Genesis 18:26

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 fifty godly people in the city? Will you really wipe it out and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty godly people who are in it? 25Far be it from you to do such a thing – to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?” So the Lord replied, “If I find in the city of Sodom fifty godly people, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord (although I am but dust and ashes), 28what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are lacking?” He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Genesis 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 only a tenth of the people remain in the land, it will again be destroyed, like one of the large sacred trees or an Asherah pole, when a sacred pillar on a high place is thrown down. That sacred pillar symbolizes the special chosen family.”
• Isaiah 10:22For though your people, Israel, are as numerous as the sand on the seashore, only a remnant will come back. Destruction has been decreed; just punishment is about to engulf you.
• Isaiah 19:24At that time Israel will be the third member of the group, along with Egypt and Assyria, and will be a recipient of blessing in the earth.
• Isaiah 65:8This is what the Lord says: “When juice is discovered in a cluster of grapes, someone says, ‘Don’t destroy it, for it contains juice.’ So I will do for the sake of my servants – I will not destroy everyone.
• Jeremiah 5:1The Lord said, “Go up and down through the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and see for yourselves. Search through its public squares. See if any of you can find a single person who deals honestly and tries to be truthful. If you can, then I will not punish this city.
• Ezekiel 22:30“I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.
• Matthew 24:22And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

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

• Abraham
• Boldness
• Communion
• Condescension of God
• Curiosity
• God
• God Continued...
• Intercession
• Prayer
• Presumption
• Religion
• Sodom

In the dictionaries

• Sodom
• Angel
• Ashes
• Certainly
• Comfort
• Command
• Communion
• Cry
• Grievous
• Hard

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