Genesis 19:16 kjv

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Genesis 19:16 nkjv

And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

Genesis 19:16 niv

When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.

Genesis 19:16 esv

But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

Genesis 19:16 nlt

When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 16 Meaning

Genesis 19:16 describes Lot's hesitation to leave the doomed city of Sodom despite the angels' urgent warning. Despite his reluctance, the two divine messengers forcibly took hold of Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand. This decisive act of physical removal was solely attributed to the active mercy and compassion of the Lord (YHWH) toward Lot. The angels then brought the entire family outside the city, placing them in safety just before its destruction. The verse highlights divine grace intervening powerfully to rescue those designated for deliverance, overriding human weakness and attachment to a doomed way of life.

Genesis 19 16 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the final moments before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two angels arrive in Sodom, are welcomed by Lot, but face extreme hostility from the wicked men of the city who demand sexual access to Lot's guests. God's judgment, which was discussed with Abraham in the preceding chapter (Gen 18), is now immediate. The angels instruct Lot and his family to flee and not look back, warning of impending annihilation. It is in this high-stakes scenario of imminent destruction and a clear divine command to escape that Lot hesitates, clinging to what he knows, leading to the divine intervention described in verse 16. This historical setting emphasizes the pervasive evil of Sodom that necessitated such severe judgment and highlights God's justice coupled with His particular mercy towards Lot due to Abraham's intercession and Lot's personal, though imperfect, righteousness (as attested in 2 Pet 2:7-8).

Genesis 19 16 Word analysis

• But while he lingered (וַיִּתְמַהְמָהּ, wa-yit-mah-mahh): This verb signifies delay, hesitation, or reluctance. It vividly portrays Lot's internal struggle and human indecisiveness in the face of urgency. Despite clear warnings and imminent danger, Lot was attached to his possessions, his accustomed life, or simply overwhelmed by the decision. This underscores human weakness and susceptibility to worldly ties, even when faced with divine commands and self-preservation.
• the men (הָאֲנָשִׁים, ha-ana-shim): Refers to the two angels who had appeared in human form. Their active role here emphasizes God's direct and physical intervention through His divine agents. God doesn't merely suggest rescue but orchestrates it actively.
• seized him...by the hand (וַיַּחֲזִקוּ בְיָדוֹ, wa-ya-kha-zi-qu v'ya-do): "Seized" (from חָזַק, khazaq) means to be strong, to grasp firmly, implying a resolute and even forceful act. "By the hand" suggests leading, guiding, and a personal, tangible rescue. It's a powerful depiction of divine initiative; it's God literally taking Lot by the hand, not Lot reaching out for salvation on his own. This act transcends Lot's reluctance.
• and his wife and his two daughters: The mercy extended not just to Lot but to his entire immediate family present with him, demonstrating that divine preservation can sometimes extend to an entire household under the head.
• the LORD being merciful to him (בְּחֶמְלַת יְהוָה עָלָיו, b'khem-lat YHWH a-lav): This is the explanatory clause for the extraordinary angelic intervention.
  • בְּחֶמְלַת (b'khem-lat): "Mercy," "compassion," "pity." It highlights that the driving force behind the rescue was not Lot's merit or the angels' independent will, but God's gracious character. Lot's rescue was an act of sovereign grace.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The personal, covenant God of Israel. This specifies that the mercy originated from the true and living God, active in human affairs and true to His redemptive purposes. It reinforces divine authorship of the rescue.
• and they brought him out (וַיֹּצִאֻהוּ, wa-yotzi'u-hu): "Brought out" implies extraction or deliverance from a contained, dangerous place. It signifies the success of the rescue operation—they were physically removed from the area of impending destruction.
• and set him outside the city (וַיַּנִּחֻהוּ מִחוּץ לָעִיר, wa-yan-ni-hu-hu mi-khutz la-ir): "Set him" or "placed him" firmly, indicating a completed action of transfer. "Outside the city" defines the boundary of safety; it represents removal from the sphere of judgment. This emphasizes complete separation from the wicked place destined for ruin.

Genesis 19 16 Bonus section

• The passive nature of Lot in this rescue ("while he lingered," but "the men seized him") emphasizes God's initiative in salvation. It contrasts human will ("not on him who wills or runs" Rom 9:16) with divine sovereignty and mercy. God initiates and completes the deliverance.
• This specific rescue demonstrates a concept often overlooked: divine "drastic grace." Sometimes, God's mercy comes in an urgent, overwhelming, and even physically forceful manner, necessary when human will is insufficient or too slow to grasp the gravity of danger.
• The "hand" motif (seized by the hand, led out by the hand) is significant throughout the Bible, often symbolizing divine power, guidance, and provision (e.g., Exod 3:20, "stretched out hand"; Psa 37:24, "the LORD upholds him with his hand"). Here, it conveys a direct, personal, and supportive divine act.

Genesis 19 16 Commentary

Genesis 19:16 powerfully illustrates the interplay between human failing and divine grace. Lot's lingering reveals a human tendency to cling to familiar, even corrupt, surroundings, making it difficult to fully obey God's urgent call for separation. This indecisiveness could have sealed his family's fate. However, God's boundless mercy overrides Lot's weakness. The angelic "seizing by the hand" symbolizes God's active, compassionate, and sometimes forceful intervention to rescue those whom He has chosen for salvation. It highlights that salvation, in its essence, is a gift, an act of sovereign grace, rather than a reward for perfect human obedience. The clear declaration, "the LORD being merciful to him," removes any doubt that Lot's escape was due to his own merit or speed. This physical deliverance from the city of judgment serves as a profound object lesson for spiritual salvation, reminding believers that it is God who draws them out of sin and sets them apart from the world's destructive paths. The scene also prefigures the broader biblical truth that those marked by God for salvation are preserved even through their struggles and hesitations, by His enduring faithfulness and powerful hand.