New King James Version
Genesis 18:20
20And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
Genesis 18:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
- New International Version (NIV)Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,
- New Living Translation (NLT)So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.
Context of Genesis 18:20
18since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, 21I 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.” 22Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
Read all of Genesis 18Genesis 18:20 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה זַעֲקַ֛ת סְדֹ֥ם וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה כִּי־רָ֑בָּה וְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔ם כִּ֥י כָבְדָ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Because the cryזְעָקָהza‛aq ze‛âqâh · outcryH2201
- of Sodomסְדֹםsedôm · SodomH5467
- and Gomorrahעֲמֹרָה‛ămôrâh · GomorrahH6017
- is greatרַבrab · manyH7227
- and because their sinחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sinH2403
- is veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- grievousכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: heavyH3513
Cross-references for Genesis 18:20
- Genesis 4:10And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
- Genesis 19:13For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”
- Isaiah 3:9The look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.
- Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.
- Jeremiah 14:7O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, Do it for Your name’s sake; For our backslidings are many, We have sinned against You.
- James 5:4Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
- Genesis 13:13But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.
Commentaries on Genesis 18:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah - See note on Genesis 13:13.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. 20The outcry: See Ezekiel 16:49–50.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2216. the men rose ... Abraham went with them--It is customary for a host to escort his guests a little way.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 18:20
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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries