Genesis 19:26 kjv

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:26 nkjv

But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:26 niv

But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:26 esv

But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19:26 nlt

But Lot's wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 26 Meaning

Genesis 19:26 records the immediate and dramatic consequence of Lot's wife disobeying a direct divine command: as fire and brimstone rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah, she looked back from behind her husband and was instantly transformed into a pillar of salt. This act symbolizes a longing for the world being destroyed, a lack of faith in God's judgment and deliverance, and serves as a lasting monument and warning against disobedience and spiritual hesitation.

Genesis 19 26 Context

Genesis 19 describes the catastrophic destruction of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, a divine judgment provoked by their extreme sinfulness (Gen 18:20). Before the destruction, two angels delivered Lot and his family from the impending wrath, issuing a clear and urgent command: "Escape for your life! Do not look back or stop anywhere in the plain; escape to the mountains, lest you be swept away" (Gen 19:17). Despite this explicit warning, Lot's wife, whose name is not mentioned, succumbed to a fatal impulse, turning her gaze back towards the doomed cities. Her immediate transformation into a pillar of salt underscored the severity of the command and the consequence of even momentary disobedience when divine judgment is at hand. This event stands as a stark lesson within the broader narrative of God's covenant with Abraham, contrasting divine justice with the wickedness of humanity.

Genesis 19 26 Word analysis

• But: (Heb. waw) Conjunction introducing a contrast or sudden turn of events from Lot's successful escape.
• his wife: (Heb. 'ishtô) Refers to Lot's unnamed spouse. The lack of her name highlights her identity being defined by her fatal act, rather than personal significance. Her story is archetypal, not biographical.
• looked back: (Heb. wat-tab-beṭ - root nabat) More than a fleeting glance, this verb implies a deliberate, intense, or focused gaze. It suggests she lingered mentally on what she was leaving behind, likely driven by longing, curiosity, or reluctance to abandon her former life and possessions.
• from behind him: (Heb. me'aḥărayw) Indicates her position relative to Lot, following him. Her backward gaze meant she was moving away from salvation (represented by Lot's progression) and towards the danger she was commanded to flee.
• and she became: (Heb. wat-tehî - root hayah) Denotes an instantaneous, complete, and permanent transformation. This was a miraculous act of divine judgment.
• a pillar: (Heb. neṣîḇ) Signifies a fixed, upright, enduring structure, a monument, or a permanent fixture. It implies a statue-like form.
• of salt: (Heb. melaḥ) Salt, while a preserving agent in some contexts, here represents desolation and barrenness (cf. Deut 29:23; Judg 9:45 where salt renders land unfruitful). It's also readily available in the Dead Sea region, providing a physical link to the locale and an enduring witness to the event.

Words-group analysis:

• "looked back from behind him": This phrase emphasizes the deliberate nature of her act, a choice made against the express divine directive while actively escaping danger. It points to a mental lingering on her former life or possessions in Sodom, or perhaps even a distrust in God's capacity to truly destroy the cities.
• "she became a pillar of salt": This vivid imagery portrays a sudden and irreversible divine judgment. The "pillar" denotes permanence and serves as a visible monument and perpetual warning. "Of salt" connects her fate directly to the desolate nature of the region and implies an irreversible, physical calcification that serves as an object lesson. The punishment perfectly fit the sin: looking back with desire at what was earthly and decaying, she herself became part of the desolate earth.

Genesis 19 26 Bonus section

The geological context of the Dead Sea region, with its natural salt formations and pillars, may have provided a physical backdrop for the traditional understanding of Lot's wife's fate. While locals might have identified specific formations with her story over centuries, the biblical narrative emphasizes divine intervention. The name of Lot's wife is notably absent, underscoring that her significance lies in her warning role rather than her individual identity. This anonymity further allows her story to serve as a universal cautionary tale for anyone tempted to long for a past that God has deemed sinful or to turn back from the path of faith and obedience. The immediacy and finality of her punishment reinforce the urgency and decisiveness required in following God's commands.

Genesis 19 26 Commentary

Lot's wife's transformation is not merely a descriptive event but a profound theological lesson. Her "looking back" represents more than simple curiosity; it symbolizes a heart divided, clinging to the worldly comfort, attachments, or memories of a life that God had condemned. This action was a direct act of disobedience to God's explicit warning, stemming from a lack of complete trust in His command and His plan of deliverance. She chose to cast a nostalgic or doubtful gaze on the fading allure of a condemned past rather than moving forward in obedient faith towards a divinely provided future. Her becoming a pillar of salt is a terrifying and lasting testimony to God's immediate judgment against disobedience and worldliness. It highlights the gravity of trifling with divine commands and the dangers of spiritual compromise, serving as an eternal reminder, even echoed by Jesus Christ himself in the New Testament: "Remember Lot's wife."