Genesis 13:11 kjv

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Genesis 13:11 nkjv

Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.

Genesis 13:11 niv

So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:

Genesis 13:11 esv

So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.

Genesis 13:11 nlt

Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram.

Genesis 13 verses

Genesis 13 11 Meaning

Genesis 13:11 describes Lot's decision to choose the Jordan plain for himself due to its well-watered and fertile appearance, leading him to journey eastward. This verse marks the physical separation of Abram and Lot, a division necessitated by the prosperity of their herds, but one that subtly highlights the divergent values and paths of the two men. Lot's choice reveals his preference for immediate material benefit over companionship or discerning spiritual considerations, setting him on a trajectory toward a place of moral corruption and subsequent judgment.

Genesis 13 11 Context

Genesis chapter 13 focuses on the resolution of conflict between Abram and Lot. Their flocks and herds had grown so numerous that the land could not sustain both, leading to quarreling between their respective herdsmen. To preserve peace and family unity, Abram magnanimously proposed a separation, offering Lot the first choice of land. Lot's selection in verse 11 is the pivotal moment of this separation, immediately followed by Lot's descent into the increasingly wicked plain and Abram's renewed divine blessing and promise. Historically, this account reflects the semi-nomadic pastoralist lifestyle of the time, where access to water and pasture was crucial. The Jordan Plain, stretching southward from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, was indeed known for its fertility, particularly in contrast to the more arid highlands of Canaan where Abram chose to remain.

Genesis 13 11 Word analysis

• Then Lot chose (וַיִּבְחַר־לוֹ ל֖וֹט - vayyivchar-lo Loṭ):
  • "chose" (בחר - bachar): This verb signifies a deliberate, active selection. Lot did not stumble into this decision; he carefully assessed and picked what he deemed best for himself. The reflexive "lo" emphasizes it was for himself, highlighting his self-interest and lack of consultation with Abram or divine guidance.
• for himself (לוֹ - lo): This dative pronoun is appended to the verb vayyivchar, intensifying the idea that the choice was for Lot's own benefit or advantage. It underlines a self-serving decision.
• all the plain of the Jordan (אֵ֖ת כָּל־כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן - ʾēt kol-kikkar hayyardēn):
  • "all" (כָּל - kol): Denotes the entirety, indicating a complete and unreserved claim to the most desirable portion.
  • "plain" (כִּכַּר - kikkar): Literally means "circle," "loaf," or "disc," referring to a round, often flat area. Here, it specifically denotes the well-watered, circular-shaped basin of the Jordan River valley. This phrase contrasts sharply with the highlands Abram remained in.
  • "of the Jordan" (הַיַּרְדֵּן - hayyardēn): Specifies the fertile region. This area was depicted as being "like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt" (Gen 13:10), a subtle biblical critique highlighting how seemingly paradise-like places can hide great evil, akin to Egypt as a future place of bondage and idolatry for Israel.
• and Lot journeyed eastward (וַיִּסַּ֥ע ל֖וֹט מִקֶּ֑דֶם - vayyissaʿ Loṭ miqqedem):
  • "journeyed" (ויסע - vayissaʿ): A common verb for traveling, often associated with a deliberate movement, typically to settle.
  • "eastward" (מִקֶּדֶם - miqqedem): This adverb denotes direction. While a simple geographical descriptor, in biblical narratives, movement "east" can sometimes carry symbolic weight, representing separation from God's presence or covenant community (e.g., Adam and Eve, Cain both sent "east of Eden"). Here, it sets Lot further apart from Abram's path of faithfulness and closer to the regions destined for judgment.
• thus they separated from each other (וַיִּפָּֽרְד֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ מֵעַל־אָחִֽיו - vayyippārədū ʾîš mēʿal-ʾāḥîw):
  • "separated" (וַיִּפָּרְדוּ - vayyippārədū): This verb means to "divide" or "separate." Its passive/reflexive form implies that the separation was a natural consequence of the choices made. This separation, though physical, foreshadows a deeper spiritual divergence.
  • "from each other" (אִ֣ישׁ מֵעַל־אָחִֽיו - ʾîš mēʿal-ʾāḥîw): Literally "man from his brother." This emphasizes the personal nature of the separation between kinsmen, specifically Abram and Lot.

Genesis 13 11 Bonus section

The seemingly innocent phrase "like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt" (Gen 13:10) used to describe the plain of the Jordan, immediately preceding Lot's choice in verse 11, is heavy with irony and polemical intent. Describing the land "like the garden of the LORD" evokes Eden, suggesting ultimate blessing and perfect environment. Yet, it leads to Sodom, a place of extreme wickedness destined for judgment. This juxtaposition implicitly warns against a superficial understanding of blessing or 'paradise' based solely on material abundance, suggesting that what appears outwardly appealing can be inwardly corrupt and dangerous. Similarly, "like the land of Egypt" prefigures Israel's future bondage there, a land known for its idolatry and opposition to God, reinforcing the spiritual perils inherent in Lot's choice. Lot’s self-chosen paradise proves to be a place of captivity, albeit of a spiritual nature, ultimately culminating in devastating loss and compromised moral integrity for his family in Gen 19.

Genesis 13 11 Commentary

Genesis 13:11 is a seemingly straightforward verse about geographical separation, yet it encapsulates a profound spiritual truth. Lot's choice of the Jordan plain, described as a paradisiacal land, reveals a preference for visible prosperity over intangible spiritual alignment. His decision to "choose for himself" reflects human self-reliance and immediate gratification, starkly contrasting with Abram's magnanimous faith which trusted God for future provision (Gen 13:8-9). Lot "lifted his eyes" (Gen 13:10) and judged by sight, valuing fertile pasture above the potentially detrimental societal influence of wicked Sodom and Gomorrah lurking nearby.

The "eastward" journey is subtle but significant; in Scripture, this direction sometimes marks a departure from divine blessing or proximity, a movement towards a land associated with spiritual distance (Gen 3:24, 4:16). Lot's trajectory from the general region to "pitching his tent toward Sodom" (Gen 13:12) demonstrates a gradual, compromising alignment with the world. This single choice, seemingly rational and advantageous, sets the course for Lot's life—leading him into great distress by the ungodly environment of Sodom (2 Pet 2:7-8), and requiring divine intervention for his ultimate rescue, primarily due to God remembering Abram (Gen 19:29). The verse therefore serves as a cautionary tale: human choices, though seemingly pragmatic, can have profound spiritual consequences that lead to compromise and entanglement with unrighteousness.