Genesis 19:28 kjv

And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Genesis 19:28 nkjv

Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.

Genesis 19:28 niv

He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.

Genesis 19:28 esv

And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

Genesis 19:28 nlt

He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 28 Meaning

Genesis 19:28 describes Abraham, having awakened early and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord, looking out towards the regions of Sodom and Gomorrah and the entire Plain. From his vantage point, he witnessed the cataclysmic aftermath of divine judgment: smoke rose from the land, appearing like the thick, continuous smoke of a furnace, indicating total devastation. The verse encapsulates the visible evidence of God's swift and thorough justice against the cities' wickedness, affirming the irreversible nature of their destruction.

Genesis 19 28 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the catastrophic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the deliverance of Lot and his family. The immediate context of verse 28 follows the raining of sulfur and fire by the LORD on these wicked cities (Gen 19:24-25) and Lot's escape (Gen 19:15-26), albeit with the loss of his wife who looked back and became a pillar of salt (Gen 19:26). Earlier, in Genesis 18, Abraham had engaged in an extraordinary intercessory dialogue with the LORD, pleading for the cities, particularly if even a few righteous people could be found there (Gen 18:23-33). This verse, Gen 19:28, takes place the morning after the judgment. Abraham rises early and returns to the very spot where he had previously conversed with God. From this significant vantage point, he witnesses the stark, visual proof that his desperate plea was tragically unanswered due to the utter depravity of the cities, or perhaps answered by the sheer mercy extended to Lot. Historically, this account serves as a powerful testament to God's holiness and His justice against unrepentant sin, providing a stark warning that transcends time. The vivid imagery would have resonated with the ancient audience, who understood the destructive power of fire and the definitive end of settlements in arid lands.

Genesis 19 28 Word analysis

• And he looked toward: (וַיַּשְׁקֵף, vayyashqep) The verb suggests a deliberate, often downward or distant, gaze from an elevated position. It implies more than a casual glance; it's an act of intense observation, often used in scripture for God "looking down" or a person looking out upon a scene of significance (e.g., God looking down from heaven in Ps 14:2). In Abraham's case, it emphasizes his conscious action of returning to a place of anticipation to witness the outcome of God's action.
• Sodom and Gomorrah: These are the primary cities mentioned throughout the narrative, signifying places of immense wickedness that incurred God's severe judgment. Their names become archetypal for destruction.
• and toward all the land of the plain: (כִּכַּר, kikkar – meaning "plain," "district," or "disc-shaped area") This phrase extends the scope of the destruction beyond just the cities to encompass the entire fertile region of the Jordan Valley that Lot had originally chosen (Gen 13:10-11). It highlights the widespread and complete nature of God's judgment, not limited to just the population centers but affecting the entire geographical area associated with their corruption.
• and saw, and behold: (וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה, vayyar v’hinneh) "And saw" simply denotes the act of seeing. "And behold" is an emphatic interjection, often used to draw attention to something striking, sudden, or significant. It underscores Abraham's shocked or awe-struck reaction to what he witnessed, confirming the divine action was indeed real and devastating.
• the smoke of the land went up: (עֲלָה עֲשַׁן, ʿalah ʿashan – lit. "went up smoke of") The rising smoke is a visible, undeniable sign of recent and immense burning. In the ancient world, it symbolized total destruction and the wrath of God. It's a persistent aftermath, testifying to a complete, irreversible ruin.
• like the smoke of a furnace: (כְּקִיטוֹר הַכִּבְשָׁן, k'qitor ha'kivshan) Qitor refers to the thick, dense smoke or vapor. Kivshan (furnace/kiln) suggests a place of intense, sustained heat, often used for burning lime or bricks. This simile emphasizes the density, quantity, and relentless nature of the smoke, indicating an all-consuming fire that left nothing untouched and whose effects were still powerfully manifest. It paints a picture of a land utterly consumed and incinerated, an active testament to divine wrath. This is a direct polemic against any notion that lesser gods were merely localized or ineffective; the God of Abraham devastates a region completely and globally.

• "And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the plain": This phrase emphasizes Abraham's deliberate gaze and the vast scope of the judgment. His returning to the specific spot highlights his expectant posture before God. The inclusion of "all the land of the plain" demonstrates that God's judgment encompassed the entire region associated with the sin, leaving no part untouched, showing the totality and finality of the divine reckoning.
• "and saw, and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace": This powerfully evocative imagery portrays the visible, physical manifestation of God's fierce judgment. "Behold" signifies the shock and profundity of what Abraham saw. The "smoke of a furnace" metaphorically illustrates the immense heat, widespread burning, and complete consumption. It suggests a thorough, unsparing destruction where only ash and smoke remained, serving as an unmistakable sign of divine intervention and a permanent reminder of sin's wages. This sight solidified God's holy and just character for Abraham.

Genesis 19 28 Bonus section

The act of Abraham returning to "the place where he had stood before the LORD" (Gen 19:27) before looking upon the destruction is significant. It underscores his close relationship with God and his profound interest in the outcome of his intercession. He returned to his post as a witness, not as a tourist, but as one who had been privileged to engage with the divine counsel. The visual impact of the smoke would have provided irrefutable evidence of the consequences of rejecting divine truth and continuing in wickedness. This also implies that God had, in fact, answered Abraham's prayers by remembering Lot, demonstrating His mercy within judgment. The landscape itself, once "like the garden of the Lord" (Gen 13:10), became an enduring physical testament to divine retribution, a permanent theological and historical marker. The "smoke of a furnace" is a clear picture of God as a "consuming fire" (Heb 12:29), manifesting His character of holy justice. This image would later echo in prophetic pronouncements of future judgments against other wicked nations or cities, demonstrating a consistent pattern of God's interaction with human sin throughout salvation history.

Genesis 19 28 Commentary

Genesis 19:28 provides Abraham's perspective on the divine judgment he had previously interceded against. His act of rising early and returning to the "place where he had stood before the LORD" is poignant. It speaks of a soul wrestling with the justice of God, awaiting the outcome. What he witnessed was a graphic, irrefutable sign of God's absolute holiness and judgment against profound evil. The dense, rising smoke, compared to a furnace, vividly conveys the intensity and completeness of the destruction. It's not merely a local fire but an overwhelming incineration that turned a once-fertile valley into a desolate wasteland. This verse serves as a sober reminder that God observes human conduct and executes righteous judgment when sin's measure is full. For Abraham, it confirmed the devastating reality of God's promise and warning. The lingering smoke symbolizes the lasting consequence of rebellion against God, making the land a permanent monument to divine wrath and a historical warning.