New English Translation
Genesis 18:21
21that I must go down and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. If not, I want to know.”
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
19I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him.” 20So the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant that I must go down and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. If not, I want to know.” 22The two men turned and headed toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the Lord. 23Abraham approached and said, “Will you sweep away the godly along 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 11:5But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the people had started building.
- Exodus 3:8I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- Exodus 33:5For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I went up among you for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments, that I may know what I should do to you.’”
- Micah 1:3Look, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place! He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops!
- John 6:38For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
- Job 34:22There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.
- Psalms 90:8You are aware of our sins; you even know about our hidden sins.
- Jeremiah 17:1The sin of Judah is engraved with an iron chisel on their stone-hard hearts. It is inscribed with a diamond point on the horns of their altars.
- Zephaniah 1:12At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, those who think to themselves, ‘The Lord neither rewards nor punishes.’
- Hebrews 4:13And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
- Deuteronomy 8:2Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not.
- Deuteronomy 13:3You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the Lord your God will be testing you to see if you love him with all your mind and being.
- Joshua 22:22“El, God, the Lord! El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, don’t spare us today!
- Psalms 139:1O Lord, you examine me and know.
- Luke 16:15But Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries