Genesis 19:24 kjv

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Genesis 19:24 nkjv

Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.

Genesis 19:24 niv

Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah?from the LORD out of the heavens.

Genesis 19:24 esv

Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven.

Genesis 19:24 nlt

Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 24 Meaning

Genesis 19:24 records a pivotal moment of divine judgment, stating that "Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven." This verse unequivocally describes a direct and catastrophic act of God, where Yahweh Himself executed judgment upon these wicked cities. It signifies the irreversible consequence of profound human sin and rebellion against divine standards, demonstrating God's sovereign power, righteous anger, and ultimate authority as Judge over creation.

Genesis 19 24 Context

Genesis chapter 19 unfolds immediately after Abraham's remarkable intercession with God (Genesis 18), where he pleaded for Sodom if righteous individuals could be found there. This context highlights God's justice and His willingness to relent if righteousness existed. However, the scene quickly shifts to the depths of Sodom's depravity. Angels, disguised as men, visit Lot, Abraham's nephew, in Sodom. The men of the city, both young and old, surround Lot's house demanding that the visitors be brought out "that we may know them" (Gen 19:5), signifying homosexual gang rape. This outrageous act of attempted violence and profound wickedness confirms the "great outcry" that had reached the heavens (Gen 18:20). Despite Lot's attempt to protect his guests, the situation escalates, necessitating the angelic intervention to blind the attackers and rescue Lot and his family. Verse 24 is the direct, decisive action taken by the LORD immediately after Lot, his wife, and two daughters have been brought to safety, confirming that judgment, long delayed, was finally being unleashed upon these cities due to their unrepentant sin. The swiftness and severity of the judgment emphasize God's unwavering righteousness and commitment to uphold moral order.

Genesis 19 24 Word analysis

• Then (וַֽיְהוָה֙ - va-Yahweh): The Hebrew waw (and) prefixed to YHWH acts as a consecutive, implying "And then" or "So then." It marks the direct sequence of events, emphasizing God's immediate action after Lot's rescue.
• LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The sacred, personal name of God, revealing Him as the covenant-keeping God. The first mention here emphasizes Him as the supreme authority and orchestrator of judgment.
• rained (הִמְטִיר֙ - himtir): The Hiphil stem of the verb matar means "to cause to rain" or "to send rain." This form is causative, directly stating that Yahweh made it rain. It is not a natural meteorological phenomenon, but a divinely initiated act.
• upon (עַל־ - al-): Indicates the direction and recipients of the judgment – the cities themselves.
• Sodom (סְדֹ֛ם - Sedom): One of the cities of the plain, infamous for its profound wickedness.
• and upon (וְעַל־ - ve-al-): Connects Gomorrah as an equally targeted city.
• Gomorrah (עֲמֹרָ֖ה - Amorah): The sister city of Sodom, also noted for extreme sin and subjected to the same fate.
• brimstone (גָפְרִ֣ית - gofrit): Sulfur, a flammable, pungent, yellow substance. In biblical contexts, it is commonly associated with divine wrath, judgment, and destruction. It implies complete and fiery annihilation.
• and fire (וָאֵ֑שׁ - va-esh): Refers to burning heat, often an agent of destruction. Paired with brimstone, it forms an idiom for utter, purifying, and destructive divine judgment. This combination suggests intense heat and a pervasive, suffocating atmosphere of destruction.
• from the LORD (מֵאֵ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה - me'et Yahweh): This phrase explicitly reiterates the source, doubling down on the divine agency already established by the first "the LORD." It's an emphatic declaration that this judgment originated solely and directly from Yahweh, leaving no room for attribution to any other force or deity, especially in a pagan context.
• out of heaven (מִן־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם - min ha-shamayim): "From the heavens." This signifies the divine origin of the judgment. It underscores God's transcendence, omnipotence, and authority over the natural world, indicating a supernatural rather than earthly source for the cataclysm.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then the LORD rained... from the LORD out of heaven": This emphatic double mention of "the LORD" (YHWH) and the source "out of heaven" highlights the unparalleled directness, intentionality, and sovereignty of God's action. It’s a deliberate theological statement affirming YHWH alone is the author and executor of this judgment, making it irrefutable that this was a divine act, not a mere natural disaster. It subtly polemicizes against any Canaanite belief that Baal or another god of storms might be responsible, asserting YHWH’s exclusive power.
• "upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah": This identifies the precise, intentional targets of God's wrath, indicating that the judgment was just and specific to those known for profound wickedness. It also suggests a widespread systemic corruption in the entire region of the cities of the plain.
• "brimstone and fire": This idiomatic pairing signifies the particular nature of the judgment – not just a flood, but a scorching, pervasive, and utterly destructive conflagration. It's an act of "cleansing" judgment by fire that utterly consumes, leaving nothing but desolation.

Genesis 19 24 Bonus section

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a recurring memento mori (remember death/judgment) throughout the Bible. Its physical devastation likely transformed the region into a barren, sulfurous landscape near the Dead Sea, serving as a permanent visual reminder of God's judgment. The reference to "brimstone and fire" as an act "out of heaven" is often connected by scholars to a deeper theological meaning beyond mere physical phenomena, representing God's very nature as a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). This judgment, while devastating, highlights the meticulous nature of God's justice, who had patiently listened to Abraham's intercession and ensured the righteous were safely removed before unleashing His wrath. This narrative, therefore, beautifully balances God's unyielding justice with His profound mercy and covenant faithfulness towards those He redeems.

Genesis 19 24 Commentary

Genesis 19:24 serves as a potent theological declaration, not merely a historical recount. It stands as an immutable witness to God's character as the righteous and holy Judge. The deliberate phrasing, particularly the repeated "the LORD" (YHWH) and the explicit "from the LORD out of heaven," eliminates any ambiguity: this was a direct, sovereign, and unique act of divine intervention, emphasizing God’s active agency and responsibility for judgment against profound wickedness. The method—"brimstone and fire"—is consistently used throughout Scripture as a symbol of overwhelming divine wrath, reflecting the consumptive nature of His holiness when confronted with unrepentant sin. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah establishes an eternal paradigm for God's eventual judgment of all unrighteousness. This narrative demonstrates that God, though merciful and long-suffering, will not perpetually tolerate flagrant sin and moral corruption. The story warns future generations that there are limits to God's patience and that ultimately, all will give account before Him. This event not only fulfilled divine warnings but also established a prophetic precedent for ultimate judgment, underscoring the solemn truth that true righteousness demands justice against persistent evil.