Genesis 13:12 kjv

Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Genesis 13:12 nkjv

Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.

Genesis 13:12 niv

Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.

Genesis 13:12 esv

Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

Genesis 13:12 nlt

So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain.

Genesis 13 verses

Genesis 13 12 Meaning

Genesis 13:12 succinctly portrays the divergent paths chosen by Abram and Lot following their amicable separation. Abram, guided by divine promise, remained in the land of Canaan. In stark contrast, Lot chose to settle near the morally corrupt cities of the Jordan Plain, specifically pitching his tents closer and closer to Sodom, a place known for its wickedness. This verse marks the beginning of Lot's gradual compromise and association with a degenerate society, while Abram remains faithful to the geographical locus of God's covenant.

Genesis 13 12 Context

Genesis 13:12 appears after the resolution of a conflict between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen, necessitated by their accumulating wealth and the land's inability to sustain both their flocks in close proximity. Abram, demonstrating generosity and faith, offers Lot the first choice of the land. Lot, viewing the well-watered Jordan plain, a region later described as being "like the garden of the Lord" (Gen 13:10) but also near the wicked cities, makes his choice based on apparent natural advantage and worldly prosperity.

This verse sets the stage for the narrative's exploration of divergent destinies: Abram's path of faith and patient waiting for God's promise, contrasted with Lot's path of reliance on earthly sight and compromise with unrighteousness. Historically and culturally, land was central to identity and livelihood in the ancient Near East, making Lot's choice profoundly significant. The choice of settlement implied alignment—Abram remaining in God's promised but less obviously "fertile" land of Canaan, Lot moving towards worldly "paradise" that was intrinsically linked to ungodly civilizations, implicitly polemicizing against the idea that material prosperity guarantees blessing, particularly when achieved through association with wickedness.

Genesis 13 12 Word analysis

• Abram (אברם - Avram): "Exalted Father." His dwelling in Canaan reinforces his faithful adherence to the divine calling (Gen 12:1). He is the father of faith, demonstrating trust in God's provision even when it seems less appealing than Lot's choice. His stability in Canaan contrasts sharply with Lot's mobile "tents" nearing Sodom.
• dwelt (ישב - yā·šaḇ): "to sit down," "to abide," "to settle." This suggests a fixed and stable residence for Abram, signifying his deep-rooted commitment to the land promised by God. His dwelling is by divine appointment and faith, unlike Lot's movement based on human sight.
• land of Canaan (אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן - ’e·reṣ Kə·na·‘an): The region divinely designated as the promised inheritance for Abram and his descendants (Gen 12:5-7, 15:18). It is the sacred geographical center of God's unfolding covenant, often representing the place of God's presence and blessing, regardless of its immediate appearance of fertility.
• and Lot (ולוט - ū·lōṭ): Lot, Abram's nephew, representing a generation chosen to be near blessing but susceptible to worldly allure. His actions serve as a foil to Abram's faith, highlighting the dangers of choices made outside divine counsel.
• dwelt (ישב - yā·šaḇ): While the same verb as Abram's dwelling, its context differs. For Lot, it refers to his settlement in or among the cities of the plain, leading to assimilation rather than separation. It denotes his type of dwelling – integrating with their society.
• cities of the plain (עָרֵי הַכִּכָּר - ‘ā·rê hak·kik·kār): Literally "cities of the circle/district" referring to the fertile Jordan Plain, later known for its richness (Gen 13:10) and, crucially, for the extreme depravity of its inhabitants (Gen 18:20-21). Lot chooses material prosperity over spiritual discernment.
• pitched his tents (אֹהֶל - ō·hel from root ahal): "to pitch a tent," signifying nomadic movement. This initially suggests a transient existence, but here it describes a progressive, deliberate movement towards Sodom. This implies a conscious decision to get closer to the allure and potential benefits (from Lot's perspective) of urban life, despite its known spiritual hazards.
• even as far as Sodom (עד סדם - ‘aḏ Sə·ḏōm): This is the crucial, culminating detail. "Sodom" was synonymous with moral corruption, depravity, and eventually divine judgment (Gen 19). Lot's progression "even as far as Sodom" signifies not just geographical proximity, but also a growing proximity to its wicked lifestyle and the subsequent moral compromise, foreshadowing his eventual dwelling within it (Gen 14:12).

Words-group analysis

• "Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan": Establishes Abram's fidelity to God's command and his anchoring in the covenant land. It portrays a position of spiritual security and trust.
• "and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain": Highlights Lot's initial physical location among wealthy, yet ungodly, cities, chosen for material benefit.
• "and pitched his tents even as far as Sodom": Reveals Lot's gradual but distinct movement towards the epicenter of depravity. This progression signifies a dangerous yielding to worldly attractions, indicating a readiness to compromise his spiritual values for worldly advantage. It underscores a fundamental difference in character and ultimate destiny between Lot and Abram, based on their respective choices. This "pitching his tents towards Sodom" is a subtle, yet powerful, narrative detail implying moral decline and future entanglements.

Genesis 13 12 Bonus section

• The subtle change from Lot seeing the well-watered plain (Gen 13:10) to Lot choosing it (Gen 13:11), and finally Lot moving his tents closer to Sodom (Gen 13:12) illustrates a deepening commitment to a path that moves him away from God's chosen servant and the blessings of the covenant. This gradual progression from a seemingly neutral choice to an alarming proximity to depravity is a recurring theme in biblical warnings against worldly compromise.
• Abram, through his dwelling in Canaan, consistently demonstrated a "pilgrim" mindset (Heb 11:9-10), looking beyond earthly comforts to God's eternal city, whereas Lot's choice reflected a desire for immediate, settled worldly advantage, embodying a "settler" mentality fixated on temporal gain.
• This verse indirectly sets up the profound theological contrast of how God protects and saves the righteous. While Lot chooses Sodom and nearly perishes, it is Abram's intercession and righteousness that God remembers when destroying the wicked city, saving Lot for Abram's sake (Gen 19:29). This highlights that while individual choices have consequences, God's covenant grace ultimately upholds His plan through the faithful.

Genesis 13 12 Commentary

Genesis 13:12 encapsulates a critical turning point for Abram and Lot. It unveils the immediate consequence of Lot's sight-driven choice (Gen 13:10-11) and foreshadows his ultimate destiny. Abram's decision to "dwell in the land of Canaan" underscores his foundational trust in God's promises over immediate prosperity, embodying the faith by which the righteous live. He prioritizes being in God's promised land, even if it appears less immediately fruitful.

In stark contrast, Lot's move towards the "cities of the plain," and particularly "pitching his tents even as far as Sodom," signals a gradual moral drift. What began as a strategic choice for fertile land quickly escalates into geographical and moral proximity to severe wickedness. This seemingly innocuous decision based on self-interest led to increasing involvement in a corrupt society. The trajectory from "pitched his tents towards" to eventually dwelling within Sodom (Gen 14:12, 19:1) serves as a potent biblical lesson about the insidious nature of compromise, where small, seemingly rational choices can lead to significant spiritual detriment. The passage implicitly warns against pursuing worldly advantages at the cost of spiritual purity and warns believers to be separate from ungodly environments and influences.