Genesis 18 32

Genesis 18:32 kjv

And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

Genesis 18:32 nkjv

Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten."

Genesis 18:32 niv

Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."

Genesis 18:32 esv

Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

Genesis 18:32 nlt

Finally, Abraham said, "Lord, please don't be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?" And the LORD replied, "Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten."

Genesis 18 verses

Genesis 18 32 meaning

Genesis 18:32 records the climactic point of Abraham's intercession for Sodom. It signifies God's incredible willingness to spare a city steeped in wickedness, solely for the sake of a mere ten righteous individuals within it. This verse profoundly demonstrates God's patient mercy intertwined with His unwavering justice, highlighting that divine judgment is not arbitrary but is always proportionate to sin, yet also restrained by the presence of righteousness. It underscores the profound value God places on righteousness, even when held by a tiny minority.

Genesis 18 32 Context

Genesis chapter 18 opens with the Lord appearing to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre, revealing to him and Sarah that they would have a son, Isaac. Following this personal covenant reaffirmation, God shares with Abraham His intention to investigate the grievous sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, hinting at their impending destruction. What ensues is a profound and remarkable dialogue (Gen 18:23-32) where Abraham, acting as an intercessor, bravely pleads with God to spare Sodom. He gradually bargains down the number of righteous individuals that would prevent divine judgment, starting from fifty and progressively lowering the threshold in five increments (50, 45, 40, 30, 20) and then the final step to ten in verse 32. This chapter vividly illustrates Abraham's relationship with God, characterized by boldness, humility, and trust, and underscores God's willingness to listen and His immense patience and justice. Historically and culturally, the narrative would have resonated with ancient Near Eastern audiences familiar with concepts of divine judgment on wicked cities and the potential role of a "divine assembly" in such decisions. Abraham's role as one "who knows" God's ways (Gen 18:19) aligns him with figures having privileged divine access, but his deference (Oh let not the Lord be angry) ensures he doesn't overstep his bounds.

Genesis 18 32 Word analysis

• And he said: Refers to Abraham. The repeated phrase (six times in Gen 18:27-32) highlights Abraham's persistence and the iterative nature of his appeal to God.
• Oh let not the Lord be angry: (Hebrew: `אַל־נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי` - _al-na yikhar la'Adonai_). A phrase of humble reverence and supplication. Abraham acknowledges God's authority and sovereignty, expressing a desire not to offend. `Adonai` (Lord) here emphasizes God as the master or sovereign, suitable for an appeal to authority. `Yikhar` (be angry) implies God's potential indignation or wrath, which Abraham seeks to avert by his continued pleading.
• and I will speak yet but this once: This signifies the culmination of Abraham's negotiation, his final, most daring appeal. It shows his mixture of audacious faith and respectful humility before the divine. It implies a recognition of a boundary for his repeated petitions.
• Peradventure ten shall be found there: (Hebrew: `אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם עֲשָׂרָה` - _ulai yimmats'u shām asarah_). `Peradventure` (`ulai`) conveys uncertainty and hope, a tentative suggestion. `Ten` (`asarah`) is a crucial number. While not explicitly defined in the Bible as a definitive quorum for prayer or community until much later Jewish tradition (e.g., Minyan), its selection by Abraham might suggest a foundational idea of a minimum community, a representative unit for the city's fate. It reveals Abraham's desperation, lowering the requirement significantly from his initial thought of fifty, indicating a growing pessimism about Sodom's righteousness but unwavering hope in God's mercy.
• And he said: This refers to God responding. The repetition ensures clarity on who is speaking after Abraham's plea.
• I will not destroy it for ten's sake: (Hebrew: `לֹא אַשְׁחִית בַּעֲבוּר הָעֲשָׂרָה` - _lo ashḥit ba'avur ha'asarah_). This is God's final, absolute pronouncement, reaffirming His justice and willingness to spare an entire populace for a small number of righteous individuals. `Destroy` (`ashḥit`) highlights the comprehensive nature of the intended judgment. `For ten's sake` underscores the powerful impact of even limited righteousness on divine judgment.

• "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once": This phrase encapsulates Abraham's deep humility and reverence combined with his persistent, yet measured, boldness. He seeks permission to press his plea further, demonstrating his understanding of God's absolute sovereignty and his own limited place as a supplicant.
• "Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake": This exchange perfectly illustrates God's boundless mercy in conjunction with His precise justice. Abraham, pushing the boundaries of his request, and God, revealing the extreme length to which He would go to withhold judgment based on righteousness. It sets the profound theological truth that even a few righteous can significantly impact divine dealings with a wicked collective, thereby serving as a beacon of hope and a sober reminder of the eventual absence of such righteousness in Sodom.

Genesis 18 32 Bonus section

This dialogue between Abraham and God lays a significant foundation for understanding God's method of judgment: it is conditional and deeply considers the moral state of a community, rather than being an indiscriminate act. The negotiation implicitly reveals the inherent holiness of God, who desires not the death of the wicked but their repentance (Ezek 33:11). Abraham's six-part intercession (from 50 to 10) can be seen as a progressive lesson for him and for us on God's nature. It demonstrates that God is approachable, listens to His people, and acts with great restraint and compassion before executing judgment. The "number ten" also hints at a broader principle later echoed in Jeremiah 5:1, where Jerusalem would be spared if even "one" righteous person could be found, further emphasizing the divine value of even minimal righteousness in preventing corporate judgment. This divine-human exchange foreshadows the ultimate intercessor, Jesus Christ (Heb 7:25), who, through His perfect righteousness, effectively saves all who believe.

Genesis 18 32 Commentary

Genesis 18:32 marks the poignant conclusion of Abraham's extraordinary intercession, a masterclass in audacious yet humble prayer. Having progressively descended from fifty righteous individuals, Abraham's final proposal of "ten" reveals both his persistent hope in God's mercy and his growing, painful awareness of Sodom's deep depravity. God's immediate and absolute affirmation, "I will not destroy it for ten's sake," powerfully illuminates His character: a God of impeccable justice who would justly condemn wickedness, yet a God of immeasurable compassion who would readily spare an entire city for the presence of a mere handful of righteous souls. The subsequent destruction of Sodom, recounted in Genesis 19, unequivocally confirms that even this low threshold of ten righteous individuals was not met, thus tragically validating the divine judgment. This verse remains a cornerstone passage demonstrating the profound impact of intercessory prayer, the value God places on righteousness, and His unwavering commitment to both justice and mercy in His dealings with humanity.