New Living Translation
Genesis 18:20
20So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.
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 King James Version (NKJV)And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
Context of Genesis 18:20
18“For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 19I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.” So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.” 22The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham.
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 4:10But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
- Genesis 19:13For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.”
- Isaiah 3:9The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sin like the people of Sodom and don’t even try to hide it. They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves.
- Isaiah 5:7The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence.
- Jeremiah 14:7The people say, “Our wickedness has caught up with us, Lord, but help us for the sake of your own reputation. We have turned away from you and sinned against you again and again.
- James 5:4For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
- Genesis 13:13But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned 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
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