Genesis 19:34 kjv

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

Genesis 19:34 nkjv

It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, "Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father."

Genesis 19:34 niv

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I slept with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father."

Genesis 19:34 esv

The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, "Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father."

Genesis 19:34 nlt

The next morning the older daughter said to her younger sister, "I had sex with our father last night. Let's get him drunk with wine again tonight, and you go in and have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father."

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 34 Meaning

This verse records the elder daughter's instruction to the younger on the morning after the first incestuous act with their father, Lot. It reveals their calculated plan to repeat the sexual transgression with him, made possible by intoxicating him with wine, all for the purpose of preserving their family line. The phrase "preserve seed" highlights their intent to conceive children, believing themselves to be the last surviving individuals who could carry on their father's lineage after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19 34 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their extreme wickedness. Lot, his wife, and two daughters are dramatically rescued by angels from the impending judgment, though Lot's wife disobeys and perishes. Lot and his daughters then take refuge in a cave in the mountains. This isolated and desperate situation leads the daughters to conclude they are the only remaining family, and potentially the only humans left who could continue their lineage. Driven by a perceived necessity to "preserve seed," they conceive and execute a plan to intoxicate their father and lie with him. This immediate aftermath of divine judgment starkly reveals the pervasive moral degradation, even among those spared from destruction, showcasing human depravity apart from God's preserving grace and clear command.

Genesis 19 34 Word analysis

• "And it came to pass": wayehî (וַיְהִי), a common Hebrew narrative device, indicating a sequence of events. Here, it signifies the deliberate continuation and planning of an act, not a spontaneous outburst. It implies premeditation.
• "on the morrow": mimmaḥarat (מִמָּחֳרָת). This phrase explicitly points to a delay, indicating a night for planning and conscious decision-making, not a rash impulse. It highlights a calculated progression from the first incestuous night.
• "the elder said unto the younger": Shows leadership in sin. The elder sister is the initiator and strategist of this plan, demonstrating a shared objective between the two sisters. Their conversation highlights their deliberate nature of their transgression.
• "Behold": hinnēh (הִנֵּה). An interjection drawing attention, here to a crucial revelation and premise: the first act of incest has already occurred. It serves as factual basis and precedent for the planned repeat offense.
• "I lay yesternight with my father": Direct admission of the initial act. This sets a pattern and perhaps normalizes the unspeakable for the younger sister, removing her moral apprehension, if any.
• "let us make him drink wine": nashqeennū yayin (נַשְׁקֶֽנּוּ יַיִן). "Let us make him drink" is a causative form, revealing an active, coercive intent. "Wine" (yayin) is the means by which Lot's consciousness and moral restraint are suppressed, turning him into a passive participant. This manipulative act underscores the daughters' culpability.
• "this night also": Reinforces the pattern of planned, repeated intoxication and incest. It signifies a continued and determined effort to achieve their goal over time.
• "and go thou in, and lie with him": A direct command and detailed instruction. This implicates the younger sister in the same sexual transgression, ensuring both daughters would conceive by their father.
• "that we may preserve seed": nazrî'a zera' (נַזְרִיעַ זֶרַע).
  • "preserve" (from nazrî'a - to sow, to cause to be sown/bear seed): Denotes an active intention to procreate and ensure continuity. This is a perversion of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply," done outside His righteous ways.
  • "seed" (zera'): Refers to offspring or descendants. This is a foundational concept in Genesis, especially regarding covenant promises of Abraham's numerous "seed" (Gen 12:7, 15:5). Here, the concept is distorted; the daughters attempt to secure "seed" through profoundly immoral means, contrasting starkly with God's provision of blessed, legitimate offspring.
• "of our father": Specifies the desired source of the lineage, emphasizing their unique circumstances where their father was seemingly the only remaining male who could ensure the continuation of their immediate family line.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And it came to pass on the morrow, that the elder said unto the younger": This opening sets a deliberate, premeditated, and planned context. It indicates a decision-making process involving the sisters, with the elder taking the lead. Their actions are not spontaneous but thoughtfully orchestrated.
• "Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him": This section unveils the specific strategy. The elder sister's confession serves as justification and a guide for the younger. The method of incapacitating Lot through "wine" and the clear command for sexual intimacy highlights a shocking manipulation and exploitation, driven by their desperate agenda.
• "that we may preserve seed of our father": This phrase encapsulates the perverse rationale behind their actions. It demonstrates a profound lack of faith in God's ability to preserve humanity or provide for their future in legitimate ways. The focus on "our father's" seed, coupled with their extreme actions, illustrates a human-centered attempt to control lineage, diametrically opposed to God's righteous methods of establishing generations.

Genesis 19 34 Bonus section

• The Psychological Landscape: The daughters' actions can be seen as an extreme manifestation of trauma and survival instinct post-apocalypse. However, even in such circumstances, moral law and faith in divine provision should prevail. Their despair-driven "necessity" highlights a fundamental distrust in God's sovereignty over life and lineage.
• Contrasting "Seed" Narratives: The daughters' perverse attempt to secure "seed" through incest contrasts sharply with the various biblical narratives of legitimate and often miraculous "seed" (e.g., Isaac, Samuel, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ). This distinction underscores the corruptible nature of human efforts vs. the divine purity of God's plans.
• Ethical Considerations in Abrahamic Narratives: This episode is a low point, contrasting sharply with Abraham's journey of faith and dependence on God for an heir. It serves as a reminder that even those closely associated with the righteous (Lot was "righteous" by divine standard, 2 Pet 2:7-8, but flawed) are not immune to grievous sin or the influences of a corrupted world.
• Historical and Cultural Impact: The offspring, Moab and Ammon, become perpetual enemies of Israel in later biblical history, embodying the bitter fruit of this initial sin (e.g., Num 22, Deut 23:3-6, Judges 3, 1 Sam 11, Neh 13). The narrative establishes their problematic origins and explains divine decrees regarding their exclusion from the assembly of the Lord.

Genesis 19 34 Commentary

Genesis 19:34 reveals the profound moral decay and warped desperation within Lot's household immediately after their deliverance from Sodom's judgment. The elder daughter's instigation to her younger sister to continue the incestuous act, using intoxication to incapacitate their father, underscores a shocking depth of calculated sin. Their perceived isolation and a culturally driven desire to "preserve seed" superseded all moral boundaries and awareness of God's covenant promises, especially regarding the sacredness of family. This event foreshadows the future antagonistic relationship between Israel and the nations born of this illicit union: Moab and Ammon, demonstrating how unholy foundations lead to lasting curses rather than blessings. The verse stands as a stark warning that even in desperation, sinful means cannot achieve righteous ends and that humanity’s deepest desires (like perpetuating a line) can become distorted in the absence of faith and obedience to God.