Genesis 18:22 kjv
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
Genesis 18:22 nkjv
Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.
Genesis 18:22 niv
The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
Genesis 18:22 esv
So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.
Genesis 18:22 nlt
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham.
Genesis 18 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 19:27 | Abraham rose early... and looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah... | Abraham's continued concern for Sodom. |
| Ex 32:11 | Moses pleaded with the Lord his God... "turn from your burning anger." | Moses intercedes for Israel, echoing Abraham. |
| Num 14:19-20 | "Please pardon the iniquity... according to your great steadfast love." | Moses' successful intercession for God's people. |
| Deut 10:8 | The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi... to stand before the Lord to minister. | To "stand before the Lord" signifies divine service. |
| 1 Ki 17:1 | Elijah the Tishbite... said to Ahab, "As the LORD... I stand before, lives" | Elijah's prophetic authority from being in God's presence. |
| Job 42:8 | My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer. | Intercessory prayer by a righteous person. |
| Ps 106:23 | He said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him. | Moses' intercession averts wrath. |
| Is 59:16 | He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede. | Highlights God's desire for intercessors. |
| Jer 5:1 | Run through the streets of Jerusalem... see if you can find a man... that does justice. | God seeking the righteous for city's sake. |
| Ezek 22:30 | "I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the breach before me." | God searching for one to intercede for the land. |
| Amos 7:2 | I said: "O Lord GOD, please forgive! How can Jacob stand?" The LORD relented. | Amos intercedes for Israel, showing God's responsiveness. |
| Rom 8:34 | Christ Jesus... who indeed is interceding for us. | Jesus as the ultimate divine intercessor. |
| Heb 7:25 | He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. | Christ's perpetual intercession for believers. |
| 1 Jn 2:1 | If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. | Jesus as our advocate and intercessor. |
| 1 Tim 2:1-2 | I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions... be made for all people. | Exhortation for believers to intercede for others. |
| Jer 7:10 | You come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name... | The idea of "standing before God" in a place of worship. |
| Lk 1:19 | I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God. | Angelic position of privilege and service. |
| Rev 1:6 | He has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father. | Believers' priestly role, implying intercession. |
| Rev 5:8 | The twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp... bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. | Prayers of saints offered as incense, form of intercession. |
| Jas 5:16 | The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. | Affirmation of effective prayer. |
| Eph 6:18 | Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. | Emphasis on continuous, comprehensive prayer. |
| Gal 3:29 | If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. | Believers as spiritual descendants of Abraham. |
Genesis 18 verses
Genesis 18 22 Meaning
Genesis 18:22 marks a pivotal moment where the divine visitors separate: the two angels proceed toward Sodom for their mission of judgment, while Abraham remains steadfastly in the intimate presence of the Lord (YHWH). This distinct posture of Abraham signals his transition from host to intercessor, positioning himself to plead on behalf of the doomed cities, initiating a profound dialogue concerning divine justice and mercy.
Genesis 18 22 Context
Genesis 18:22 follows Abraham's welcoming of three mysterious visitors at Mamre, one of whom is revealed as the Lord Himself. After promising Sarah a son, Isaac, the Lord declares His intention to judge Sodom and Gomorrah due to their great wickedness. This verse marks the physical separation of the visitors; the two angels who will enact the judgment begin their journey, while the Lord remains to engage with Abraham. It directly precedes Abraham's extraordinary intercessory dialogue (Gen 18:23-32) where he pleads with the Lord to spare Sodom if a diminishing number of righteous people could be found, showcasing his bold yet respectful communion with the Almighty concerning His divine justice. The broader historical context is God's covenant with Abraham, through whom all nations would be blessed, juxtaposed against the impending divine judgment on sin, highlighting God's faithfulness to His promises and His righteous character.
Genesis 18 22 Word analysis
- Then the men (וַיִּפְנוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים –
vayyipnu ha'anashim): "The men" specifically refers to the two angels who had accompanied the Lord. While all three were initially presented as "men" (Gen 18:2), the narrative later clarifies that one of them was the Lord (Gen 18:13). Their turning signifies the initiation of their specific mission concerning Sodom, setting them apart from the dialogue that continued between Abraham and YHWH. - turned away from there (מִשָּׁם וַיֵּלְכוּ –
mishsham vayyelkhu): Implies a distinct shift in direction and purpose from Abraham's immediate dwelling (Mamre). Their departure is a deliberate act towards their assignment, underscoring the serious nature of their imminent task of judgment. - and went toward Sodom (סְדֹמָה –
Sdomah): Identifies their specific, immediate destination. This highlights the focus on the city targeted for divine justice and foreshadows the destructive events detailed in Genesis 19. It confirms the specific and precise nature of the divine judgment. - but Abraham still stood (וְאַבְרָהָם עוֹדֶנּוּ עֹמֵד –
ve'Avraham 'odennu 'omed): This phrase uses a strong adversative "but" (וְ), emphasizing a sharp contrast to the departing men. The adverb "still" ('odennu) conveys that Abraham maintained his position despite others moving, indicating resolve and a deliberate choice to remain. "Stood" ('omed) denotes a firm, enduring posture often associated with service, worship, or petition in the biblical context. It's a posture of readiness and availability for communion. - before the Lord (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה –
lifnei YHWH): This is perhaps the most profound part of the verse. "The Lord" (YHWH) identifies the one divine Being who remained with Abraham, one of the original three "men." Standing "before" (lifnei) YHWH indicates direct, intimate, and privileged access to the Divine Presence. It implies a posture of reverence, petition, and direct audience, marking Abraham's unique and bold relationship as a "friend of God" (Jas 2:23), ready to engage in personal dialogue with his Creator.
Genesis 18 22 Bonus section
- The scene encapsulates the tension between God's righteous judgment against sin and His profound mercy, highlighted through Abraham's appeal for the innocent within a wicked city.
- "Standing before the Lord" implies a sacred and often awe-filled moment. It signifies being granted audience and holding a position of delegated authority or privileged access, typical for prophets, priests, or high-ranking officials in earthly courts.
- This particular encounter solidifies Abraham's spiritual maturity and unique relationship with YHWH, preparing him for further tests and confirming his foundational role as the "father of many nations" who would understand and embody God's ways.
Genesis 18 22 Commentary
Genesis 18:22 serves as a profound hinge in Abraham's narrative, transitioning from hospitality and promise to an exemplary display of intercessory prayer. The departure of the angels, leaving Abraham alone with YHWH, underscores the personal and intimate nature of this specific encounter. Abraham's deliberate act of "standing before the Lord" is not a passive waiting but an active and courageous stance, indicative of his faith, humility, and the remarkable closeness he shared with God. This posture signifies his role as an appointed mediator, poised to boldly yet respectfully question the implications of divine justice upon Sodom. It prefigures the prophetic and priestly roles throughout Scripture where individuals intercede for God's people or in the face of His judgment. This moment also subtly reveals God's patient and dialogic nature, as He permits His human friend to challenge His proposed actions, providing a timeless model for approaching God with earnest concerns and requests for mercy.