Genesis 18:31

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for twenty's sake.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He said, "Here now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Adonai. What if twenty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of the twenty I won't destroy it."

Berean Standard Bible:

And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

American Standard Version:

And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he said^{H559}, Behold now, I have taken upon me^{H2974} to speak^{H1696} unto the Lord^{H136}: Peradventure there shall be twenty^{H6242} found^{H4672} there. And he said^{H559}, I will not destroy^{H7843} it for twenty's^{H6242} sake.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 18:31

Genesis 18:31 is part of a narrative where Abraham is bargaining with God to save the city of Sodom from destruction. The historical context of this verse is set within the patriarchal narratives of the Old Testament, which describe the lives and interactions of the early Hebrew patriarchs with God.

In this verse, Abraham is demonstrating his role as the father of faith, showing both his audaciousness and his understanding of God's justice and mercy. He pleads with God, asking if He would spare the city for the sake of fifty righteous people within it. As the dialogue continues, Abraham incrementally lowers the number, eventually arriving at ten, which reflects his understanding that God's judgment is balanced by His willingness to show mercy for the sake of the innocent.

The themes present in this verse include the intercession of the righteous, the mercy of God, and the principle of corporate justice, where the fate of the many can be influenced by the few. It also touches on the concept of a righteous remnant—the idea that even a small number of faithful individuals can have a significant impact on the fate of a larger community. This passage underscores the importance of moral integrity and the power of intercessory prayer, as well as God's patience and His desire to forgive rather than punish.

In summary, Genesis 18:31 captures a pivotal moment in the relationship between Abraham and God, highlighting Abraham's boldness in advocating for justice and mercy, and God's willingness to consider the pleas of His servant. It is a testament to the dynamic nature of divine-human interaction in the biblical narrative and sets a precedent for how the righteous might approach God in times of crisis.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2974
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָאַל
   Transliteration: yâʼal
   Pronunciation: yaw-al'
   Description: a primitive root (probably rather the same as יָאַל through the idea of mental weakness); properly, to yield, especially assent; hence (pos.) to undertake as an act of volition; assay, begin, be content, please, take upon, [idiom] willingly, would.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
4. Strong's Number: H136
   There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
   Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
   Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
   Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6242
   There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
   Transliteration: ʻesrîym
   Pronunciation: es-reem'
   Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth).
   
6. Strong's Number: H4672
   There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָצָא
   Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7843
   There are 136 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁחַת
   Transliteration: shâchath
   Pronunciation: shaw-khath'
   Description: a primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively); batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, [idiom] utterly, waste(-r).