Genesis 19:30 kjv

And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

Genesis 19:30 nkjv

Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.

Genesis 19:30 niv

Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave.

Genesis 19:30 esv

Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters.

Genesis 19:30 nlt

Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 30 Meaning

Genesis 19:30 describes Lot's departure from Zoar and his subsequent habitation in a mountain cave with his two daughters. This move was driven by a profound fear that made him unable to remain in Zoar, despite it having been spared by divine intervention. The verse portrays Lot's utter isolation and physical withdrawal from civilization, signaling a drastic decline in his circumstances following the catastrophic judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. It sets the immediate scene for the desperate and sinful actions of Lot and his daughters.

Genesis 19 30 Context

Genesis 19:30 is part of the aftermath of God's fiery judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah for their extreme wickedness. Immediately preceding this verse, Lot and his two daughters were miraculously delivered by angels from the doomed city. Lot, having initially lingered, was urged to flee to the mountains. However, out of fear for his life, he pleaded for the small city of Zoar to be spared as a refuge, and his request was granted. This verse then reveals an ironic twist: despite Zoar's preservation for his sake, Lot suddenly fears to dwell there and retreats further, choosing isolation in a mountain cave. Historically and culturally, mountains and caves served as common places of refuge during times of war, danger, or social ostracism in ancient Near Eastern societies. However, Lot's move is less about a logical escape and more about a deeply ingrained fear or perhaps an irrational reaction to the traumatic events he witnessed, including the death of his wife. This fear drives him from a populated, though small, town to utter isolation, setting the stage for the moral decay that immediately follows in the narrative.

Genesis 19 30 Word analysis

• And Lot went up: Hebrew: וַיַּעַל (va-ya'al). From the root alah, meaning "to go up." This term signifies movement from a lower to a higher place. It's a striking contrast to Lot's earlier choices, when he "pitched his tent toward Sodom" (Gen 13:12), moving "down" towards the fertile plains. This physical "going up" represents a retreat from societal dwelling, a literal ascent from the valley, but also foreshadows a spiritual descent into isolation and subsequent depravity.
• out of Zoar: Hebrew: מִצּוֹעַר (mitz-tzo'ar). Zoar means "smallness" or "insignificance." This city was specifically spared from destruction at Lot's own desperate plea (Gen 19:20-22). The name ironically reflects Lot's diminishing circumstances and significance.
• and dwelt: Hebrew: וַיֵּשֶׁב (vay-yeshev). From the root yashav, meaning "to sit," "to settle," "to dwell." This implies establishing residence, even if temporary.
• in the mountain: Hebrew: בָּהָר (ba-har). "The mountain" often signifies refuge or a place apart. Yet, here it's associated with a flight born of irrational fear, leading to solitude.
• and his two daughters with him: Highlights the extent of his isolation, as they are his only surviving family, thus compounding the upcoming narrative's gravity. They share in his predicament and are integral to the following events.
• for he feared: Hebrew: כִּי יָרֵא (ki yare'). Ki means "because" or "for," giving the reason. Yare' means "to fear," "to be afraid." This fear is significant. It's not a righteous "fear of the Lord" (Prov 1:7) that leads to wisdom, but a profound, debilitating anxiety. It seems an illogical fear, given Zoar was spared for him. It points to a deep psychological impact from the trauma he endured and witnessed, causing him to distrust the very place God preserved. This fear is a strong driver for his action.
• to dwell in Zoar: Emphasizes the rejection of the safe haven provided for him.
• and he dwelt in a cave: Hebrew: וַיֵּשֶׁב בִּמְעָרָה (vay-yeshev bim-e'arah). Me'arah means "cave" or "grotto." A cave represents a primitive, confined, and isolated dwelling. It contrasts sharply with the settled life in cities or even the "tents" of nomadic patriarchs like Abraham. It underscores Lot's regression, stripped of property and comfort, finding shelter in a literal hole in the ground, symbolically a place cut off from communal life and human flourishing.
• he and his two daughters: Repetition for emphasis on their shared, confined isolation and destitution. This also reinforces their complete dependence on one another, paving the way for their desperate plan in the following verses.

Genesis 19 30 Bonus section

The narrative of Lot’s life, culminating in Gen 19:30, serves as a poignant biblical caution regarding the perils of association with worldliness and the lingering psychological and moral effects of escaping divine judgment. While Zoar was literally spared by God's direct intervention for Lot's safety, his fear of it, despite this specific grace, reveals a profound breakdown of trust or a trauma response. This illogical fear ultimately pushed him into an even more vulnerable state in the mountain cave. The cave setting also creates an atmosphere of desperation and isolation, effectively removing any external social restraints on the behavior of Lot and his daughters. The entire scenario from Sodom to the cave signifies not just a loss of wealth and status, but a deep spiritual desolation and a tragic culmination of compromising choices, despite God's grace.

Genesis 19 30 Commentary

Genesis 19:30 starkly illustrates the final stage of Lot's downward trajectory from living near Sodom to being consumed by its influence and judgment's aftermath. Having lost his wife and all his possessions in the destruction, Lot finds himself a refugee. The previous divine promise to spare Zoar at his plea becomes ironically insignificant; Lot's intense, irrational fear overshadows God's grace. This profound fear, stemming from the trauma of judgment witnessed, drives him from even a small, safe human settlement into the wild, secluded confines of a cave. This withdrawal symbolizes more than just physical isolation; it represents a deep spiritual and social regression. Lot, who once chose prosperity in the "well-watered plain" (Gen 13:10) and dwelled in a major city (Sodom), is reduced to a primitive, fear-driven existence. The move to the mountain cave with only his daughters marks the ultimate dissolution of his former life and social ties, leaving them vulnerable to the moral lapse detailed immediately after. This fear, rather than fostering gratitude or repentance, traps them in an environment where despair leads to incest, revealing the tragic consequences of a life that persistently gravitates towards compromise and then descends into self-imposed isolation apart from the community of faith.