Genesis 14:11 Meaning, Commentary and Cross References KJV NIV ESV NLT

Genesis 14:11 kjv

And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

Genesis 14:11 nkjv

Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.

Genesis 14:11 niv

The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away.

Genesis 14:11 esv

So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.

Genesis 14:11 nlt

The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and headed for home, taking with them all the spoils of war and the food supplies.

Genesis 14 11 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Gen 14:12	They also took Lot, Abram's nephew, who was living in Sodom, and his possessions, and departed.	Immediate consequence: Lot's capture.
Deut 2:35	But the livestock we took as plunder for ourselves, with the spoil of the cities that we captured.	Lawful plundering in war.
Deut 20:14	But the women, the little ones, the livestock, and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take...	God-ordained spoils of war for Israel.
Josh 8:2	You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall...	Divine instruction for spoils.
Josh 11:14	The Israelites plundered all the spoils and livestock of these cities.	Illustration of customary war practice.
Jdg 5:30	Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? A girl or two for every man; colored garments as spoil...	Description of typical ancient war booty.
1 Sam 27:8-9	And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites... and left none alive	Taking spoils from hostile tribes.
1 Sam 30:20	David took all the flocks and herds... This is David’s spoil.	David recovers and distributes spoils.
2 Ki 7:16	Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel...	Plundering after enemy retreat.
2 Chr 14:13	Asa and the people with him pursued them as far as Gerar. And great spoil was taken.	Spoils as a sign of victory.
Isa 10:6	Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of My wrath I command him, to take spoil...	Assyria as God's instrument for plunder.
Ezek 29:19	I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off her wealth and take spoil...	Egypt plundered as divine judgment.
Matt 6:19-21	Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in...	Contrast earthly possessions with heavenly treasure.
Lk 12:33-34	Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure...	Warning against reliance on material wealth.
Jas 5:1-3	Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you... your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.	Ephemerality of earthly wealth.
2 Pet 2:7-8	And if He rescued righteous Lot, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless, for that righteous...	Lot's proximity to corrupt Sodom.
Jud 1:7	In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and...	Recalling the wickedness and fate of Sodom/Gomorrah.
Gen 13:10-13	Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well-watered everywhere... Then Lot chose...	Lot's prior choice of the prosperous, yet wicked, cities.
Rev 18:16-17	‘Alas, alas, that great city, clothed in fine linen... in a single hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’	Prophetic warning of swift destruction of worldly wealth.
Nah 2:9-10	Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! There is no end to the store, an abundance of every precious thing... empty...	The complete stripping of wealth in war.
Jer 2:14-15	Is Israel a slave? Or a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey? The young lions roar over him; they make...	Metaphor of being plundered.
Hab 2:8	Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, because of bloodshed...	Reversal of fortune; plunderer becomes plundered.

Genesis 14 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Genesis 14 11 Meaning

Genesis 14:11 describes the immediate outcome of the battle between the invading eastern kings and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. Having defeated the local rulers and put them to flight, the victors plundered the defeated cities. This verse specifically states they took all valuable possessions, including food and other necessities, stripping the cities of their material wealth and means of sustenance. It highlights the complete economic subjugation of Sodom and Gomorrah by the triumphant coalition.

Genesis 14 11 Context

Genesis chapter 14 describes the "War of the Kings," a pivotal historical event within Abraham's narrative. Four powerful eastern kings (Chedorlaomer, Amraphel, Arioch, and Tidal) formed a confederacy that dominated the cities of the Jordan Plain for twelve years. In the thirteenth year, the five kings of the plain (of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela/Zoar) rebelled. Verse 11 details the consequence of this rebellion's failure. Following their decisive victory in the Valley of Siddim (v. 8-10), the eastern kings swiftly exploited their conquest. This act of seizing all goods and provisions was a standard practice in ancient Near Eastern warfare, designed to weaken the defeated economically, provide resources for the victorious army, and serve as a spoil of war. The subsequent capture of Lot (v. 12) directly sets the stage for Abram's dramatic intervention. This battle precedes God's covenant with Abram and offers a stark contrast between the violent, plundering world and Abram's journey of faith.

Genesis 14 11 Word analysis

So they took (וַיִּקְחוּ - vayyiqḥū): This phrase highlights the immediate and decisive action of the victorious confederate kings. The verb לקח (laqach, to take, seize) implies forceful acquisition. It signifies a common and expected outcome of military conquest in the ancient Near East – the right of the conqueror to the spoils. This also establishes the agency of the invaders.
all (אֶת־כָּל - ’et-kol): The emphatic use of "all" underscores the thoroughness and completeness of the plundering. Nothing was left behind, leaving the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah utterly destitute. This total stripping indicates a severe blow to the defeated cities' ability to recover or sustain themselves.
the goods (רְכוּשׁ - rekush): This Hebrew term refers to movable property, possessions, wealth, and accumulated riches. It encompasses livestock, gold, silver, valuable fabrics, and other personal assets. The act of taking rekush represents the primary objective of many ancient military campaigns – wealth accumulation and resource control.
of Sodom (סְדֹם - sedom) and Gomorrah (וַעֲמֹרָה - waʿămorāh): These two cities, notoriously wicked and later subjected to divine judgment, are specified as the victims of this economic devastation. Their capture and plunder here serve as an early consequence of their proximity to strife and, more importantly, a prelude to their ultimate destruction due to their depravity. Lot, by choosing to settle in Sodom (Gen 13:10-13), places himself and his possessions directly in the path of this conflict.
and all their provisions (וְאֶת־כָּל־אֹכְלָם - wə’et-kol-’okhəlām): אֹכֶל (okhel) specifically means food, sustenance, or provisions. Including "all their provisions" signifies that even basic necessities were seized. This move effectively cuts off the defeated cities' life support, indicating a total and immediate famine and heightened distress for the remaining inhabitants. This level of plunder demonstrates the ruthless and absolute nature of the victors.
and went their way (וַיֵּלְכוּ - vayyelḵū): This concluding phrase indicates that the conquerors completed their task of plundering and proceeded on their journey, likely returning to their homeland or moving to another target. It implies a sense of finality for their actions at Sodom and Gomorrah, having accomplished their goal of subjugation and wealth extraction. This prepares the narrative for the subsequent action, the capture of Lot and his property (v. 12), and Abram's response.

Genesis 14 11 Bonus section

The plunder of Sodom and Gomorrah's resources, particularly their provisions, points to the strategic aim of incapacitating the defeated population, preventing their immediate recovery or ability to sustain resistance. In ancient warfare, control over resources was paramount for exerting power and dominion. This thorough confiscation could also be seen as an intentional act to ensure the defeated cities would be severely weakened and reliant, thus removing them as future threats. The narrative choice to explicitly mention both "goods" (rekush, implying general wealth) and "provisions" (okhel, implying food and sustenance) emphasizes the twofold devastating impact: loss of luxury/assets and loss of life's necessities. This detail amplifies the subsequent urgency and significance of Abram's pursuit to rescue Lot, whose very survival within the captured community would be precarious.

Genesis 14 11 Commentary

Genesis 14:11 is a descriptive account of the outcome of warfare in the ancient world, particularly focusing on the economic consequences for the defeated. The invaders meticulously stripped Sodom and Gomorrah of every valuable possession and all their food supplies, reflecting the harsh realities of a victor's rights. This complete deprivation highlights the vulnerability of a people whose security rested purely on material prosperity rather than divine favor. The scene is critical because it explains why Lot, who had chosen to settle in prosperous Sodom, becomes a victim of this raid (v. 12), subsequently requiring Abram's intervention. The thoroughness of the plunder foreshadows the ultimate desolation of these cities, albeit for a different reason, namely divine judgment due to their profound wickedness (Gen 19). The contrast between the acquisitive, violent nature of these earthly kings and the subsequent selfless act of Abram, who refuses the spoils of war (Gen 14:22-24), is a subtle but powerful theme in this chapter.