Genesis 18:19 kjv
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Genesis 18:19 nkjv
For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."
Genesis 18:19 niv
For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."
Genesis 18:19 esv
For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him."
Genesis 18:19 nlt
I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised."
Genesis 18 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1-3 | "I will make you into a great nation...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." | Abrahamic Covenant & Blessing |
| Gen 15:5-6 | "He took him outside and said, 'Look toward the heavens and count the stars...' And he believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness." | Promise of Descendants; Faith for Righteousness |
| Gen 17:7-8 | "I will establish My covenant...to be God to you and to your offspring after you." | Covenant Established with Abraham's Line |
| Deut 6:6-7 | "These words...shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children..." | Parental Responsibility for Instruction |
| Deut 10:12 | "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways..." | Requirements of God's Way |
| Ps 1:6 | "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." | God's Knowledge of the Righteous's Path |
| Ps 78:4-6 | "...we will not conceal them from our children, but tell to the coming generation the praises of the Lord..." | Teaching Generations God's Works |
| Prov 22:6 | "Train up a child in the way he should go..." | Child Training & Instruction |
| Isa 1:17 | "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression..." | Call to Justice & Righteous Action |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "...let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises steadfast love, justice, and righteousness on earth..." | True Boast in Knowing God & His Character |
| Ezek 18:5 | "If a man is righteous and does what is just and right..." | Characteristics of a Righteous Person |
| Mic 6:8 | "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" | Summary of God's Requirements |
| Zech 8:16 | "These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, render true and sound judgments in your gates..." | Speaking Truth & Just Judgment |
| Mt 6:33 | "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness..." | Prioritizing God's Kingdom & Justice |
| Lk 11:42 | "...you tithe mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God." | Importance of Justice and Love over Ritual |
| Rom 4:13 | "For the promise to Abraham...was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." | Promise Rooted in Faith |
| Eph 2:10 | "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand..." | Created for Good Works & God's Purpose |
| Eph 6:4 | "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." | Parental Role in Discipling Children |
| Tit 2:11-12 | "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly..." | Grace Instructs Righteous Living |
| Heb 6:13-15 | "For when God made a promise to Abraham... He swore by Himself... And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise." | God's Certainty of Promise Fulfillment |
| 1 Jn 2:3 | "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments." | Knowing God by Obedience |
| 3 Jn 1:4 | "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." | Joy in Children Following Truth |
Genesis 18 verses
Genesis 18 19 Meaning
Genesis 18:19 reveals God's profound, purposeful knowledge of Abraham, indicating God's chosen relationship with him. This divine knowledge empowers Abraham with the responsibility and authority to instruct his descendants and entire household to consistently adhere to God's ways through righteous living and the practice of justice. The ultimate purpose of this generational obedience is for the Lord to faithfully fulfill all the promises He has declared over Abraham and his lineage.
Genesis 18 19 Context
Genesis 18:19 is set during Abraham's encounter with the Lord and two angels, who had just promised Sarah a son and were heading towards Sodom. This verse serves as God's justification and explanation for revealing His plan concerning Sodom and Gomorrah to Abraham (Gen 18:17). In this patriarchal society, the family unit, or household, was the fundamental social and spiritual entity, with the head (Abraham) holding ultimate authority and responsibility for its moral and religious integrity. God's special, elective relationship with Abraham carries the expectation that Abraham will not only live righteously himself but will also actively ensure that his entire lineage follows God's path, thereby upholding the covenant and facilitating the fulfillment of divine promises. The narrative highlights God's choice of Abraham for a specific, ongoing, righteous purpose.
Genesis 18 19 Word analysis
- For I have known him (כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו - ki yedaʿtîw):
- known (יָדַע - yada): This is far more than a simple intellectual acquaintance or awareness. In Hebrew, yada often denotes a deep, intimate, personal, and purposeful relationship. It implies selection, covenant, approval, and a divinely initiated commitment. God's "knowing" of Abraham is an elective knowledge, meaning He chose Abraham with a specific destiny and role in mind. This knowing precedes and is the basis for Abraham's commanded responsibilities. It's a relational bond that sets Abraham apart.
- so that he may command (לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה - lema’an ’asher yetzavveh):
- command (צָוָה - tzavah): This word indicates authoritative instruction, delegation of responsibility, and even appointment. Abraham's role is not merely to suggest or persuade but to actively direct and enforce spiritual and ethical conduct within his household. It's an active, disciplinary leadership.
- his children (בָנָיו - banav): Refers to his biological descendants.
- and his household (וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ - v'et-beito): This includes his entire extended family, servants, and all who fall under his authority. It signifies that the spiritual responsibility extends beyond just biological offspring to the entire communal unit, highlighting the comprehensive nature of Abraham's spiritual headship.
- after him (אַחֲרָיו - acharav): Denotes the continuity through subsequent generations, emphasizing the intergenerational nature of faith and responsibility within the Abrahamic covenant.
- to keep (לִשְׁמֹר - lishmor): To observe, guard, protect, diligently obey. It implies active adherence and careful preservation of something valuable.
- the way of the Lord (דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה - derekh YHWH): This is not just a path but a manner of life, the divinely prescribed standard for conduct and character. It encompasses moral, ethical, and spiritual principles outlined by God, reflecting His character and will. It is the righteous and just manner of living that pleases God.
- by doing righteousness (וּצְדָקָה - utz'daqah):
- righteousness (צְדָקָה - tzedaqah): Conformity to God's moral standard, moral integrity, uprightness, and correct relationship with God and others. It signifies being right in character and action before God.
- and justice (וּמִשְׁפָּט - u'mishpat):
- justice (מִשְׁפָּט - mishpat): Administering fair judgment, upholding what is right, fair treatment, and social equity. Often paired with tzedaqah, it emphasizes putting righteousness into concrete, impartial action, especially in how one interacts with and treats others.
- so that the Lord may bring (לְמַעַן הָבִיא יְהוָה - lema'an havi YHWH): Introduces the purpose or consequence.
- upon Abraham what He has spoken about him (עַל־אַבְרָהָם אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר עָלָיו - ’al-’avraham ’et ’asher dibber ’alayv): Refers to the promises of blessing, numerous descendants, and being a blessing to all nations (e.g., Gen 12:2-3, 15:5, 17:6-7). This connection highlights that God's covenant promises are tied to, though not conditioned by, human faithfulness and active obedience, especially in transmitting faith.
Genesis 18 19 Bonus section
The active form of "command" (tzavah) in the Hebrew implies an ongoing, continuous effort from Abraham, not a one-time instruction. It suggests a proactive, purposeful training. The pairing of "righteousness" (tzedaqah) and "justice" (mishpat) is frequent in biblical literature (e.g., Ps 33:5, Prov 21:3, Amos 5:24, Isa 56:1, Jer 22:3) and underscores that true devotion to God is intrinsically linked to ethical action in human society. God's purpose for Abraham and his descendants was to embody a distinct culture of right relationship with God and upright interaction with each other and the world, setting them apart as His chosen people, a light to the nations. This verse serves as a foundational statement on the nature of divine election for purpose and the importance of transmitting faith and godly values through intentional leadership. It foreshadows the giving of the Law, where similar ethical and righteous commands would be explicitly detailed.
Genesis 18 19 Commentary
Genesis 18:19 profoundly connects God's sovereign choice with human responsibility and intergenerational faith. God's unique "knowing" of Abraham is an elective love that implies a divine purpose for his life beyond personal blessing. This purpose is to become a spiritual patriarch, actively cultivating a legacy of faith, righteousness, and justice within his household. Abraham's spiritual leadership extends not merely to personal piety but to the active instruction and moral formation of his children and servants. The "way of the Lord" encompasses both ritual worship and, crucially, ethical conduct demonstrated through "righteousness and justice"—acting correctly toward God and impartially towards others. The verse beautifully portrays that the fulfillment of God's magnificent promises to Abraham is not just a unilateral divine act but also interlinked with Abraham's faithful discharge of his spiritual duties, ensuring that the covenant legacy flourishes through subsequent generations living in accordance with God's character.
- Practical Example: A parent's diligent and consistent teaching of God's Word and character, not only by verbal instruction but by modeling honesty and fairness in their own lives and correcting wrong behaviors in their children, reflects Abraham's responsibility to "command his children and his household... to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice." This foundational spiritual discipline contributes to children living lives that align with God's will and experience the blessings tied to faithful living.