Genesis 18:31 - He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
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What does "Genesis 18:31" mean?
This verse is part of a dialogue between Abraham and God regarding the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham is pleading with God to spare the cities if righteous people are found within them. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning:
"He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord." - Abraham acknowledges the audacity of his request. He's keenly aware he's asking a great deal of God and emphasizes that he's taking initiative. He's essentially saying, "I know this is a big ask, but I feel compelled to speak on behalf of these cities."
"What if there are twenty found there?” - Abraham continues his bargaining, progressively lowering the number of righteous people he believes might be in the city. He previously asked about 50, 45, 40, 30, and now 20.
"He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”" - God reaffirms that if even 20 righteous people are found in Sodom, He will spare the entire city. This demonstrates God's willingness to show mercy and justice - not punishing the innocent along with the guilty.
In summary, the verse reveals:
Abraham's persistent advocacy and compassion: He's determined to save Sodom, if at all possible, and tirelessly negotiates with God.
God's justice and mercy: God is willing to spare an entire city for the sake of a relatively small number of righteous people. This shows that God is not vengeful or indiscriminate, but rather seeks to find a reason to show mercy.
The dwindling hope for Sodom: Abraham's reducing the number of righteous required signals a recognition that the city is likely deeply corrupt, and the odds of finding a significant number of righteous people are diminishing.
The verse is a crucial part of a larger story that explores themes of justice, mercy, intercession, and the consequences of wickedness. In the end, as the story unfolds, not even ten righteous people could be found in Sodom, and the city was destroyed (except for Lot and his immediate family, who were warned and fled).
Genesis 18:31 - He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
What does "Genesis 18:31" mean?
This verse is part of a dialogue between Abraham and God regarding the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham is pleading with God to spare the cities if righteous people are found within them. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning:
"He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord." - Abraham acknowledges the audacity of his request. He's keenly aware he's asking a great deal of God and emphasizes that he's taking initiative. He's essentially saying, "I know this is a big ask, but I feel compelled to speak on behalf of these cities."
"What if there are twenty found there?” - Abraham continues his bargaining, progressively lowering the number of righteous people he believes might be in the city. He previously asked about 50, 45, 40, 30, and now 20.
"He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”" - God reaffirms that if even 20 righteous people are found in Sodom, He will spare the entire city. This demonstrates God's willingness to show mercy and justice - not punishing the innocent along with the guilty.
In summary, the verse reveals:
Abraham's persistent advocacy and compassion: He's determined to save Sodom, if at all possible, and tirelessly negotiates with God.
God's justice and mercy: God is willing to spare an entire city for the sake of a relatively small number of righteous people. This shows that God is not vengeful or indiscriminate, but rather seeks to find a reason to show mercy.
The dwindling hope for Sodom: Abraham's reducing the number of righteous required signals a recognition that the city is likely deeply corrupt, and the odds of finding a significant number of righteous people are diminishing.
The verse is a crucial part of a larger story that explores themes of justice, mercy, intercession, and the consequences of wickedness. In the end, as the story unfolds, not even ten righteous people could be found in Sodom, and the city was destroyed (except for Lot and his immediate family, who were warned and fled).