Genesis 18:20 kjv

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Genesis 18:20 nkjv

And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,

Genesis 18:20 niv

Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous

Genesis 18:20 esv

Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,

Genesis 18:20 nlt

So the LORD told Abraham, "I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.

Genesis 18 verses

Genesis 18 20 Meaning

The verse presents a direct divine declaration by the LORD concerning the overwhelming moral degradation of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It states that the "outcry" regarding their state has become immense and that their sin is "exceedingly grievous" or "very heavy." This pronouncement signals that the wickedness of these cities has reached a critical point, demanding immediate divine intervention and righteous judgment, revealing God's attentive awareness and intention to act.

Genesis 18 20 Context

Genesis chapter 18 details a pivotal moment in Abraham's life. The immediate context of verse 20 follows the LORD's visit to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre, during which Abraham and Sarah receive the renewed promise of a son, Isaac, within the year. After this joyous promise, as the divine visitors depart, the LORD singles out Abraham and begins to speak of His intentions regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. This direct revelation of divine plans is a testament to Abraham's unique relationship with God, establishing him as a confidant whom the LORD would not keep secrets from, especially given Abraham's pivotal role in God's covenant purposes. The declaration in verse 20 thus sets the stage for Abraham's subsequent intercession on behalf of the cities, revealing God's righteous nature, His awareness of sin, and His willingness to engage with humanity, even in judgment. Historically and culturally, Sodom and Gomorrah represent centers of prosperity but also significant moral corruption, often associated with grave sexual deviance and lack of hospitality, a stark contrast to the values of the patriarchal nomadic culture. The "outcry" metaphor reflects ancient Near Eastern understanding of justice, where egregious wrongdoing could be so flagrant as to cry out for divine rectification.

Genesis 18 20 Word analysis

• Then: (וַיֹּאמֶר֙ - vayyo'mer) Introduces a new divine statement, often marking a significant shift or revelation. It directly links God's decision to reveal His plan to Abraham's relationship with Him.

• the LORD: (יְהוָ֣ה - Yahweh) The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, active, and sovereign nature. It signifies His presence and authority in judgment and relationship.

• said: (וַיֹּאמֶר֙ - vayyo'mer) Simple past tense verb, denoting direct, authoritative communication.

• The outcry: (צַעֲקַת - tza`aqat) From the root צָעַק (tza'aq), meaning "to cry out," "to shout," or "to call for help/attention." Here, it's not necessarily a human cry of victims (though that may be part of it), but the report or essence of the sin itself that has reached God's ears. It can denote the overwhelming intensity of the sin such that it "screams" for divine action, similar to Abel's blood crying out in Gen 4:10 or the cry of Israel in Egypt in Exod 3:7. It signifies the accumulated and unaddressed depravity demanding judgment.

• against: (סְדֹם֙ - sodom, part of the construct) Indicates the direction of the outcry, specifically targeting these cities as the source of the profound moral grievance.

• Sodom and Gomorrah: Specific urban centers notorious in biblical history for their profound wickedness. They serve as enduring archetypes of unrepentant evil and divine judgment.

• is so great: (רַבָּ֔ה - rabbah) From the root רַב (rav), meaning "great," "much," "numerous," "abundant." It emphasizes the sheer magnitude, intensity, and pervasive nature of the "outcry," implying the depth and extent of their corruption.

• and their sin: (וְחַטָּאתָ֖ם - vechattatām) From the root חָטָא (hata), meaning "to miss the mark," "to sin." This term points to a willful deviation from God's standard. The suffix "-tam" makes it "their sin" (plural, denoting collective, multi-faceted transgressions, or singular emphasizing the nature of their pervasive sin). It directly identifies the reason for the outcry.

• so grievous: (כָּבְדָ֥ה מְאֹֽד - kav'dah me'od)

  • כָּבְדָ֥ה (kav'dah): From the root כָּבֵד (kaved), meaning "to be heavy," "weighty," "severe," "numerous," "important." It suggests the overwhelming weight and density of their wickedness, the seriousness of its character, and its burden before God.
  • מְאֹֽד (me'od): An intensifier meaning "very," "exceedingly," "much." Combined with kav'dah, it means "exceedingly heavy" or "very grievous," underscoring the extreme depth and intolerable nature of their collective moral offense.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "The outcry... is so great": This phrase metaphorically portrays sin as having a voice, a cumulative weight that ascends to God. It underscores divine omniscience—God is fully aware—and the point at which unaddressed evil transcends human boundaries and necessitates divine intervention. The sheer volume and intensity of their wickedness has reached God's judgment seat.
  • "and their sin so grievous": This elaborates on the nature of the outcry. It's not just the quantity but the quality and severity of their collective transgression that is astounding. "Grievous" implies the offense is deeply offensive to God's holiness and righteousness, too heavy to be overlooked or pardoned without substantial judgment. It emphasizes the absolute gravity of their moral collapse.

Genesis 18 20 Bonus section

• Anthropomorphism: God's "hearing" the "outcry" is an anthropomorphism, illustrating divine attention and active concern rather than a literal act of perception. It emphasizes His immediate awareness and impending righteous action in response to injustice and sin.
• Divine Revelation: This verse initiates a unique instance of direct divine revelation of judicial intent to Abraham. God treats Abraham as a "friend" (Isa 41:8, Jam 2:23) worthy of being informed of His plans for judgment, paving the way for Abraham's intercession. This showcases God's desire for righteous individuals to engage with His purposes.
• Precedent for Justice: The narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah establishes a strong biblical precedent for God's sovereign right and power to intervene with judgment against egregious, corporate sin, foreshadowing later divine interventions in history.
• Nature of Sin: The combined phrase "outcry...so great and their sin so grievous" paints a picture of comprehensive moral decay. It speaks not only to specific acts of wickedness but to a deeply embedded state of depravity that permeated the cities, affecting their very moral fabric. This comprehensive nature of their sin left no room for rehabilitation apart from judgment.

Genesis 18 20 Commentary

Genesis 18:20 serves as a powerful testament to God's omnipresent justice and the unshakeable certainty of consequences for widespread, entrenched wickedness. The "outcry" (צַעֲקַת) vividly portrays sin as an active force, a "report" or "scream" that rises up and commands divine attention, highlighting that nothing is hidden from the LORD's sight. This "outcry" is synonymous with the profound moral corruption ("their sin"), which is described as "so great" (רַבָּה) in its pervasiveness and "so grievous" (כָּבְדָה מְאֹד), signifying its intolerable weight and heinous nature in God's eyes. It implies a breaking point has been reached for divine forbearance.

This declaration is not a passive observation but an active decision point, prompting God to act righteously. It reveals God's ethical governance of the world, contrasting with pagan deities often associated with caprice. Yahweh's judgment is based on moral transgression against a universal standard of righteousness, applicable even before the giving of the Law. The narrative emphasizes that God does not rush to judgment; rather, it is the magnitude and persistent nature of the sin that precipitates His response, serving as a solemn warning against the accumulation of societal and individual evil.