Genesis 18:29 kjv
And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
Genesis 18:29 nkjv
And he spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose there should be forty found there?" So He said, "I will not do it for the sake of forty."
Genesis 18:29 niv
Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."
Genesis 18:29 esv
Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it."
Genesis 18:29 nlt
Then Abraham pressed his request further. "Suppose there are only forty?" And the LORD replied, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty."
Genesis 18 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 18:23-32 | Abraham intercedes, bargaining down from fifty to ten righteous. | Intercession; God's willingness to listen. |
| Exod 32:11-14 | But Moses implored the LORD his God...So the LORD relented from the disaster... | Moses' intercession mirroring Abraham's. |
| Num 14:19-20 | “Pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love...” And the LORD said, “I have pardoned, according to your word.” | God's pardon in response to intercession. |
| Psa 106:23 | Therefore he said he would destroy them, had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him... | Intercession as standing in the gap. |
| Jer 5:1 | "Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem...search its squares...if you can find a man...that practices justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon it." | Search for even one righteous to spare. |
| Ezek 22:30 | "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I might not destroy it, but I found none." | Absence of intercessor leading to judgment. |
| Job 42:8-10 | "Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams...and My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer..." | Intercessory prayer bringing divine acceptance. |
| Jas 5:16b | The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. | Efficacy of righteous prayer. |
| Luke 11:8 | I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. | Persistent prayer and importunity. |
| Luke 18:1-8 | The parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, highlighting persistence in prayer. | Persistence in prayer. |
| Prov 11:11 | By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. | Righteous individuals benefiting their community. |
| 2 Pet 2:7-9 | and rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them...). | God saves the righteous from judgment. |
| Matt 5:13 | “You are the salt of the earth..." | The preserving influence of the righteous. |
| Exod 34:6-7 | The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...but who will by no means clear the guilty. | God's balance of mercy and justice. |
| Jon 3:10 | When God saw what they did...God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. | God's willingness to relent from judgment. |
| Joel 2:13 | Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. | God's character: mercy, graciousness. |
| Rom 8:34 | Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died...who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. | Christ's continuous intercession. |
| Heb 7:25 | Consequently, 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 eternal intercession. |
| Eph 3:12 | in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. | Boldness in approaching God in prayer. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Bold access to God for grace and mercy. |
Genesis 18 verses
Genesis 18 29 Meaning
Genesis 18:29 reveals the ongoing dialogue between Abraham and the Lord regarding the fate of Sodom. In this specific verse, Abraham presses his intercession further, humbly suggesting that if *thirty* righteous individuals are found in the city, the Lord would spare it. The Lord readily agrees to Abraham's plea, demonstrating His divine patience, mercy, and unwavering commitment to justice that seeks a reason to relent from destruction for the sake of the righteous. It underscores the profound principle that even a small number of righteous people can profoundly influence the outcome for a broader community in God’s judgment.Genesis 18 29 Context
Genesis chapter 18 details a pivotal encounter where the Lord, accompanied by two angels, visits Abraham in the form of travelers. After promising Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age, the Lord reveals His intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah due to their grave sin. This revelation sparks a profound and courageous intercession by Abraham, who, understanding God's righteous nature, ventures to plead for the wicked city based on the presence of righteous individuals. Verse 29 is a continuation of this intense dialogue, following Abraham's successful plea to spare the city for the sake of fifty (v. 26) and then forty-five (v. 28) righteous individuals. His reduction to *thirty* (in this verse) showcases his escalating humility and persistent faith in approaching a holy God. This segment is not merely a negotiation; it's a profound theological teaching on God's justice, mercy, and His engagement with His chosen covenant people.Genesis 18 29 Word analysis
And he spoke to Him yet again (וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו עוֹד הַפַּעַם - Vayyomer 'elav 'od happa'am):
- Vayyomer (And he spoke/said): A frequent Hebrew conjunctive perfect form, initiating action in sequence. Its repetition emphasizes the ongoing, persistent nature of the dialogue. Here, it denotes Abraham's initiative to continue his plea.
- 'Elav (to Him): Specifies the direct interaction with the Lord.
- 'Od (yet again): Indicates a continuation or repetition. It highlights Abraham's audacity and tenacity in pressing his request further, revealing his deepening burden for Sodom and his faith in God's mercy. This repeated interaction signifies God's willingness to engage personally and deeply with His servants.
'Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again': (אַל-נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי, וַאֲדַבְּרָה עוֹד הַפַּעַם - Al-na yichar la'adonai, va'adabberah 'od happa'am):
- Al-na yichar (Oh, let not...be angry): A deferential plea, expressing humility and respect before the Lord's majesty and potential displeasure. It acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty and righteousness, serving as a softening of Abraham's audacious request. It mirrors Moses' approach to God (Exod 32:11).
- Va'adabberah 'od happa'am (and I will speak again): Further emphasizes Abraham's determination and the deliberative, repeated nature of his intercession. This phrase, distinct from 'od above, specifies that he will speak another time, directly introducing his next point.
'Suppose thirty shall be found there?' (אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים - Ulay yimmatse'un sham shloshim):
- Ulay (Perhaps/Suppose): Expresses a humble, yet hopeful, possibility. It shows Abraham is not demanding, but respectfully proposing a scenario.
- Yimmatse'un (be found): Implies a search or discernment for righteousness. It underscores that God's judgment is based on an actual condition, not caprice.
- Shloshim (thirty): The specific number represents Abraham's continued downward bargaining. The progression (from 50, 45, to 30) demonstrates God's profound patience and His desire for mercy to prevail if there is any ground for it. It also foreshadows the extreme depravity of Sodom if even this lowered threshold is not met.
And He said, 'For the sake of thirty I will not destroy it.' (וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית, אִם-אֶמְצָא שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים - Vayyomer lo 'ashchit, im-'emtza sham shloshim):
- Lo 'ashchit (I will not destroy): God's affirmative, immediate, and direct response. The verb 'ashchit (to destroy, lay waste) implies complete devastation. God's declaration highlights His commitment to justice and mercy: He would rather relent if there's a reason. This phrase reiterates His faithfulness to His own character—He distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked.
- Im-'emtza sham shloshim (if I find thirty there): The clear condition for relenting. God confirms His willingness to spare the entire city for the sake of a numerically small righteous remnant, showing His disproportionate mercy and the value He places on His righteous ones. This is a theological principle where the righteous act as a preserving salt in society (Matt 5:13).