Genesis 19:7 kjv

And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

Genesis 19:7 nkjv

and said, "Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!

Genesis 19:7 niv

and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.

Genesis 19:7 esv

and said, "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.

Genesis 19:7 nlt

"Please, my brothers," he begged, "don't do such a wicked thing.

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 7 Meaning

Genesis 19:7 captures Lot's desperate plea to the men of Sodom as they besieged his home, demanding he bring out his angelic guests. It conveys Lot's immediate and emotional opposition to their exceedingly wicked and ungodly intentions, particularly their blatant disregard for the sacred duty of hospitality and their perverted sexual desires. Lot appeals to them as "brethren," highlighting a familial or communal bond in an attempt to dissuade them from their grievous sin.

Genesis 19 7 Context

This verse is situated in a highly dramatic and pivotal moment within the Genesis narrative. Immediately preceding it, two angels (appearing as men) arrive in Sodom, and Lot, driven by the custom of hospitality, insists they stay at his home (Gen 19:1-3). As evening falls, the men of Sodom, described as "young and old, all the people to the last man" (Gen 19:4), surround Lot's house. Their collective presence underscores the widespread and ingrained depravity of the city. Their demand for Lot to bring out his guests "that we may know them" (Gen 19:5), implies not a simple acquaintance but a sexual assault, indicating rampant homosexual practices. Lot, feeling the profound weight of his responsibility to protect his guests, goes out to confront the mob. Verse 7, "And he said, Oh, my brethren, do not so wickedly," is his initial attempt to appeal to them, even before offering his daughters (Gen 19:8), highlighting the paramount importance of protecting those under one's roof in the ancient Near East. The broader context of Genesis 18 reveals Abraham's intercession for Sodom, leading to God's agreement to spare the city for the sake of ten righteous people—a number not found, validating the divine judgment soon to be executed.

Genesis 19 7 Word Analysis

• And he said,: This refers to Lot. His immediate response upon confronting the angry mob highlights his role as the host, obligated to protect his guests.

• Oh,: This English interjection translates the Hebrew particle נא (na). While often rendered "please" or "I pray," here, coupled with the exclamatory "Oh," it conveys deep anguish, urgency, and pleading, rather than a mere polite request. It reflects a desperate plea from Lot to avert a grave sin.

• my brethren,: Hebrew: אֲחַי ('achai), from אָח ('ach) meaning "brother" or "kinsman." Lot addresses the men of Sodom using a term of familiar association and communal bond, hoping to appeal to any remaining sense of decency, shared humanity, or community identity they might possess. It’s an appeal based on kinship, local residence, or even shared ancestry, despite their abominable conduct.

• do not so wickedly.: Hebrew: אַל־נָא תָּרֵעוּ ('al-na tare'u).

  • אַל ('al): A negative particle, typically "not" for prohibitions.
  • נָא (na): The same particle as "Oh" or "please," intensifying the prohibition – "do not please act wickedly."
  • תָּרֵעוּ (tare'u): The root is רָעַע (ra'a), meaning "to be evil," "to do evil," "to harm," "to break." It encompasses a broad spectrum of wickedness, moral corruption, and malevolence. Here, it refers specifically to the extreme perversity and violent intent against Lot's guests, violating both divine law and human ethics, especially the sanctity of hospitality.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Oh, my brethren, do not so wickedly.": This complete phrase showcases Lot's initial attempt to morally reason with the Sodomites. His appeal to "brethren" suggests a shared responsibility or mutual respect that he desperately hopes to evoke. The urgency indicated by "Oh" and "do not so wickedly" underscores the severity of the proposed evil. It demonstrates Lot's conviction about the gravity of their actions as fundamentally wrong and offensive, setting a moral boundary against the pervasive depravity of the city. This plea, despite its inherent righteousness, ultimately proves ineffective against the hardened hearts of the Sodomites, revealing the depth of their spiritual corruption.

Genesis 19 7 Bonus Section

• Lot's Righteousness: Although Lot's character is often criticized for his poor judgment (choosing Sodom, offering his daughters), 2 Pet 2:7-8 refers to him as "righteous Lot" who was "greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men" and whose "righteous soul" was "tormented day after day." This verse confirms Lot's internal struggle and abhorrence of Sodom's depravity, which Genesis 19:7 succinctly captures. His immediate moral condemnation of their intent ("do not so wickedly") aligns with this biblical assessment.
• Failure of Appeal: The immediate rejection of Lot's plea and the subsequent mob aggression against him ("Stand back!" and "This fellow came to sojourn, and he alone would act as a judge!") (Gen 19:9) demonstrate the depth of Sodom's rebellion. They not only engaged in wicked deeds but also scorned any attempt at moral rebuke, illustrating the danger of societal moral decay when it becomes endemic. This sets the stage for the inevitability of divine judgment.

Genesis 19 7 Commentary

Lot's cry in Genesis 19:7 serves as a poignant expression of his distress and his, albeit limited, righteousness in the midst of pervasive evil. By addressing the Sodomites as "my brethren," Lot attempts to invoke a common bond and shared moral framework, desperately hoping to appeal to any flicker of conscience. His choice of words underscores the extreme nature of their demand; to Lot, their actions were not merely immoral but utterly "wicked"—a comprehensive rejection of decency, divine command, and human compassion, particularly the sacred duty of hospitality. This plea, however, reveals a deeper tension in Lot's character: he recognizes the profound wickedness of their demand, yet his subsequent offer of his own daughters in Genesis 19:8 indicates a morally compromised, albeit desperate, attempt to protect his guests at all costs. The verse thus highlights the profound spiritual blindness of the Sodomites who disregarded a righteous plea and God’s standards, while simultaneously portraying Lot as a man torn between the moral duties of a host and the depravity of his adopted community.