Genesis 18:22-33

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

22 ¹So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham ²still stood before the LORD.

23 Then Abraham drew near and said, ³"Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?

25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, ⁴so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! ⁵Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"

26 And the LORD said, ⁶"If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

27 Abraham answered and said, ⁷"Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.

28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."

29 Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it."

30 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."

31 He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it."

32 Then he said, ⁸"Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

33 And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

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Genesis 18:22-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 18

Another appearance of God to Abraham is here recorded; three persons are seen by him in an human form, whom he kindly invites to stop with him, and generously entertains them, Ge 18:1-8; they inquire concerning Sarah his wife, and one of them renews the promise of her bearing a son to him, which occasions laughter in her, for which she is reproved, Ge 18:9-15; upon their departure the Lord thought fit, for reasons given, to make known to Abraham his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 18:16-22; when Abraham intercedes for the preservation of those cities in a most importunate and affectionate manner, Ge 18:23-33.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 8

1. ver. 16; Genesis 19:1
2. ver. 1; [Psalms 106:23; Jeremiah 18:20]
3. Genesis 20:4; Numbers 16:22; 2 Samuel 24:17
4. [Job 8:20]
5. Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 8:3; Job 34:10; Romans 3:5, 6
6. Jeremiah 5:1; Ezekiel 22:30; [Isaiah 65:8]
7. [Luke 18:1]
8. Judges 6:39

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.