Genesis 19:1 kjv

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Genesis 19:1 nkjv

Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

Genesis 19:1 niv

The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.

Genesis 19:1 esv

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth

Genesis 19:1 nlt

That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 1 Meaning

Genesis 19:1 describes the arrival of two divine messengers, appearing as men, in the city of Sodom during the evening hours. At this crucial moment, Lot, Abraham's nephew, is depicted as seated in the city gate—a significant place for public life and authority. Upon seeing these two strangers, Lot promptly rose to meet them and reverently bowed low with his face to the ground, a traditional gesture of deep respect and welcome in the ancient Near East. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic events of judgment and salvation that will unfold in Sodom, highlighting the immediate contrast between Lot's hospitality and the wickedness of the city he resides in.

Genesis 19 1 Context

Genesis 19:1 immediately follows the Lord's revelation to Abraham regarding His intention to visit and judge Sodom due to its exceedingly grievous sin (Gen 18:16-33). Abraham had interceded, questioning if the city would be spared for the sake of fifty, then forty-five, then forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten righteous individuals. The Lord agreed each time. The arrival of the "two angels" in Genesis 19 suggests that fewer than ten righteous people were found, initiating the process of judgment.

Historically and culturally, the ancient city gate served as the central hub of community life. It was a place for business transactions, legal proceedings, social gatherings, and political discussions. Travelers sought refuge and lodging at the city gate at the end of the day. For Lot to be sitting in the gate signifies a prominent position or regular activity within Sodom's civic structure, contrasting with the depraved acts the city was known for. The act of receiving strangers, offering hospitality, was a sacred duty in ancient Near Eastern culture, considered a crucial moral virtue, especially for those in positions of leadership or status. The narrative immediately sets up a dramatic conflict between the virtue of hospitality exemplified by Lot and the utter lack thereof, bordering on hostility, that the rest of Sodom would soon display.

Genesis 19 1 Word Analysis

• And there came (וַיָּבֹאוּ, vayavō'u): A common Hebrew waw-consecutive imperfect, conveying a sequential and decisive action. It introduces a direct divine initiative or intervention. Their coming is purposeful, directly linked to God's announced judgment.
• two angels (שְׁנֵי מַלְאָכִים, shĕnêy mal'ākhîm): Mal'ākh literally means "messenger." While the English translates this as "angels," their appearance throughout Genesis 18-19 is consistently described as "men" (אֲנָשִׁים, ănāšîm), indicating they manifested in human form. These are two of the three "men" who visited Abraham in Gen 18, the third having stayed with Abraham to converse with him. The pair are now tasked with the direct assessment and execution of judgment upon Sodom.
• to Sodom (סְדֹמָה, sĕdōmâ): The suffix '-ah' indicates direction "to Sodom." Sodom's name has become synonymous with extreme wickedness, debauchery, and divine judgment. Its moral state is the object of this divine visitation.
• at even (בָּעֶרֶב, bā'erev): Literally "in the evening." This timing is significant for travelers, as it was customary to seek shelter before nightfall. It also subtly foreshadows the "darkness" of sin that would be exposed that night and the literal darkness and smoke of the coming judgment.
• and Lot sat (וְלוֹט יֹשֵׁב, wĕlôṭ yôshēv): "Sat" indicates a customary posture or settled presence. The specific verb form suggests a state of being seated, perhaps routinely.
• in the gate of Sodom (בְּשַׁעַר סְדֹם, bĕsha'ar sĕdōm): The "gate" (sha'ar) was the nexus of public life in ancient cities—commerce, legal proceedings, communal decisions, and social gathering. Lot's presence there suggests he held a position of standing, influence, or perhaps was even an elder or magistrate, underscoring his entanglement in the city's civic structure. This location also signifies vulnerability for travelers, making Lot's readiness to protect them more commendable.
• and Lot seeing them (וַיַּרְא לוֹט, wayyar' lôṭ): Implying a direct and perhaps keen observation. It signifies recognition, or at least an awareness of their importance, prompting his immediate action.
• rose up to meet them (וַיָּקָם לִקְרָאתָם, wayyāqom liqrātām): A respectful gesture toward distinguished visitors or guests. Rising signifies readiness to engage and provide assistance, often a prelude to hospitality.
• and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground (וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ אַפַּיִם אַרְצָה, wayyishtahaû 'appayim 'arṣâ): This is a prostration, the highest form of reverent greeting or homage in the ancient Near East, signifying profound respect, humility, or even worship. It’s the same gesture Abraham used toward the three "men" in Gen 18:2, suggesting Lot's acute recognition of their authority or divine nature, perhaps even a discernment lacking in the other inhabitants of Sodom. This act underscores his moral distinction from the surrounding depravity.

Genesis 19 1 Bonus section

• The stark contrast between Lot's welcome and the later behavior of the Sodomite men is crucial for the entire chapter. Lot acts out of an ancient cultural duty of hospitality, while the citizens act with hostile perversion. This highlights the complete moral bankruptcy of Sodom.
• The "two angels" can be seen as executioners of God's justice, distinguished from the third "man" (often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son of God) who stayed to converse with Abraham regarding judgment.
• Lot's decision to settle in Sodom (not just near it as in Gen 13) exposes him to direct moral danger, and this verse shows his integration, however uncomfortable, within the city's social structure.
• The act of bowing with face toward the ground also implies a sense of earnest plea, hinting at Lot's subsequent insistence for the angels to lodge with him, fearing the city's potential threat to strangers.

Genesis 19 1 Commentary

Genesis 19:1 opens the dramatic narrative of Sodom's judgment, introducing the divine agents and setting the scene through Lot's encounter. The "two angels" arriving at "even" points to a solemn, pre-judgment visitation. Their appearance as "men" underscores the narrative's grounding in tangible reality, yet their identity as angels conveys divine authority and purpose. Lot's posture "in the gate of Sodom" reveals his integration into the city's civic life, potentially as a respected figure, a status that will be dramatically undermined by the city's later actions. His immediate and profound hospitality—rising and prostrating himself—stands in stark contrast to the impending revelation of Sodom's moral degradation. This act echoes Abraham's welcome of divine visitors and marks Lot, despite his residence among the wicked, as a man retaining a measure of reverence and moral virtue. It also highlights the ancient Near Eastern virtue of hospitality, which Sodom would egregiously violate, bringing about its swift and cataclysmic end. The verse, though simple in its description, lays critical groundwork for understanding the righteous judgment that is to follow, initiated by a benevolent welcome.