Genesis 19:11 kjv

And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Genesis 19:11 nkjv

And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

Genesis 19:11 niv

Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.

Genesis 19:11 esv

And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

Genesis 19:11 nlt

Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 11 Meaning

God's divine intervention directly afflicted the male inhabitants of Sodom, who had gathered at Lot's door with malicious intent, with a supernatural form of blindness. This disorientation impacted every individual, irrespective of their age or status, from the youngest to the oldest. Despite their determined efforts, this God-given blindness caused them extreme exhaustion as they fruitlessly sought to locate the door, thereby utterly frustrating their wicked designs against Lot and his angelic guests.

Genesis 19 11 Context

Gen 19:11 is set amidst the climactic events leading to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The preceding verses (Gen 19:1-10) detail the arrival of two angels, disguised as men, into Sodom and Lot's earnest insistence on providing them hospitality and protection. The men of Sodom, described as "evil and exceedingly great sinners" (Gen 13:13), surrounded Lot's house, demanding that he surrender his guests to them for depraved sexual acts. Lot's desperate, misguided offer of his virgin daughters highlights the gravity of the situation and the immense wickedness of the mob, as he prioritizes the protection of his guests, who are ultimately divine messengers. The divine blindness inflicted in verse 11 is a direct and immediate supernatural intervention to thwart the Sodomites' violent and sinful intentions, showcasing God's protection of His emissaries and His imminent judgment upon the city.

Genesis 19 11 Word analysis

• And they struck (וַיַּכּוּ, vayakku): From the Hebrew verb נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike," "to smite," or "to beat." Here, it signifies a direct and forceful blow, supernaturally inflicted by the angels. This is not a passive or indirect action but a targeted act of divine power.
• the men (הָאֲנָשִׁים, ha’anashim): Refers specifically to the male inhabitants of Sodom who formed the aggressive mob surrounding Lot's house. It highlights that the entire group involved in the assault was affected.
• who were at the entrance of the house (אֲשֶׁר פֶּתַח הַבָּיִת, asher petach habbayit): Specifies the precise location of the divine intervention. The judgment falls directly on those actively engaged in the siege, emphasizing their proximity to their wicked aim.
• with blindness (בַּסַּנְוֵרִים, bassānvērîm): This is a critical Hebrew term (סַנְוֵרִים, sanwerim). It's a dual form, suggesting intensity or recurrence. Occurs only here and in 2 Kgs 6:18, where Elisha prays for the Aramean army to be struck with a similar blindness. This is not ordinary physical blindness but a divinely induced bewilderment, disorientation, and inability to perceive clear surroundings, even when physically able to see light or shapes. It creates confusion and mental disorientation, leading to utter frustration of purpose.
• both small and great (מִקָּטֹן וְעַד גָּדוֹל, miqqātōn wě‘aḏ gāḏōl): Literally "from small and unto great." This phrase is an idiom signifying "all, universally," or "everyone without exception," encompassing all ages and social statuses present in the mob. It underscores the pervasive wickedness of the city, where no segment of the male population was free from participation in this grievous sin. It also emphasizes the comprehensiveness of God's judgment upon the entire group.
• so that they wearied themselves (וַיִּלְאוּ, vayil’u): From the verb לָאָה (la’ah), meaning "to be weary," "to be faint," or "to grow tired." This indicates persistent, exhausting, but utterly futile effort. Despite their determination, their divinely inflicted blindness rendered their attempts utterly unproductive, leading to weariness and frustration.
• to find the door (לִמְצֹא הַפֶּתַח, limtzō’ happetach): Even though they were right at the entrance, their confusion and disorientation were so profound that they could not locate or discern the door. This highlights the precise and frustrating nature of the "sanwerim" – it wasn't a loss of vision but a complete inability to find what was plainly there, preventing them from accomplishing their evil intentions.

Words-group analysis:

• "And they struck...with blindness": This phrase directly attributes the sudden onset of confusion and disorientation to a divine act. It marks an immediate, miraculous intervention by God, through His angels, against the wicked. It emphasizes divine control over human faculties.
• "both small and great": This grouping emphasizes the pervasive corruption of Sodom and the universal reach of God's judgment. No one was innocent, and everyone participating in the wickedness was subject to divine retaliation. It speaks to the collective guilt of the city's male population.
• "so that they wearied themselves to find the door": This phrase describes the effect and purpose of the blindness. It wasn't a permanent physical affliction but a strategic one designed to paralyze their sinful efforts. Their "wearing themselves" highlights the futility and frustration inherent in opposing God's will; their persistent attempts were met with debilitating confusion and ultimate failure. This group of words portrays the triumph of divine power over human evil.

Genesis 19 11 Bonus section

• The "sanwerim" (blindness) inflicted upon the men of Sodom is highly significant because it's distinct from common physical blindness. It’s a supernatural disorientation, a "mental darkness" or "dazzling blindness" that makes a person lose their bearings even in a familiar setting. This unique type of blindness highlights the direct and miraculous nature of divine intervention.
• The persistence of the Sodomites ("wearied themselves") despite being afflicted, shows their intense commitment to their evil intentions, emphasizing the depth of their depravity, making God's decisive judgment all the more warranted.
• This act can be seen as a prelude to the impending destruction of Sodom, providing an initial taste of God's power and righteous indignation before the catastrophic rain of fire and sulfur. It gives humanity a preview of the fate awaiting unrepentant sin.
• The inability to "find the door" is symbolic of sinners' inability to escape the consequences of their actions or find a path forward once God has decided their judgment. They are spiritually and physically disoriented, lost even in familiar territory when divine judgment falls.

Genesis 19 11 Commentary

Genesis 19:11 serves as a stark testament to God's immediate and protective power, His unwavering justice, and the ultimate futility of human wickedness when it confronts divine sovereignty. The men of Sodom, characterized by extreme moral depravity and utter lack of hospitality, sought to violently abuse Lot's guests. God's response was not merely passive but an active intervention, inflicting a specialized, disorienting blindness (sanwerim) that thwarted their wicked enterprise. This was a temporary yet debilitating judgment, ensuring the angels' safety and demonstrating God's righteous anger before the city's final destruction. The fact that "small and great" were affected underlines the comprehensive corruption of Sodom's populace. Their ensuing exhaustion in trying to "find the door" despite their physical proximity to it vividly illustrates their impotence against God's power and the bewildering effect of divine judgment, turning their determined malevolence into frustrated confusion. It demonstrates that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human evil, and those who relentlessly pursue wickedness will ultimately be brought to ruin and weariness in their futile rebellion.