Genesis 19:8 kjv

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

Genesis 19:8 nkjv

See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof."

Genesis 19:8 niv

Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof."

Genesis 19:8 esv

Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof."

Genesis 19:8 nlt

Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection."

Genesis 19 verses

Genesis 19 8 Meaning

Genesis 19:8 presents Lot's horrifying offer to the Sodomite mob: his two virgin daughters in exchange for the safety of his male guests (who were actually angels). This action highlights a severe moral compromise, reflecting the pervasive depravity of Sodom which Lot had assimilated to, prioritizing a twisted cultural concept of hospitality over the sanctity and innocence of his own children. It demonstrates a society where vulnerable individuals, especially women, could be commodified and subjected to unspeakable evil to preserve a specific code of honor.

Genesis 19 8 Context

Genesis chapter 19 describes the arrival of two angels, disguised as men, into the city of Sodom. Lot, sitting at the gate, quickly recognized the danger they faced and urgently offered them hospitality, inviting them to stay at his home for the night. This action reveals Lot's commitment to the ancient Near Eastern cultural practice of hospitality, especially towards strangers. However, the subsequent demand from the men of Sodom to "know" Lot's guests for sexual purposes unveils the depth of depravity in the city. Lot's response in verse 8, offering his virgin daughters as an alternative, underscores his desperate attempt to protect his guests at any cost, albeit through a deeply immoral and tragic choice that reflects the warped values prevalent in his adopted home. This exchange sets the immediate stage for the angels' miraculous intervention and the impending judgment on Sodom.

Historically and culturally, hospitality was a sacred duty in the ancient Near East, often providing a measure of safety in dangerous lands. Violation of a guest's safety within a host's home was a grave offense. Lot's actions reflect this deep-seated code, but taken to an extreme and perverted degree due to the context of Sodom's evil. The narrative also reveals the vulnerability of women and daughters within such a society, as Lot treats them as transferable commodities in this moral negotiation. The explicit demand from the men of Sodom for unnatural sexual relations highlights the city's unique sin of widespread homosexual violence and debauchery, against which the biblical text takes a strong polemic stance.

Genesis 19 8 Word analysis

• Behold now (הִנֵּה־נָ֣א, hinnēh-nā’): An imperative particle combo, emphasizing an earnest plea, urgency, and drawing attention to the startling offer that follows.
• I have two daughters (לִּי שְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֗וֹת, li šĕtê vānôṯ): A direct, possessive statement setting up his proposal. The structure "daughters to me" reinforces his authority or claim over them in his mind.
• who have not known a man (אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־יָדְעוּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ, ʾăšer lōʾ-yāḏĕʿû ʾîš): A euphemism denoting their virginity. Lot is likely offering them as undefiled for the mob's perverse desires, perhaps believing this would be more appealing or satisfy the mob's sexual craving while leaving his male guests unharmed. The word "known" (yādaʿ) frequently refers to sexual intimacy in the Bible (e.g., Gen 4:1).
• please let me bring them out to you (הוֹצִֽיאֵן־נָ֞א אֲלֵיכֶ֗ם, hôṣîʾên-nāʾ ʾăléḵem): Nā’ again for polite yet desperate pleading. "Bring out" is a physical action, demonstrating his intent to surrender them.
• and you may do to them what seems good in your eyes (וַעֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ן כַּטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם, vaʿaśû lāhen kaṭṭôv bĕʿênêḵem): This phrase is terrifying. "What seems good in your eyes" is normally reserved for divine authority (e.g., Deut 12:8 for Israel, Exod 32:21 for Moses speaking to Aaron, implying something right or proper) or the power to determine. Here, Lot grants total license to a violent, sexually perverse mob, abrogating all moral and parental responsibility. It signifies absolute surrender to their corrupt desires.
• Only do nothing to these men (רַ֞ק לָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֵל֙ אַל־תַּעֲשׂ֣וּ דָבָ֔ר, raq lāʾănāšîm hāʾēl ʾal-taʿaśû dāḇār): "Only" (raq) stresses his primary and exclusive concern: the male guests. This prioritization is stark, showing how hospitality was revered even above familial bonds and protection of one's own children in Lot's compromised morality.
• for they have come under the shelter of my roof (כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּן֙ בָּ֣אוּ בְּצֵ֣ל קֹֽרָתִ֔י, kî-ʿal-kên bāʾû bĕṣēl qōrāṯî): The rationale for his drastic action. "Shelter of my roof" is an idiom for seeking refuge, protection, and claiming the sacred bond of hospitality within the host's domain. It highlights the ancient belief that a host was honor-bound to protect those who sought refuge under his roof, no matter the cost. Lot believed he was bound to this covenant.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Behold now, I have two daughters who have not known a man": Lot introduces his offer, leveraging the virginity of his daughters as a potential means to pacify the mob's sexual demands. This frames his daughters as objects of exchange.
• "please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good in your eyes.": This clause signifies the appalling and utter surrender of his daughters' safety, dignity, and purity to the depraved will of the mob. It indicates a complete abdication of parental duty and moral agency.
• "Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.": This clearly states Lot's priority. His obligation to protect his guests, particularly male guests who were vulnerable in a hostile city, superseded the well-being of his own family, albeit misguided and corrupted by Sodom's ethics. This phrase encapsulates the ancient Near Eastern emphasis on protecting those under one's roof, but taken to a tragically dark and unacceptable extreme.

Genesis 19 8 Bonus section

• Polemics against Contemporary Beliefs: While not directly articulated as a polemic, this narrative serves as a strong counter-narrative to any cultural norm (ancient or modern) that would devalue the dignity and safety of women and children, particularly in the name of other social codes or male honor. It starkly contrasts with God's clear laws against sexual perversion (Leviticus 18, 20) and child sacrifice or abuse (Deuteronomy 18:10), portraying the Sodomite behavior and Lot's response as abhorrent and condemned.
• Betrothal Implications: Although not explicitly stated in this verse, Gen 19:14 indicates that Lot's daughters were already betrothed, making his offer even more scandalous from a societal standpoint, as it would dishonor not only his daughters but also their prospective husbands and families. This adds another layer to the severe moral transgression.
• Distinction in Righteousness: The text differentiates Lot from the men of Sodom; 2 Peter 2:7-8 calls him "righteous" (δίκαιος, dikaios) as he was "distressed" by their behavior. However, this righteousness is in comparison to the utter depravity around him, not an endorsement of his actions in Gen 19:8. His righteousness refers to his ultimate alignment with God's path, despite his severe failings and assimilation, highlighting the complexities of biblical figures.
• Warning Against Immoral Choices: The account reinforces that even actions taken out of fear or perceived obligation, when they violate clear moral standards (like protecting the innocent and vulnerable), are condemned and unacceptable in the sight of God.

Genesis 19 8 Commentary

Genesis 19:8 presents one of the most morally challenging verses in the Old Testament, where Lot offers his virgin daughters to a perverse mob. This disturbing act is not presented as righteous or commendable but as a stark revelation of the deep corruption pervading Sodom, influencing even Lot who, elsewhere, is described as "righteous" (2 Pet 2:7).

Lot's twisted sense of hospitality stands in stark contrast to godly hospitality. While he initially showed commendable care by inviting the angels and protecting them from the mob, his solution reveals a shocking degradation of his moral compass. The sacred ancient Near Eastern custom of guest protection was contorted into an act of parental abandonment, sacrificing his daughters to a fate worse than death. This was an abhorrent violation of parental responsibility, demonstrating how deeply enmeshed Lot had become in Sodom's corrupt values. The phrase "do to them what seems good in your eyes" (וַעֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ן כַּטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם) grants a horrifying license to evil, something that should never be offered to a depraved human will.

Ultimately, Lot's "solution" was futile and unnecessary. The divine visitors had the power to protect themselves, which they immediately demonstrated by blinding the mob (Gen 19:10-11). This highlights that God's plan of deliverance does not require human compromise or wicked acts. The verse serves as a powerful warning against assimilation into wicked cultures, illustrating how even a "righteous" person can become morally compromised when dwelling in environments hostile to God's standards. It underscores the profound evil of Sodom and the dire consequences of prolonged exposure to it.