Genesis 19:31 kjv

And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

Genesis 19:31 nkjv

Now the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth.

Genesis 19:31 niv

One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children?as is the custom all over the earth.

Genesis 19:31 esv

And the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth.

Genesis 19:31 nlt

One day the older daughter said to her sister, "There are no men left anywhere in this entire area, so we can't get married like everyone else. And our father will soon be too old to have children.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 31 Meaning

This verse initiates the sisters' plan for continuing their family line, believing themselves to be the sole survivors capable of perpetuating their father's seed. The elder daughter proposes to the younger that Lot, their father, is too old for procreation in a natural, normative way, and crucially, they perceive there are no suitable men in their immediate isolated surroundings who could marry them and fulfill the societal expectation of producing offspring "after the manner of all the earth." Their desperation stems from a warped perception of global devastation and the overwhelming societal pressure to bear children, leading them to contemplate extraordinary measures to ensure their family's continuity.

Genesis 19 31 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the catastrophic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, from which Lot and his two daughters are miraculously rescued by divine intervention. Lot’s wife disobeys God's command not to look back and is turned into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters flee to a cave in the mountains after finding no lasting refuge in Zoar. This immediate post-destruction scenario leaves them in utter isolation. Their statement in verse 31 arises from this perceived isolation and the recent obliteration of all surrounding communities. They assume they are the only surviving humans, or at least the only ones accessible, capable of ensuring their father's lineage continues, overlooking God's ability to provide or other possibilities beyond their immediate, fear-driven perception.

Genesis 19 31 Word analysis

• Then the firstborn: The elder daughter initiates the conversation and plan. In ancient patriarchal societies, the eldest often took leadership, even if misguided. The Hebrew, habechirah (הבכירה), denotes her specific identity and role in orchestrating the coming events.
• said to the younger: This indicates a collaborative plotting, though one takes the lead. The Hebrew, hatz'irah (הצעירה), refers to her specific sister.
• 'Our father is old: Avinu zaken (אבינו זקן). Their shared paternity is emphasized. "Old" (zaken) highlights Lot's advanced age, implying he is beyond the normal age of procreation or at least unable to secure a wife and have children naturally. This becomes a premise for their radical action.
• and there is not a man: v'ish ein (ואיש אין). This phrase highlights their core problem as they perceive it: the absolute absence of an available male. The lack of a man (ish) suitable for marriage is the foundation of their desperation.
• on earth: ba'aretz (בארץ). This translates literally to "in the land." While geographically limited to their perceived sphere of existence (the cave and its desolate surroundings), it expresses their conviction of total human desolation in their view. They believed the catastrophe had wiped out everyone, not considering other surviving communities or God's wider providence.
• to come in to us: lavo aleinu (לבוא עלינו). This is a well-known biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse within the context of marriage for procreation (e.g., Gen 16:2; Deut 22:13). They sought male interaction for reproductive purposes.
• after the manner of all the earth: k'derekh kol ha'aretz (כדרך כל הארץ). This phrase signifies the common custom or accepted practice of humanity – normal procreation through marriage. They felt cut off from this universal norm and justified their coming action as an emergency measure to mimic it, preserving the human lineage.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth": This phrase expresses their foundational reasoning: a sense of biological urgency (Lot's age) combined with profound perceived isolation. They see a complete absence of legitimate options.
• "to come in to us after the manner of all the earth": This forms the desperate justification for their plan. They desire to fulfill the societal expectation of childbearing ("after the manner of all the earth"), but because their circumstances (perceived lack of suitable men for proper marriage) prevent them from doing so, they rationalize a morally corrupt alternative to achieve the desired outcome of progeny. Their focus is on the outcome (children) without regard for the method.

Genesis 19 31 Bonus section

The daughters' plan reveals their profound shortsightedness and spiritual blindness. Despite witnessing God's powerful deliverance and judgment firsthand, they failed to grasp His overarching power to preserve life and provide in unforeseen ways. They did not consider simply traveling further to find other surviving communities, or, more importantly, entrusting their future to the God who had just saved them. Their limited, immediate perception of "the earth" (בארץ) being completely depopulated points to their human, rather than divine, perspective. This tragic episode highlights how trauma and the pressures of culture can distort one's moral compass and perception of God's capabilities.

Genesis 19 31 Commentary

Genesis 19:31 serves as the unsettling preamble to one of the Bible's most troubling narratives of desperation and moral compromise. Emerging from the ashes of divine judgment, Lot's daughters demonstrate a profound miscalculation rooted in fear and cultural pressure rather than faith. Their reasoning — that Lot is too old and no other men exist — is a product of their isolated physical and moral state post-Sodom. Ancient cultures highly valued progeny for family continuity and honor, making childlessness a significant shame. While their desire for heirs reflects this cultural norm and a legitimate concern for lineage, their chosen means reveal a deep spiritual and ethical decay, possibly a residual effect of life in Sodom. They rely on their own twisted logic instead of trusting in God's broader providence, or considering any ethical boundaries, leading to incestuous acts. This act gives rise to nations that later become adversaries of Israel, symbolizing the long-reaching consequences of morally corrupted origins.