Genesis 14:12 kjv

And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Genesis 14:12 nkjv

They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Genesis 14:12 niv

They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

Genesis 14:12 esv

They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

Genesis 14:12 nlt

They also captured Lot ? Abram's nephew who lived in Sodom ? and carried off everything he owned.

Genesis 14 verses

Genesis 14 12 Meaning

Genesis 14:12 describes the direct consequence of Lot's choice to reside in Sodom: he and all his valuable possessions were seized as spoil by the victorious eastern kings after their defeat of the kings of the plain. This verse emphasizes Lot's vulnerability and his entrapment by the circumstances he voluntarily entered, highlighting the immediate and painful repercussions of his worldly alignment.

Genesis 14 12 Context

Genesis chapter 14 describes an unusual regional conflict involving several ancient Near Eastern kings. For twelve years, the five kings of the Jordan Valley, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, had been tributary to Kedorlaomer, king of Elam. In the thirteenth year, they rebelled. The following year, Kedorlaomer and his allies launched a punitive expedition, systematically defeating various groups before confronting the rebellious kings in the Valley of Siddim. The Sodomites and their allies were routed, fleeing or falling into asphalt pits. In the aftermath of this devastating battle, the victorious eastern coalition plundered the defeated cities. Genesis 14:12 details one specific casualty of this raid: Lot, Abram's nephew, and his household and wealth, all taken because of his residence in Sodom. This event directly sets the stage for Abram's immediate, faithful, and unexpected military intervention.

Genesis 14 12 Word analysis

• They also took (וַיִּקְחוּ - vayyiqḥu): From the verb laqah (לָקַח), meaning "to take, seize, capture." The consecutive imperfect implies a direct continuation of the plundering action described in the preceding verses. This verb powerfully conveys that Lot was not a willing participant in the departure but was forcibly seized as spoils of war, signifying his loss of freedom and property.

• Lot (לוֹט - Loṭ): Abram's nephew, whose relationship is crucial to understanding Abram's subsequent actions. Lot's name is tied to this narrative of being captured and delivered.

• Abram's nephew (בֶּן־אֲחִי אַבְרָם - ben-aḥi Avram): Literally "son of my brother of Abram," clearly identifying the familial relationship. This detail establishes Lot as Abram's kin, a significant factor that compelled Abram to act and risk himself to rescue his family.

• and his possessions (וּרְכוּשׁוֹ - u’rĕḵūšōw): From rĕḵūš (רְכוּשׁ), meaning "goods, property, wealth, livestock." This encompasses all that Lot had accumulated, reflecting the totality of his loss and the ancient practice of taking everything from the conquered, including human captives and material wealth. His material success, which influenced his move to Sodom (Gen 13:10), became the very means of his enslavement.

• and departed (וַיֵּלֵכוּ - vayyēlēḵu): From halakh (הָלַךְ), "to go, walk, depart." This signifies the departure of the victorious army, taking Lot and the other captives away from the ravaged cities towards their own territories. It indicates the completion of the raid and the start of the journey back.

• for he was living in Sodom (כִּי יֹשֵׁב בִּסְדֹם - kî yošēḇ bis'dōm):

  • for (כִּי - kî): A conjunction indicating the reason or explanation for Lot's capture. It links his current plight directly to his place of residence.
  • he was living (יֹשֵׁב - yošēḇ): This is a Qal active participle of yashav (יָשַׁב), meaning "to sit, dwell, inhabit, remain." The participle indicates an ongoing state, a settled and established residence. Lot was not merely passing through Sodom; he had intentionally chosen it as his permanent dwelling place and was thoroughly embedded in its life.
  • in Sodom (בִּסְדֹם - bis'dōm): The city infamous for its extreme wickedness and moral corruption, as noted in Gen 13:13. Lot's presence in Sodom meant he was directly vulnerable to any catastrophe befalling the city.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions, and departed": This phrase encapsulates the devastating reality of war for the vanquished. Lot is reduced from an independent, prosperous individual to a mere piece of captured property, swept away with the spoils. His personal relationship to Abram (nephew) provides the vital connection for the next phase of the narrative, establishing the familial obligation and love that will spur Abram into action.
  • "for he was living in Sodom": This clause serves as a pivotal explanatory phrase, establishing the causal link between Lot's geographic and moral alignment and his fate. It highlights Lot's prior deliberate decision to move to the infamous city, which then exposed him to its consequences. His "living" (established dwelling) indicates not a random visitation, but a commitment that immersed him fully into the city's lot. This emphasizes the profound impact of where one chooses to dwell, not only physically but spiritually, drawing one into its destined judgment or blessing.

Genesis 14 12 Bonus section

• The narrative serves as a subtle foreshadowing of later biblical themes: Israel's captivity in foreign lands as a consequence of their sin, and God's eventual redemption through a deliverer.
• Lot's decision to live in Sodom (not merely near it) indicates his deep integration into its social and economic fabric, making him indistinguishable from the other inhabitants in the eyes of the invaders, and thus, vulnerable.
• This verse subtly sets a test for Abram, contrasting Lot's compromised position with Abram's role as a faithful kinsman, foreshadowing Abram's growth in faith and his readiness to act righteously.

Genesis 14 12 Commentary

Genesis 14:12 concisely portrays the stark and immediate consequence of Lot's worldly choice to reside in Sodom. His wealth and status, which initially seemed desirable (Gen 13:10), rendered him a prime target for plunder during wartime. The explicit mention that he "was living in Sodom" serves as a direct explanation for his capture, reinforcing the theological point that one's association and dwelling place inevitably shape one's destiny. Lot's prosperity was illusory, for it trapped him in a dangerous situation from which he could not extricate himself. This verse lays the groundwork for Abram's subsequent demonstration of courageous love and faith, illustrating how God often uses difficult circumstances (even those brought on by poor human choices) to call forth divine intervention and uphold His covenant promises. It implicitly teaches about the perils of spiritual compromise and the wisdom of discernment regarding where one settles one's life.