Genesis 13:10 kjv
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Genesis 13:10 nkjv
And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
Genesis 13:10 niv
Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Genesis 13:10 esv
And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Genesis 13:10 nlt
Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Genesis 13 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:10 | A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden... | Garden of Eden as source of ultimate watering. |
| Gen 12:10 | Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe... | Egypt as a place of earthly provision, but also peril. |
| Gen 19:1 | The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. | Lot's proximity and later immersion in Sodom. |
| Gen 19:12-13 | "Whatever else you have in the city, bring them out of this place, for we are about to destroy this place..." | Consequences of Lot's choice leading to destruction. |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | Deceptive appearance of prosperity leading to ruin. |
| Isa 51:3 | For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden... | Divine promise to make wilderness fruitful, like Eden. |
| Jer 2:13 | My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters... | Idolatry as forsaking true source of life (God). |
| Ezek 36:35 | And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden...’ | Prophetic restoration to paradisiacal state by God. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy..." | Contrast between earthly and heavenly treasures. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction..." | The wide path often appears desirable but leads to destruction. |
| Luke 17:28-32 | "Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building... Remember Lot's wife." | Recalls Lot's earthly attachments and judgment on Sodom. |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him... | The inability of the unspiritual to discern true value. |
| 2 Cor 4:18 | While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen... | Prioritizing the unseen, eternal over the visible, temporal. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham obeyed... For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. | Abraham's faith-based, not sight-based, decision. |
| 1 Jn 2:15-17 | Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. | Warning against worldly desires. |
| Psa 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season... | Prosperity and spiritual flourishing from living close to God. |
| Psa 37:25 | I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread. | God's provision for the righteous, contrasting self-provision. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature... the Lord looks on the heart." | God's judgment based on inner reality, not outward appearance. |
| Num 13:27 | We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey... (description of fertile Canaan) | The Land of Canaan (promised to Abraham) was also fertile, by divine promise. |
| Judg 6:3-6 | For whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites... would come up against them... | External prosperity can be disrupted by ungodly influences. |
| Prov 23:5 | When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for it will sprout wings like an eagle and fly away to heaven. | The transient nature of ill-gotten or purely material wealth. |
| Gen 13:12-13 | Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain... The men of Sodom were wicked... | Immediate consequence and warning about Sodom. |
| Jude 1:7 | ...Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire... | Specific condemnation of Sodom's immorality. |
| Phil 3:19 | Their end is destruction, their god is their stomach, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. | Focus on earthly things leading to destruction. |
| Josh 24:14-15 | "Choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." | A choice between serving God or idols (implicitly, choosing worldly desires). |
Genesis 13 verses
Genesis 13 10 Meaning
Genesis 13:10 describes Lot's evaluation of the land before choosing where he would dwell, after Abraham offered him the first selection. It highlights Lot's purely physical assessment, observing the lush, well-watered Plain of Jordan. This fertile region appeared immensely appealing, resembling the blessed Garden of Eden (the Garden of the Lord) and the agriculturally rich land of Egypt, which was dependent on the Nile. His decision was based solely on this visual, worldly abundance, without regard for the spiritual and moral character of its inhabitants.Genesis 13 10 Context
Genesis 13 narrates the separation of Abram and Lot due to their increasing possessions and disputes among their herdsmen. Abraham, exhibiting his faith and magnanimity, offers Lot the choice of land first. This verse immediately follows Abraham's generous offer (Gen 13:9). Lot, acting without consulting God or Abraham, chooses based entirely on visual appeal and apparent material advantage, surveying the Plain of Jordan which, at this point in the narrative, had not yet been divinely judged. The chapter contrasts Lot's materialistic choice with Abraham's trusting dependence on God, who subsequently reaffirms His promise of the entire land to Abraham (Gen 13:14-17). Historically, the region of the Jordan Valley, particularly its southern parts, was indeed very fertile due to the Jordan River and its tributaries, enabling agriculture despite the surrounding arid lands.Genesis 13 10 Word analysis
- And Lot lifted up his eyes: Hebrew: wa-yiśśāʾ-loṭ ʿênāyw. This phrase is a common biblical idiom, often preceding a significant observation or decision. It implies a deliberate, searching look rather than a casual glance, suggesting an act of assessment or appraisal. Here, it denotes Lot's careful survey of the land.
- and saw: Hebrew: wa-yyarʾ. Simple visual perception, but in biblical narrative, "seeing" often leads to desiring and subsequently, acting. It marks the transition from observation to informed (or misinformed) decision-making.
- that the whole plain of Jordan: Hebrew: ʾêṯ kol-kikkar ha-Yarden. Kikkar literally means "circle" or "disc," referring to the circular basin or "plain" of the Jordan Valley. It was a well-known geographical feature. This phrase emphasizes the entirety of the area Lot observed, not just a portion.
- was well watered everywhere: Hebrew: mašqeh kol-lāh. Mashqeh means "a place of watering" or "well-watered," implying excellent irrigation and lush fertility. "Everywhere" (kol-lāh) stresses the complete and universal abundance. This highlights the primary attraction for Lot – economic prosperity.
- like the garden of the Lord: Hebrew: kə-gan YHWH. This is a direct comparison to the Garden of Eden, symbolizing the most perfect and abundantly fruitful place known in Scripture (Gen 2:8-10). It signifies ultimate blessing, fertility, and ideal conditions. For Lot, this comparison likely highlighted peak agricultural potential and pleasant living conditions, not necessarily its spiritual perfection. It implicitly contrasts with what God later designates as Abraham's portion (Gen 13:14-17), which relies on God's direct blessing, not perceived natural abundance.
- like the land of Egypt: Hebrew: kəʾereṣ Miṣrayim. Egypt was renowned for its fertility, sustained by the Nile's annual flooding. This comparison reinforces the idea of great agricultural wealth and the promise of sustenance. However, Egypt also carried connotations of famine leading to difficult sojourns (as Abraham had recently experienced, Gen 12:10), oppression, and idolatry, which might foreshadow negative aspects of Lot's choice.
- as you go toward Zoar: Hebrew: boʾəkā Ṣōʿarāh. Zoar was a city at the southern end of the Jordan plain (previously called Bela, Gen 14:2, 8), near the notorious Sodom and Gomorrah. This geographical detail specifies the southern extent of the lush area Lot surveyed, inadvertently pointing towards his future place of dwelling near the sinful cities. Ironically, Zoar itself was later spared from destruction at Lot's request (Gen 19:20-22).
Words-group analysis:
- "lifted up his eyes and saw": This combination highlights a deliberate act of visual evaluation. It signifies a choice driven by sensory perception rather than spiritual discernment or divine guidance.
- "whole plain of Jordan was well watered everywhere—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt": This extensive description of the land's fertility is crucial. It underscores the overwhelming visual appeal that captivated Lot. The double comparison to the ultimate paradisiacal ideal (Garden of the Lord) and a well-known wealthy region (Egypt) magnifies the perceived richness. This rich land contrasts starkly with the spiritual desolation that permeated the cities within it (Sodom and Gomorrah). Lot valued earthly paradise more than divine guidance or fellowship.
Genesis 13 10 Bonus section
- Lot's choice reflects a fundamental difference in values between him and Abraham. Abraham sought to dwell where God was, while Lot sought the path of least resistance and greatest material comfort.
- The phrase "like the Garden of the Lord" serves as an ironic precursor. While outwardly idyllic, the reality of the people living there (Sodom and Gomorrah) was antithetical to the purity of Eden, showcasing a disconnect between natural beauty and moral depravity. This foreshadows that appearance can be deceiving, especially regarding spiritual realities.
- This verse sets up a thematic parallel with humanity's original fall: just as Eve "saw that the tree was good for food... and pleasant to the eyes" (Gen 3:6), Lot "saw" the plain, indicating a choice based on visual appeal and immediate gratification over potential unseen dangers.
- The emphasis on "well watered" reflects ancient agrarian societies' primal dependence on water for life and prosperity. Water symbolized blessing, life, and wealth in the arid Middle East.