Genesis 19:2 kjv

And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

Genesis 19:2 nkjv

And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square."

Genesis 19:2 niv

"My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning." "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square."

Genesis 19:2 esv

and said, "My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way." They said, "No; we will spend the night in the town square."

Genesis 19:2 nlt

"My lords," he said, "come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again." "Oh no," they replied. "We'll just spend the night out here in the city square."

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 2 Meaning

Genesis 19:2 describes Lot's earnest offer of ancient Near Eastern hospitality to two divine messengers, whom he addresses with great respect. He invites them to turn aside from their path, spend the night in his home, and receive the customary refreshing foot-washing, assuring them they could then depart early in the morning. However, the angels initially decline, stating their intention to stay in the city's open square, a public and potentially vulnerable place. This exchange immediately highlights Lot's righteous character amidst a depraved city and sets the stage for the dramatic events of judgment and divine intervention.

Genesis 19 2 Context

Genesis chapter 19 directly follows chapter 18, where two of the three men who visited Abraham were identified as angels, and Abraham famously interceded with the Lord for Sodom. These two angels are now at the gate of Sodom, symbolizing their arrival to carry out the divine judgment unless righteous individuals could be found. Lot, sitting at the city gate (a place of commerce, justice, and social gathering), encounters them. His immediate action is driven by the ancient Near Eastern code of hospitality, a deeply ingrained social and moral obligation. Travelers were vulnerable and dependent on the kindness of strangers. Offering lodging, food, and refreshment like foot washing was paramount. This verse establishes Lot as a person who upholds this fundamental societal virtue, sharply contrasting with the coming revelation of Sodom's profound wickedness and utter disregard for such principles.

Genesis 19 2 Word analysis

• And he said: Refers to Lot, emphasizing his immediate and proactive response upon seeing the strangers.
• "Please, my lords,": Hebrew ’Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), here a respectful address used for distinguished men, acknowledging their stature or authority. While Adonai can refer to God, in this context it’s likely Lot's formal deferential address to two unknown, impressive travelers.
• "turn aside now": Hebrew surah (סוּרָה), an imperative meaning to turn, depart from one's path, or deviate. It expresses Lot's urgent and polite invitation for them to halt their travel and accept his hospitality. This phrase conveys a standard invitation to lodging.
• "to your servant's house": Lot uses "your servant" as a deferential form of address, humbling himself before his guests and highlighting his eagerness to serve. It underscores his earnest desire to host them properly.
• "and spend the night": Hebrew linu (לִינוּ), to lodge or remain overnight. This was essential for travelers who could not complete their journey before dark, ensuring their safety from dangers outside settlements.
• "and wash your feet": Hebrew rachatzu ragleychem (רַחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיכֶם). Due to the dusty, unpaved roads and open sandals worn in ancient times, travelers' feet would be dirty. Washing feet was a common, necessary, and vital act of hospitality, a refreshing gesture of welcome and comfort after a long journey. It offered physical relief and symbolized acceptance into the household.
• "then you may rise early and go on your way": This phrase details the customary next steps for honored guests, signifying that Lot intended to offer full, respectable lodging without holding them back or inconveniencing their journey further.
• "But they said, "No,": The angels' initial refusal serves several purposes: it may be a test of Lot's sincerity and persistence, or a means to assess the level of moral decay in the city (as a public presence would provoke the citizens). It could also simply be a gesture of humility.
• "we will spend the night in the open square.": Hebrew barechov (בָּרְחוֹב), meaning "in the wide place" or "in the public square/plaza." Spending the night in such an exposed, public space would be highly unusual and dangerous for strangers, especially in a city known for its wickedness. Their statement immediately raises alarm about the inherent dangers and foreshadows the impending conflict between divine holiness and urban depravity.

Words-group analysis:

• "Please, my lords, turn aside now to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet;": This entire plea reflects the ideal and complete offering of ancient hospitality: urgent invitation (please, turn aside now), humble service (your servant's house), secure lodging (spend the night), and refreshing comfort (wash your feet). It showcases Lot adhering to the highest cultural standards of his time, in stark contrast to the surrounding societal norms of Sodom.
• "then you may rise early and go on your way.": This phrase illustrates that Lot's offer was pure hospitality, not an attempt to detain them. It reassured the travelers they were free to resume their journey, signifying their comfort was his only motive.
• "But they said, "No, we will spend the night in the open square.": The angels' brief and firm refusal is significant. Their willingness to stay in the public square, despite the obvious risks, indicates either a testing of Lot's earnestness (which he passes by insisting) or a direct method to expose the city's corruption for all to see. It underlines their supernatural nature and purpose; they do not fear common dangers as humans would.

Genesis 19 2 Bonus section

• Lot at the Gate: The fact that Lot was "sitting in the gate of Sodom" (Gen 19:1) indicates a position of social standing or authority. City gates were places for civic administration, legal judgments, and public gathering. His presence there might imply some degree of assimilation or even participation in Sodom's society, making his immediate and zealous offer of hospitality to the strangers even more striking and commendable as an act that defied the expected norms of the city's inhabitants.
• Angels as a Test: Some biblical scholars interpret the angels' initial reluctance to stay in Lot's house not merely as a test of Lot's sincerity but as a preliminary act to fully witness and experience the wickedness of Sodom from a public vantage point before passing final judgment. This public "exposure" would unequivocally confirm the city's unworthiness of being spared.
• Cultural Obligation vs. Moral Compass: Lot's actions here underscore that while ancient hospitality was a cultural obligation, for a righteous individual like Lot, it was also an extension of his personal moral and spiritual compass. He knew the danger of Sodom's open square and genuinely sought to protect his guests.

Genesis 19 2 Commentary

Genesis 19:2 provides a crucial scene that establishes Lot's character and foreshadows the judgment to come upon Sodom. Lot's immediate and insistent offer of hospitality stands as a beacon of righteousness in a morally bankrupt city. His words, replete with traditional deferential phrases like "my lords" and "your servant," and his comprehensive invitation—shelter, lodging, and the critical foot-washing—reflect the deep-seated value of welcoming strangers in the ancient world, a virtue commended throughout Scripture (Heb 13:2, Rom 12:13).

The angels' initial refusal to accept private lodging and their stated intention to "spend the night in the open square" is a significant narrative device. This refusal serves as a test of Lot's sincerity and persistence, a test which he passes admirably (Gen 19:3). Furthermore, remaining in the public square would expose the angels to the city's inhabitants and reveal the depth of Sodom's depravity. It demonstrates that divine intervention often begins with revealing human sin for what it truly is. Lot, knowing the wickedness of Sodom, urgently insists, thereby protecting the strangers and confirming his own moral alignment against his surroundings (2 Pet 2:7-8). This short interaction sets the moral stage for the dramatic and terrible events of judgment that unfold in the rest of the chapter. It showcases Lot's commendable, albeit at times compromised, faith and integrity amidst profound evil.