Genesis 18:30 kjv

And he said unto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

Genesis 18:30 nkjv

Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?" So He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

Genesis 18:30 niv

Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

Genesis 18:30 esv

Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."

Genesis 18:30 nlt

"Please don't be angry, my Lord," Abraham pleaded. "Let me speak ? suppose only thirty righteous people are found?" And the LORD replied, "I will not destroy it if I find thirty."

Genesis 18 verses

Genesis 18 30 Meaning

Abraham, continuing his deeply respectful yet persistent appeal, humbly requests the Lord for permission to speak further without provoking divine wrath. He then proposes that if as few as thirty righteous individuals could be found in Sodom, the city might be spared. In response, the Lord reaffirms His compassionate justice, agreeing not to destroy the city solely for the presence of these thirty righteous people, demonstrating His readiness to extend mercy through a faithful few.

Genesis 18 30 Context

Genesis 18:30 is set within an extraordinary divine visitation and intimate dialogue between Abraham and the Lord (accompanied by two angels). Following God's declaration of His intent to judge Sodom and Gomorrah due to their great sin, the Lord, remarkably, chooses to disclose His plan to Abraham, calling him His friend and recognizing his role in God's covenant purposes (Gen 18:17-19). This revelation prompts Abraham's courageous and protracted intercession for the wicked city. The verse itself marks the fourth reduction in Abraham's persistent negotiation for the city's fate, lowering the potential number of righteous people required to spare it from forty to thirty. This sustained conversation underscores the severity of Sodom's sin, the profound justice of God, and simultaneously, His boundless patience and mercy when faced with the earnest pleas of His faithful servant.

Genesis 18 30 Word analysis

• "Then he said," (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): A simple narrative transition, but here it signals Abraham resuming his audacious conversation with the Lord, indicative of a fresh resolve in his intercession.

• "Oh, let not the Lord be angry," (אַל-נָא יִחַר לַאֲדֹנָי - al-na yichar la'adonai):

  • אַל-נָא (al-na): A double emphatic plea. "אַל" is a strong negation or prohibition, while "נָא" adds politeness, beseeching. It conveys "please, let not..." or "I beg of you, do not...". This reflects Abraham's humility and recognition of the potential offense of his repeated challenges to the divine decree.
  • יִחַר (yichar): From the root "חָרָה" (charah), meaning "to be hot, burn, be kindled." When applied to emotion, it denotes intense, righteous anger. Abraham is acutely aware of God's holiness and the gravity of His judgment against sin.
  • לַאֲדֹנָי (la'adonai): "To my Lord." This title expresses deep respect, reverence, and submission to divine authority. Despite his bold negotiation, Abraham never forgets God's supreme sovereignty.

• "and I will speak." (וַאֲדַבֵּרָה - va'adabberah): The "וַאֲ" (v'a) conjunction followed by the cohortative ending "-ה" (-ah) implies a strong request for permission, almost saying, "may I please be allowed to speak once more."

• "Suppose thirty are found there?" (אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים - ulay yimmatze'un sham sh'loshim):

  • אוּלַי (ulay): "Perhaps," "perchance," or "it may be." It denotes uncertainty and a humble inquiry, not an assertion. Abraham isn't stating that thirty will be found, but asking hypothetically about the consequence if they are.
  • יִמָּצְאוּן (yimmatze'un): "Will be found." The passive voice underscores that the finding of righteous individuals is a matter of discovery by God, not an act of human initiative, highlighting the difficulty of finding such virtue in Sodom.
  • שְׁלֹשִׁים (sheloshim): "Thirty." This is the lowest number yet, marking the gradual and painstaking reduction, highlighting Abraham's tenacious commitment to mercy.

• "And he said," (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): The simple yet profound divine response, signifying God's readiness to hear and answer Abraham's appeal.

• "I will not destroy it for the sake of the thirty." (לֹא אַשְׁחִית בַּעֲבוּר הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים - lo ash'chit ba'avur hash'loshim):

  • לֹא אַשְׁחִית (lo ash'chit): "I will not destroy." This is an unequivocal promise directly from the Lord. It signifies His unchanging commitment to justice that values the innocent, and mercy that delays judgment.
  • בַּעֲבוּר (ba'avur): "For the sake of," "because of," or "on account of." This pivotal phrase articulates the theological principle that the righteousness of a few can be the ground for the preservation of many, illustrating God's covenantal faithfulness and His basis for showing favor.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak.": This clause demonstrates Abraham's profound humility and respect for God's holy character. It reflects a delicate balance between a fervent, intercessory spirit and an overwhelming awe of divine authority and potential wrath, showing that true boldness in prayer is rooted in reverence.
  • "Suppose thirty are found there?": This concise question represents Abraham's tenacious spirit and strategic thinking within his prayer. He incrementally presses the boundaries of God's mercy, hinting at his decreasing hope for Sodom while desperately clinging to the principle that a righteous remnant could yet save the city from its deserved destruction.
  • "I will not destroy it for the sake of the thirty.": The Lord's firm declaration solidifies a critical theological principle: God’s judgment is just and targets the wicked, but His mercy can avert wrath even on a corrupt society if righteous individuals are found within it. This demonstrates His gracious responsiveness to intercession and His desire to find a basis for salvation, however small.

Genesis 18 30 Bonus section

• The gradual nature of Abraham's negotiation—moving from 50 to 45, then 40, then 30, then 20, then 10—reveals both his decreasing optimism about finding a substantial number of righteous people in Sodom and his growing boldness and intimacy with God.
• This passage powerfully portrays God as a Person who dialogues, deliberates, and listens to the pleas of His chosen ones, defying pagan conceptions of an unapproachable or capricious deity.
• The conversation illustrates the theological concept of "corporate solidarity," where the presence (or absence) of a few righteous individuals can profoundly impact the destiny of an entire community, underscoring the vital role of believers in society.

Genesis 18 30 Commentary

Genesis 18:30 serves as a powerful testament to the dynamic interplay of divine justice and mercy, primarily through the lens of intercessory prayer. Abraham's persistent negotiation with God, reducing the number of righteous required to spare Sodom, is remarkable for its boldness yet unwavering reverence. This verse, marking the third successful plea, highlights God's immense patience and willingness to hear the petitions of His faithful servant. It teaches that God is attentive to appeals for mercy based on the principle of the righteous influencing the fate of the wicked. His promise "I will not destroy it for the sake of the thirty" underscores the immense value God places on true righteousness, even if found in a minuscule proportion within a morally corrupt society. This divine responsiveness establishes a foundational pattern for later biblical themes, demonstrating God's consistent character as One who seeks a basis for redemption rather than immediate, comprehensive judgment. The conversation prefigures the ultimate intercession of Christ, whose singular righteousness redeems many.