anyone.
- Matthew 24:22If God does not reduce the number of those days, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.
Commentaries on Genesis 18:26
- 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 18:26
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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