Genesis 19 25

Genesis 19:25 kjv

And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Genesis 19:25 nkjv

So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

Genesis 19:25 niv

Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities?and also the vegetation in the land.

Genesis 19:25 esv

And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

Genesis 19:25 nlt

He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 25 meaning

Genesis 19:25 details the extent of the divine judgment poured out upon the cities of the plain, primarily Sodom and Gomorrah, and their surrounding environment. It emphatically states that the Lord utterly annihilated these cities, the entire flat region they inhabited, every living person within those cities, and all the vegetation that grew from the ground. This verse highlights the comprehensive and irreversible nature of God's holy wrath against profound human wickedness.

Genesis 19 25 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the dramatic climax of God's judgment upon Sodom and the neighboring cities, due to their extreme wickedness, as previously confirmed in chapter 18. Before the cataclysm, angels warn Lot, Abraham's nephew, and urge him to flee with his family. The immediate context of verse 25 is the dawn after Lot's escape, signifying the direct execution of God's announced wrath. This divine intervention underscores that while Abraham interceded for the righteous (Gen 18:23-32), even ten righteous individuals could not be found, confirming the utter depravity that warranted total destruction. Historically, the account serves as a potent divine warning about the consequences of persistent sin and rebellion against God's moral order.

Genesis 19 25 Word analysis

• And he overthrew (וַיַּהֲפֹךְ - vayyahafokh): From the Hebrew root הָפַךְ (haphak), meaning to turn over, overturn, subvert, or utterly destroy. This strong verb signifies a complete reversal or devastation. It denotes a divine act, not merely natural disaster, but a God-ordained catastrophe that turned what was fertile (Gen 13:10) into an desolate waste.
• those cities (אֶת־הֶעָרִים - et-ha'arim): Refers primarily to Sodom and Gomorrah, but also implicitly includes Admah and Zeboiim (Deut 29:23), making it a comprehensive judgment on the notorious "cities of the plain."
• and all the plain (וְאֵת כָּל־הַכִּכַּר - ve'et kol-hakkikkar): "Kikkar" specifically refers to the Jordan Plain or circuit, indicating a geographical region surrounding the Dead Sea. The phrase "all the plain" emphasizes that the destruction was not confined to just the city limits but encompassed the entire habitable and fertile region. This highlights the widespread environmental devastation.
• and all the inhabitants of the cities (וְאֵת כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵי הֶעָרִים - ve'et kol-yoshvei ha'arim): This denotes the absolute obliteration of human life. The judgment spared no one living within those specific urban areas, affirming that the people themselves were the object of the wrath due to their sin, not just their location.
• and that which grew upon the ground (וְצֶמַח הָאֲדָמָה - vetzmach ha'adamah): "Tzemach ha'adamah" means the plant life, vegetation, or produce of the soil. This signifies the total ecological impact of the judgment, leaving nothing alive that drew sustenance from the earth. The once fertile land, described as "like the garden of the Lord" (Gen 13:10), became completely barren and desolate, forever bearing the scar of divine judgment.

• Words-group by words-group analysis: The cumulative effect of "overthrew...cities...all the plain...all the inhabitants...that which grew upon the ground" paints a picture of comprehensive and unsparing destruction. It portrays God's judgment as holistic, impacting every facet of life and the environment within the condemned region. The repetition of "all" underscores the totality of the ruin, leaving no aspect untouched. This divine act demonstrated absolute sovereignty over life, land, and creation, reversing blessing into barrenness as a direct consequence of escalating human rebellion.

Genesis 19 25 Bonus section

The geological evidence around the Dead Sea, characterized by salt flats, bitumen deposits, and seismic activity, lends a certain geographical realism to the biblical account, suggesting the event could have involved phenomena like earthquakes, fires, and explosions of trapped natural gases. However, the scripture emphasizes a divine act ("the Lord rained," "he overthrew") rather than merely a natural one, with God directing the timing, scope, and intensity of the destruction. The use of fire and brimstone (sulfur) signifies purification and the absolute termination of life, and in biblical typology, is often connected with future final judgment. The Sodom account contrasts divine long-suffering with decisive judgment, where once the measure of iniquity is full, divine patience gives way to justice.

Genesis 19 25 Commentary

Genesis 19:25 delivers a powerful statement on God's just and absolute judgment. The meticulous enumeration of what was destroyed—cities, plain, inhabitants, and vegetation—emphasizes the thoroughness of God's wrath against the extreme depravity of Sodom and its neighbors. This was not a partial or accidental calamity, but a targeted, divinely orchestrated "overthrow" (haphak) that subverted the very fabric of existence in that region. Once an oasis resembling Eden, the area was rendered utterly desolate, transformed into a permanent testament to the severity of sin and the holiness of God. The judgment serves as a timeless warning of the destructive consequences when human wickedness crosses the boundaries of God's patience, reminding humanity of His righteous sovereignty and the ultimate fate of those who reject His standards.