Genesis 19:10 kjv

But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

Genesis 19:10 nkjv

But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.

Genesis 19:10 niv

But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door.

Genesis 19:10 esv

But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door.

Genesis 19:10 nlt

But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 10 Meaning

Genesis 19:10 describes the moment the two angels, having come to Lot's house, decisively intervened to protect him from the violent mob of Sodomite men. They quickly reached out, pulled Lot from the threshold safely inside, and immediately secured the door, creating a clear physical barrier between divine protection within and overwhelming wickedness outside. This act underscores divine power, swift intervention, and the clear separation between the righteous (even flawed Lot) and the ungodly facing impending judgment.

Genesis 19 10 Context

Genesis 19:10 is a pivotal moment within the larger narrative of Sodom's destruction. The chapter begins with two angels, appearing as men, arriving in Sodom and being welcomed by Lot into his home. The depravity of Sodom quickly becomes apparent when the men of the city, both young and old, surround Lot's house, demanding that he bring out his guests "that we may know them," clearly indicating their violent and homosexual intentions. Lot, attempting to uphold the sacred custom of hospitality and protect his guests, offers his own virgin daughters to the mob. The men of Sodom refuse his offer, mocking and threatening him, pushing against the door to force their way in and seize Lot's guests. Verse 10 captures the immediate, powerful, and decisive intervention of the angels just as Lot is in extreme danger. This act of divine protection precedes the judgment unleashed on Sodom, marking the threshold between reprieve for Lot and the imminent, irreversible destruction of the wicked city. The house, which Lot tried to protect with human effort, is now miraculously protected by divine power.

Genesis 19 10 Word analysis

• "And they stretched forth" (וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ, vayyishlechu):

  • Word: The verb is שָׁלַח (shalach), meaning "to send," "stretch out," or "reach out." The waw-consecutive imperfect indicates a swift, sequential action.
  • Significance: It signifies immediate, deliberate action. The angels initiate the physical intervention, not Lot. It implies agency and divine authority.

• "their hand" (יָדָם, yadām):

  • Word: יָד (yad), "hand." The suffix -ם (-m) denotes "their."
  • Significance: The hand often symbolizes power, instrumentality, and direct action in the Bible. It's the physical means by which they intervene, emphasizing the tangible nature of the angelic rescue. This is not just a mental command but a physical assertion of power.

• "and pulled Lot" (וַיָּבִיא לוֹט, vayyavi Loṭ):

  • Word: From בּוֹא (bo), meaning "to come" or "bring." In the Hiphil causative stem (vayyavi), it means "caused to come in" or "brought in." It indicates an active, forceful retrieval.
  • Significance: This is a clear, powerful rescue. Lot wasn't merely stepping back; he was physically pulled to safety. It shows the urgency and the supernatural strength of the angels, as Lot was likely struggling against the mob at the doorway. It marks a moment of physical deliverance.

• "into the house to them" (אֶל-הַבַּיְתָה אֲלֵיהֶם, ʾel-habbāytāh ʾalehem):

  • Words-group: "Into the house" refers to Lot's dwelling, which became a sanctuary. "To them" emphasizes that Lot was brought directly to the angels' immediate presence for protection.
  • Significance: The "house" transitions from Lot's attempted human protection to a divinely protected space. Bringing him "to them" signifies placing him under their direct charge and immediate safeguard, isolating him from the danger just outside the threshold.

• "and shut to the door" (וַיִּסְגְּרוּ הַדָּלֶת, vayyisgeru haddāleth):

  • Words-group: סָגַר (sagar) means "to shut," "close," "bar." הַדָּלֶת (haddāleth) means "the door" or "the gate."
  • Significance: This action provides complete physical closure and security against the mob. It signifies a decisive separation between Lot's safety and the danger outside. The shutting of the door acts as a firm, impassable boundary drawn by divine power, marking the absolute finality of the Sodomites' rejection and impending judgment. It means no entry, no negotiation, no mercy for those left outside.

Genesis 19 10 Bonus section

• The intervention of the angels with their physical pulling and shutting the door highlights their embodied power, not just spiritual presence. Their supernatural strength is implicit; pulling a man against a mob, then effectively locking a door against it suggests divine ability beyond human might.
• The sequence of events – Lot's human, flawed attempt to deal with evil, followed by immediate divine, perfect intervention – contrasts the limitations of man with the boundless capability of God. Lot's offering of his daughters was morally reprehensible, showing the depths to which he would sink in an attempt to maintain hospitality, yet it utterly failed to deter the mob. The angels, however, succeeded instantly with power.
• The "door" serves as more than just a physical barrier; it symbolizes the final closure of mercy and opportunity for the people outside. Once it is shut by divine agents, it cannot be reopened by human force or pleas.

Genesis 19 10 Commentary

Genesis 19:10 depicts a vivid act of divine intervention, showcasing the swift and overwhelming power of God's angelic messengers. As Lot stood precariously on the threshold, facing the ravenous depravity of Sodom, the angels did not hesitate. Their stretching forth a hand and physically pulling Lot into the house speaks volumes about the direct, physical nature of their rescue and their superior strength. This was not a subtle nudge but a forceful, definitive action to extract Lot from imminent danger, demonstrating God's sovereign care even for a flawed servant like Lot. The immediate shutting of the door underscores the finality of their action. It served as an impenetrable barrier, signaling the end of the opportunity for the men of Sodom and the sealing off of Lot from the chaos that was about to consume the city. This brief verse captures the pivotal shift from human vulnerability to divine invincibility, creating a sanctuary of refuge just moments before the outpouring of judgment. It is a powerful illustration that when human efforts fail against overwhelming evil, divine protection stands ready to deliver those appointed for rescue, drawing a sharp, non-negotiable line between righteousness (and those under its protection) and ungodly defiance.