New Living Translation
Genesis 18:25
25Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Genesis 18:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
- New International Version (NIV)Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Context of Genesis 18:25
23Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 24Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” 26And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.” 27Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.
Read all of Genesis 18Genesis 18:25 word by word
חָלִ֨לָה לְּךָ֜ מֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת׀ כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה לְהָמִ֤ית צַדִּיק֙ עִם־רָשָׁ֔ע וְהָיָ֥ה כַצַּדִּ֖יק כָּרָשָׁ֑ע חָלִ֣לָה לָּ֔ךְ הֲשֹׁפֵט֙ כָּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- That be farחָלִ֫ילָהchâlîylâh châlilâh · forbidH2486
- from thee to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- after this mannerדָּבָרdâbâr · ChroniclesH1697
- to slayמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- with the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- from thee: Shall not the Judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- of all the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- rightמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
Cross-references for Genesis 18:25
- Jeremiah 12:1Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?
- Job 8:20“But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked.
- Job 9:22Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
- Ecclesiastes 7:15I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.
- Ecclesiastes 8:12But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.
- Isaiah 3:10Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
- Isaiah 57:1Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
- Malachi 3:18Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
- Deuteronomy 32:4He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!
- Job 8:3Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty twist what is right?
- Job 34:17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?
- Psalms 11:5The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.
- Psalms 58:11Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”
- Psalms 94:2Arise, O Judge of the earth. Give the proud what they deserve.
- Psalms 98:9before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.
- Romans 3:6Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?
Commentaries on Genesis 18:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? - God alone is the Judge of all men. Abraham, in thus addressing himself to the person in the text, considers him either as the Supreme Being or his representative.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. 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 18:25
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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