This verse is part of the story of Abraham negotiating with God regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God intends to destroy the cities because of their great wickedness. Abraham, remembering his nephew Lot who lives in Sodom, pleads with God to spare the city if righteous people can be found there.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning within the context of the whole passage:
"He spoke to him yet again, and said, 'What if there are forty found there?'" Abraham is continuing to bargain with God. He started by asking if God would spare the city if there were 50 righteous people. God agreed. Now Abraham is lowering the number to 40. He is trying to see how few righteous individuals are needed to save the city.
"He said, 'I will not do it for the forty's sake.'" This is God's response. He agrees that if 40 righteous people are found in Sodom, He will not destroy the city for their sake.
Meaning:
God's Justice and Mercy: The passage highlights God's justice and His willingness to show mercy. He is just in his judgment against wickedness, but he is also willing to show mercy if even a small number of righteous people can be found.
Abraham's Intercession: Abraham serves as an intercessor, pleading on behalf of the innocent. He is concerned for the fate of his nephew and any other righteous people who might be caught up in the destruction.
The Importance of Righteousness: The passage suggests that the presence of righteous individuals can have a positive impact on a community and even potentially avert judgment. However, it also implies that wickedness can outweigh the influence of the righteous, eventually leading to destruction.
The downward negotiation: This particular verse continues the downward negotiation, where Abraham is testing the limits of God's mercy, and revealing the extreme depth of wickedness in Sodom (that even 40 righteous people are unlikely to be found)
In short, this verse means that God agrees not to destroy Sodom if there are 40 righteous people found within the city. The scene continues with Abraham bargaining down further to 30, 20, and finally 10, with God agreeing each time. Ultimately, even 10 righteous people could not be found in Sodom, leading to its destruction (although Lot and his family were rescued).
This verse is part of the story of Abraham negotiating with God regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. God intends to destroy the cities because of their great wickedness. Abraham, remembering his nephew Lot who lives in Sodom, pleads with God to spare the city if righteous people can be found there.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning within the context of the whole passage:
"He spoke to him yet again, and said, 'What if there are forty found there?'" Abraham is continuing to bargain with God. He started by asking if God would spare the city if there were 50 righteous people. God agreed. Now Abraham is lowering the number to 40. He is trying to see how few righteous individuals are needed to save the city.
"He said, 'I will not do it for the forty's sake.'" This is God's response. He agrees that if 40 righteous people are found in Sodom, He will not destroy the city for their sake.
Meaning:
God's Justice and Mercy: The passage highlights God's justice and His willingness to show mercy. He is just in his judgment against wickedness, but he is also willing to show mercy if even a small number of righteous people can be found.
Abraham's Intercession: Abraham serves as an intercessor, pleading on behalf of the innocent. He is concerned for the fate of his nephew and any other righteous people who might be caught up in the destruction.
The Importance of Righteousness: The passage suggests that the presence of righteous individuals can have a positive impact on a community and even potentially avert judgment. However, it also implies that wickedness can outweigh the influence of the righteous, eventually leading to destruction.
The downward negotiation: This particular verse continues the downward negotiation, where Abraham is testing the limits of God's mercy, and revealing the extreme depth of wickedness in Sodom (that even 40 righteous people are unlikely to be found)
In short, this verse means that God agrees not to destroy Sodom if there are 40 righteous people found within the city. The scene continues with Abraham bargaining down further to 30, 20, and finally 10, with God agreeing each time. Ultimately, even 10 righteous people could not be found in Sodom, leading to its destruction (although Lot and his family were rescued).