Genesis 19:33 kjv

And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

Genesis 19:33 nkjv

So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

Genesis 19:33 niv

That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

Genesis 19:33 esv

So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

Genesis 19:33 nlt

So that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 33 Meaning

This verse details the deliberate act of Lot's eldest daughter to give her father wine to drink, initiating the plan to get him intoxicated so that she could lie with him without his conscious awareness or objection. It sets the scene for the subsequent incestuous relationship, born out of their perceived desperation for procreation.

Genesis 19 33 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his two virgin daughters are miraculously rescued by angels before the cities are incinerated by divine fire and sulfur. Fleeing to the mountains for safety, Lot and his daughters eventually seek refuge in a cave, isolated from all other humanity, as they believe. In this state of complete isolation, convinced that they are the sole survivors of humanity to carry on their family line, the older daughter devises a plan. She views Lot, their father, as the last male available to perpetuate their lineage, emphasizing the perceived urgency of their situation to the younger sister. This desperation and lack of proper divine guidance directly lead to the morally reprehensible actions of incest, beginning with the intoxicating of Lot as described in this verse.

Genesis 19 33 Word analysis

• And she made him drink: (ותשק vatashqe). The verb is Hiphil imperfect, emphasizing the active, causative nature of her action. It's not passive, but a deliberate act of supplying or causing him to drink. This highlights her initiative and manipulative intent in the scheme. The object is explicit, "him," referring to her father, making the target clear.
• her father: (אביה ʾaviha). "Father" (אַב ʾav) signifies a patriarchal figure, a position of authority and protection. The possessive suffix "-her" makes it profoundly personal, intensifying the severity of the planned transgression against a most sacred family relationship. It underscores the profound betrayal of trust and natural order.
• wine: (יין yayin). This is grape wine, a common beverage in ancient times. Its intoxicating property is central to the verse. The specific use here is for incapacitation, to lower inhibitions and mental clarity. Unlike a medicinal purpose, its aim is to enable an otherwise unacceptable act by diminishing the father's judgment and awareness.
• that night: (בלילה ההוא balaylah hahūʾ). The definite article "that" specifies this particular night. "Night" (לַיְלָה laylah) often symbolizes concealment and hidden deeds. The darkness provided secrecy for their morally ambiguous act, reinforcing the clandestine and illicit nature of what was about to unfold, away from watchful eyes or the light of day which might bring clearer moral judgment.

Words-Group analysis:

• And she made her father drink wine: This phrase immediately establishes the older daughter as the instigator and executor of the plot. The act of "making someone drink" denotes active persuasion or force (even if indirect, through supply). The substance, "wine," is key because it is the chosen instrument to disarm Lot. This combination signifies a deliberate, pre-meditated move designed to incapacitate the very person who should have been protected, enabling a violation of profound trust and family boundaries.
• that night: This temporal marker emphasizes the clandestine nature of the act. The cover of darkness is used to hide the sin, suggesting awareness that the action was illicit and not to be revealed. It underscores the daughters' knowledge of the wrongness of their deed, hence the need for secrecy.

Genesis 19 33 Bonus section

This incident, while grievous, illuminates the profound human drive to procreate and preserve lineage, often viewed as essential for survival and continuity in the ancient Near East. While later Mosaic Law would strictly prohibit such incestuous acts (Lev 18:6-7), the immediate context reflects a primal fear of extinction rather than direct rebellion against known divine law (as such explicit laws were not yet given). Lot's passivity and drunkenness mirror Noah's nakedness, showcasing alcohol's power to compromise individuals. The passage implicitly critiques extreme measures undertaken without seeking divine counsel, as Lot, unlike Abraham, increasingly alienated himself from God's direct guidance through his choices (settling in Sodom, isolating in the cave). The narrative stands as a complex depiction of sin, consequence, and God's overarching ability to weave even the most corrupted threads into His grand redemptive tapestry, evident in the surprising inclusion of Moabite (via Ruth) into Jesus' genealogy, showing that God's grace transcends human failings.

Genesis 19 33 Commentary

Genesis 19:33 unveils the chilling desperation of Lot's daughters following the destruction of Sodom. Isolated and believing themselves the last survivors, their actions, though horrifyingly transgressive by God's later laws and inherent moral understanding, stemmed from a distorted perceived necessity: the imperative to preserve their family lineage. The verse details the older daughter's active orchestration to intoxicate Lot, turning wine, often a symbol of blessing or merriment, into a tool for grave sin. This account highlights several sobering truths: the distorting power of fear and isolation on human judgment; the destructive potential of excessive wine; and the depravity that can arise when humanity operates outside divine instruction or a clear moral compass. While demonstrating severe human sin, this narrative paradoxically sets the stage for the ancestry of Moab and Ammon, through whom, in God's providence, later events like Ruth's story will surprisingly contribute to the Messianic lineage. The scene serves as a stark reminder of human failings yet never ceases to demonstrate God's sovereignty over all human choices, good or bad.