Genesis 19:20 kjv

Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

Genesis 19:20 nkjv

See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."

Genesis 19:20 niv

Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it?it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."

Genesis 19:20 esv

Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there ? is it not a little one? ? and my life will be saved!"

Genesis 19:20 nlt

See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don't you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved."

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 20 Meaning

Genesis 19:20 records Lot's urgent plea to the angels, requesting permission to flee to the nearby city of Zoar instead of the mountains, arguing that it is a "little one" and therefore less significant or threatening to God's judgment. His motivation is self-preservation, ensuring that his "soul shall live," emphasizing his fear and desire for survival amidst the impending destruction of Sodom.

Genesis 19 20 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the final moments before the divine judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. Two angels arrive in Sodom, are reluctantly welcomed by Lot, and witness the profound wickedness of the city's inhabitants, who demand to "know" the visitors. Following the angel's miraculous protection of Lot and his household, Lot is urgently commanded to flee Sodom for his life, specifically instructed to go to the mountains (Gen 19:17) and not look back. Despite this clear divine instruction, Lot "lingers" (Gen 19:16) and then bargains with the angels in verses 18-20. Verse 20 represents Lot's explicit plea to divert from the divinely appointed escape route, arguing for a more convenient and seemingly less threatening destination. His immediate concern is survival and choosing what he perceives as the path of least resistance.

Genesis 19 20 Word analysis

• "Behold now" (הִנֵּה־נָא - hinneh-na): An interjection signaling an urgent request or a drawing of attention to what follows. It emphasizes Lot's earnest and immediate plea.
• "this city" (הָעִיר הַזֹּאת - ha'iyr ha'zo't): Refers to Zoar, named explicitly in Gen 19:22. It was one of the "cities of the plain," initially called Bela (Gen 14:2,8).
• "near" (קְרֹבָה - q'rovah): Implies physical proximity and convenience, providing a practical reason for Lot's appeal to the angels. It suggests his exhaustion, fear, or perceived inability to reach the distant mountains quickly.
• "to flee unto" (לָנוּס שָׁמָּה - la'nus shammah): The infinitive construct indicates the purpose or objective of Lot's request—a designated place for escape.
• "it is a little one" (הֲלֹא מִצְעָר הִוא - halo mitz'ar hi): The word mitz'ar (מִצְעָר) means small, insignificant, or trifle. This is a crucial part of Lot's argument. He pleads that because Zoar is small, God might spare it from the overwhelming judgment intended for Sodom and Gomorrah. It's an appeal based on perceived insignificance, perhaps implying it has less sin or is beneath God's wrath. This phrase is repeated for emphasis.
• "Oh, let me escape thither" (אֲמַלְּטָה נָּא שָׁמָּה - amall'ta na shammah): A desperate entreaty. Amall'ta is a form of the verb malat (מָלַט), meaning "to escape, save oneself, be delivered." It expresses his desperate need for deliverance. The na emphasizes the urgency and plea.
• "(is it not a little one?)" (הֲלֹא מִצְעָר הִוא - halo mitz'ar hi): This repetition serves as a rhetorical question, designed to reinforce his argument and elicit agreement. It shows Lot's insistent desire to convince the angels of the validity of his alternative plan.
• "and my soul shall live" (וּתְחִי נַפְשִׁי - u'techi nafshi): Nafshi (נַפְשִׁי) often refers to the entire person, the "life" or "self," not just the immortal soul in a Greek sense. Lot's ultimate motive is to preserve his life from the impending destruction. This is his driving fear and the reason for his bargaining.
• Words Group Analysis: The repetition of "it is a little one" (twice) highlights Lot's central argument, underscoring his flawed logic in assuming a city's small size guarantees its safety from divine wrath. This emphasis on the perceived physical insignificance of Zoar directly contrasts with God's original instruction to flee to the mountains, a place often symbolic of refuge in God rather than reliance on physical attributes of a city. Lot's plea reveals a self-centered focus on his "soul" or "life," prioritizing physical survival through bargaining rather than absolute obedience and trust.

Genesis 19 20 Bonus section

• The irony of Lot seeking refuge in a "small" city, Zoar, which was still part of the Kikkar (Plain of the Jordan) cities, suggesting a lingering connection to the region God was judging, rather than a decisive break. This shows a subtle but significant compromise in Lot's character, despite his identification as "righteous Lot" in 2 Peter 2:7-8.
• Lot's negotiation here mirrors Abraham's intercession for Sodom in Genesis 18, but with a crucial difference: Abraham interceded for others based on God's character, while Lot pleaded for his own life, based on his own convenience and fear.
• The smallness of Zoar may have represented to Lot a "half-measure" – not a complete removal from the familiar environment of the plain cities, but not full immersion either, showing a spiritual complacency or attachment to his previous dwelling.
• God's gracious response to Lot's specific, self-serving plea demonstrates His extraordinary patience and mercy towards even flawed faith.

Genesis 19 20 Commentary

Genesis 19:20 powerfully illustrates human fear, limited perspective, and a propensity to negotiate with divine command. Despite being supernaturally led to escape the imminent wrath upon Sodom, Lot hesitates and deviates from the explicit instruction to flee to the mountains. His reasoning for choosing Zoar—its proximity and perceived insignificance—reveals a mind that trusts more in human convenience and rationalization than in unreserved obedience to God’s direct orders. Lot’s plea, "is it not a little one?" reflects a common human tendency to underestimate the pervasive nature of sin and God's comprehensive judgment, perhaps hoping a "small" place would escape notice. While Zoar was indeed spared (Gen 19:21), this was an act of God's condescending grace in response to Lot's desperate plea, not a validation of Lot's wisdom. It underscores that God, in His mercy, sometimes accommodates human weakness, even when it involves a compromise with His initial perfect instruction. Ultimately, true safety comes not from one's chosen escape route but from God's gracious intervention.