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New King James Version
Genesis 19:4
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But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sedom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Before they laid down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house.
Before bedtime, men both young and old and from every part of Sodom surrounded Lot's house.
Before they could lie down to sleep, all the men—both young and old, from every part of the city of Sodom—surrounded the house.
But before they lay down [to sleep], the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house, all the men from every quarter;
Before they lay down, the men of the city—the men of Sodom—surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;
But before they went to bed, the men of the citie, euen the men of Sodom compassed the house rounde about from the yong euen to the olde, all the people from all quarters.
Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, from young to old, all the people from every quarter;
Before Lot and his guests could go to bed, every man in Sodom, young and old, came and stood outside his house
But before they could go to bed, the men of the city surrounded the house — young and old, everyone from every neighborhood of S'dom.
Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, from the youngest to the oldest—all the people from every quarter.
That evening, just before bedtime, men from every part of town came to Lot's house. They stood around the house and called to Lot. They said,
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, that is, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people of the town;
Before the guests went to bed, the men of Sodom surrounded the house. All the men of the city, both young and old, were there.
Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house.
Before they had laid down, even the men of the city, the men of Sodom, circled the house; from the young to the aged, all the people from its limits.
But before they wente to rest, the men of the cite of Sodome came and compased the house rounde aboute, yonge and olde, all the people from all quarters,
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;
But before they had gone to bed, the men of the town, all the men of Sodom, came round the house, young and old, from every part of the town;
And before they went to rest, the men of the citie [euen] the men of Sodome compassed the house rounde about, both olde and young, all people fro [all] quarters.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter.
But before they lay downe, the men of the citie, euen the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and yong, all the people from euery quarter.
But before they went to sleep, the men of the city, the Sodomites, compassed the house, both young and old, all the people together.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;
Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house.
Forsothe bifore that thei yeden to sleepe, men of the citee compassiden his hows, fro a child `til to an eld man, al the puple togidre;
Before they lie down, the men of the city -- men of Sodom -- have come round about against the house, from young even unto aged, all the people from the extremity;
But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter.
But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house.
Before they went to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom both young and old gathered around the house.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house;
Ere yet they lay down, the men of the city - the men of Sodom, had come round against the house, from youth even unto age, - all the people from every quarter,
But before they went to bed, the men of the city beset the house, both young and old, all the people together.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house;
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;
Before they went to bed men from all over the city of Sodom, young and old, descended on the house from all sides and boxed them in. They yelled to Lot, "Where are the men who are staying with you for the night? Bring them out so we can have our sport with them!"
Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
But: Proverbs 4:16, Proverbs 6:18, Micah 7:3, Romans 3:15
all: Genesis 13:13, Genesis 18:20, Exodus 16:2, Exodus 23:2, Jeremiah 5:1-6, Jeremiah 5:31, Matthew 27:20-25
Reciprocal: Genesis 19:7 - General Deuteronomy 23:17 - sodomite Judges 19:22 - the men Judges 20:5 - beset 2 Kings 23:7 - the sodomites Jeremiah 44:15 - all the Luke 17:28 - General Romans 5:13 - until
Cross-References
But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.
And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him,
See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."
So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.
For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But before they lay down,.... Upon their beds to sleep; it was between supper time and bedtime that the following affair happened, while the angels were talking to Lot about the men of Sodom, and inquiring what sort of men they were, as the Jewish writers l suggest:
the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round about; the house of Lot, where the angels were:
both old and young: the males of the city of every age; some that were past committing the sin they were so infamous for, as well as those that burned with that unnatural lust; some that could not be actors were willing to be spectators; and all were curious to see the lovely persons, that it was reported all over the city were seen to go into Lot's house:
all the people from every quarter; all from one end of the city to the other, and from every corner in it: which shows the general corruption and depravity of the city, that it was so far from having ten righteous persons in it, that of the proper inhabitants of it, there was not, as Jarchi notes, one righteous person, no, not one.
l Bereshit Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 50. fol. 44. 4.)
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- The Destruction of Sodom and Amorah
9. ×ש×Ö¾<×××× gesh-haÌl'aÌh, âapproach to a distant point,â stand back.
11. ×¡× ×ר×× saneveÌrıÌym, âblindness,â affecting the mental more than the ocular vision.
37. ×××× moÌ'aÌb, Moab; ××× meÌ'aÌb, âfrom a father.â ××Ö¾×¢×× ben-âamıÌy, Ben-âammi, âson of my people.â ×¢××× âamoÌn, âAmmon, âof the people.â
This chapter is the continuation and conclusion of the former. It records a part of Godâs strange work - strange, because it consists in punishment, and because it is foreign to the covenant of grace. Yet it is closely connected with Abrahamâs history, inasmuch as it is a signal chastisement of wickedness in his neighborhood, a memorial of the righteous judgment of God to all his posterity, and at the same time a remarkable answer to the spirit, if not to the letter, of his intercessory prayer. His kinsman Lot, the only righteous man in Sodom, with his wife and two daughters, is delivered from destruction in accordance with his earnest appeal on behalf of the righteous.
Genesis 19:1-3
The two angels. - These are the two men who left Abraham standing before the Lord Genesis 18:22. âLot sat in the gate,â the place of public resort for news and for business. He courteously rises to meet them, does obeisance to them, and invites them to spend the night in his house. âNay, but in the street will we lodge.â This is the disposition of those who come to inquire, and, it may be, to condemn and to punish. They are twice in this chapter called angels, being sent to perform a delegated duty. This term, however, defines their office, not their nature. Lot, in the first instance, calls them âmy lords,â which is a term of respect that may be addressed to men Genesis 31:35. He afterward styled one of them Adonai, with the special vowel pointing which limits it to the Supreme Being. He at the same time calls himself his servant, appeals to his grace and mercy, and ascribes to him his deliverance. The person thus addressed replies, in a tone of independence and authority, âI have accepted thee.â âI will not overthrow this city for which thou hast spoken.â âI cannot do anything until thou go thither.â All these circumstances point to a divine personage, and are not so easily explained of a mere delegate. He is pre-eminently the Saviour, as he who communed with Abraham was the hearer of prayer. And he who hears prayer and saves life, appears also as the executor of his purpose in the overthrow of Sodom and the other cities of the vale. It is remarkable that only two of the three who appeared to Abraham are called angels. Of the persons in the divine essence two might be the angels or deputies of the primary in the discharge of the divine purpose. These three men, then, either immediately represent, or, if created angels, mediately shadow forth persons in the Godhead. Their number indicates that the persons in the divine unity are three.
Lot seems to have recognized something extraordinary in their appearance, for he made a lowly obeisance to them. The Sodomites heed not the strangers. Lotâs invitation; at first declined, is at length accepted, because Lot is approved of God as righteous, and excepted from the doom of the city.
Genesis 19:4-11
The wicked violence of the citizens displays itself. They compass the house, and demand the men for the vilest ends. How familiar Lot had become with vice, when any necessity whatever could induce him to offer his daughters to the lust of these Sodomites! We may suppose it was spoken rashly, in the heat of the moment, and with the expectation that he would not be taken at his word. So it turned out. âStand back.â This seems to be a menace to frighten Lot out of the way of their perverse will. It is probable, indeed, that he and his family would not have been so long safe in this wicked place, had he not been the occasion of a great deliverance to the whole city when they were carried away by the four kings. The threat is followed by a taunt, when the sorely vexed host hesitated to give up the strangers. âHe will needs be a judge.â It is evident Lot had been in the habit of remonstrating with them. From threats and taunts they soon proceed to violence. His guests now interfere. They rescue Lot, and smite the rioters with blindness, or a wandering of the senses, so that they cannot find the door. This ebullition of the vilest passion seals the doom of the city.
Genesis 19:12-23
The visitors now take steps for the deliverance of Lot and his kindred before the destruction of the cities. All that are related to him are included in the offer of deliverance. There is a blessing in being connected with the righteous, if men will but avail themselves of it. Lot seems bewildered by the contemptuous refusal of his connections to leave the place. His early choice and his growing habits have attached him to the place, notwithstanding its temptations. His married daughters, or at least the intended husbands of the two who were at home (âwho are hereâ), are to be left behind. But though these thoughts make him linger, the mercy of the Lord prevails. The angels use a little violence to hasten their escape. The mountain was preserved by its elevation from the flood of rain, sulphur, and fire which descended on the low ground on which the cities were built. Lot begs for a small town to which he may retreat, as he shrinks from the perils of a mountain dwelling, and his request is mercifully granted.
Genesis 19:24-26
Then follows the overthrow of the cities. âThe Lord rained brimstone and fire from the Lord from the skies.â Here the Lord is represented as present in the skies, whence the storm of desolation comes, and on the earth where it falls. The dale of Siddim, in which the cities were, appears to have abounded in asphalt and other combustible materials Genesis 14:10. The district was liable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions from the earliest to the latest times. We read of an earthquake in the days of king Uzziah Amos 1:1. An earthquake in 1759 destroyed many thousands of persons in the valley of Baalbec. Josephus (De Bell. Jud. iii. 10, 7) reports that the Salt Sea sends up in many places black masses of asphalt, which are not unlike headless bulls in shape and size. After an earthquake in 1834, masses of asphalt were thrown up from the bottom, and in 1837 a similar cause was attended with similar effects.
The lake lies in the lowest part of the valley of the Jordan, and its surface is about thirteen hundred feet below the level of the sea. In such a hollow, exposed to the burning rays of an unclouded sun, its waters evaporate as much as it receives by the influx of the Jordan. Its present area is about forty-five miles by eight miles. A peninsula pushes into it from the east called the Lisan, or tongue, the north point of which is about twenty miles from the south end of the lake. North of this point the depth is from forty to two hundred and eighteen fathoms. This southern part of the lake seems to have been the original dale of Siddim, in which were the cities of the vale. The remarkable salt hills lying on the south of the lake are still called Khashm Usdum (Sodom). A tremendous storm, accompanied with flashes of lightning, and torrents of rain, impregnated with sulphur, descended upon the doomed cities.
From the injunction to Lot to âflee to the mountain,â as well as from the nature of the soil, we may infer that at the same time with the awful conflagration there was a subsidence of the ground, so that the waters of the upper and original lake flowed in upon the former fertile and populous dale, and formed the shallow southern part of the present Salt Sea. In this pool of melting asphalt and sweltering, seething waters, the cities seem to have sunk forever, and left behind them no vestiges of their existence. Lotâs wife lingering behind her husband, and looking back, contrary to the express command of the Lord, is caught in the sweeping tempest, and becomes a pillar of salt: so narrow was the escape of Lot. The dashing spray of the salt sulphurous rain seems to have suffocated her, and then encrusted her whole body. She may have burned to a cinder in the furious conflagration. She is a memorable example of the indignation and wrath that overtakes the halting and the backsliding.
Genesis 19:27-29
Abraham rises early on the following morning, to see what had become of the city for which he had interceded so earnestly, and views from afar the scene of smoking desolation. Remembering Abraham, who was Lotâs uncle, and had him probably in mind in his importunate pleading, God delivered Lot from this awful overthrow. The Eternal is here designated by the name Elohim, the Everlasting, because in the war of elements in which the cities were overwhelmed, the eternal potencies of his nature were signally displayed.
Genesis 19:30-38
The descendants of Lot. Bewildered by the narrowness of his escape, and the awful death of his wife, Lot seems to have left Zoar, and taken to the mountain west of the Salt Sea, in terror of impending ruin. It is not improbable that all the inhabitants of Zoar, panic-struck, may have fled from the region of danger, and dispersed themselves for a time through the adjacent mountains. He was now far from the habitations of people, with his two daughters as his only companions. The manners of Sodom here obtrude themselves upon our view. Lotâs daughters might seem to have been led to this unnatural project, first, because they thought the human race extinct with the exception of themselves, in which case their conduct may have seemed a work of justifiable necessity; and next, because the degrees of kindred within which it was unlawful to marry had not been determined by an express law. But they must have seen some of the inhabitants of Zoar after the destruction of the cities; and carnal intercourse between parent and offspring must have been always repugnant to nature. âUnto this day.â This phrase indicates a variable period, from a few years to a few centuries: a few years; not more than seven, as Joshua 22:3; part of a lifetime, as Numbers 22:30; Joshua 6:25; Genesis 48:15; and some centuries, as Exodus 10:6. This passage may therefore have been written by one much earlier than Moses. Moab afterward occupied the district south of the Arnon, and east of the Salt Sea. Ammon dwelt to the northeast of Moab, where they had a capital called Rabbah. They both ultimately merged into the more general class of the Arabs, as a second Palgite element.
