Genesis 18:21

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 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.” 20So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I 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. 23Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?

Genesis 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 look at the city and the tower the people were building.
• Exodus 3:8So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.
• Exodus 33:5For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.”
• Micah 1:3Look! The Lord is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven and tramples the heights of the earth.
• John 6:38For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
• Job 34:22No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.
• Psalms 90:8You spread out our sins before you— our secret sins—and you see them all.
• Jeremiah 17:1“The sin of Judah is inscribed with an iron chisel— engraved with a diamond point on their stony hearts and on the corners of their altars.
• Zephaniah 1:12“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad.
• Hebrews 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
• Deuteronomy 8:2Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.
• Deuteronomy 13:3do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul.
• Joshua 22:22“The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth, and may Israel know it, too! We have not built the altar in treacherous rebellion against the Lord. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day.
• Psalms 139:1O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
• Luke 16:15Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

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

• Anthropomorphisms
• Communion
• Condescension of God
• God
• God Continued...
• Sodom

In the dictionaries

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

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