Genesis 19:22

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Hurry, and escape to that place, because I can't do anything until you arrive there." For this reason the city was named Tzo'ar [small].

Berean Standard Bible:

Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar.

American Standard Version:

Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Haste^{H4116} thee, escape^{H4422} thither; for I cannot^{H3201} do^{H6213} any thing^{H1697} till thou be come^{H935} thither. Therefore the name^{H8034} of the city^{H5892} was called^{H7121} Zoar^{H6820}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Genesis 19:22

**Themes:**

1. **Divine Intervention:** The verse reflects the theme of divine intervention, where God's angels directly instruct Lot to flee to Zoar to escape the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. **Urgency and Obedience:** There is a sense of urgency in the command to Lot, emphasizing the importance of immediate obedience to divine command.
3. **Salvation and Refuge:** The instruction to flee to Zoar illustrates the concept of a divinely provided place of refuge and salvation.
4. **Divine Limitations:** The phrase "I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither" suggests a self-imposed divine restraint, indicating that God's actions (in this case, the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah) are contingent upon the obedience of His followers.

**Historical Context:**

Genesis 19:22 is set within the narrative of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities infamous in the biblical tradition for their wickedness and sinfulness. The historical context is part of the broader story of Lot, Abraham's nephew, who had settled in the region of Sodom. In this context, God has decided to destroy the cities, but before doing so, He sends two angels to warn Lot and his family to escape.

The city of Zoar, to which Lot is instructed to flee, is one of the five cities of the plain (along with Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim) located near the Dead Sea. It is presented as a small city to which Lot and his daughters escape after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The name "Zoar" means "smallness" or "insignificance," which may reflect its status relative to the other cities.

Lot's hesitation and request to flee to Zoar rather than to the mountains, as initially instructed, leads to the angels agreeing to his request and the subsequent renaming of the city to Zoar as a result of this event. This verse underscores the themes of God's mercy in providing a means of escape for the righteous, as well as the importance of human response to divine guidance within the context of God's unfolding plan in the history of salvation.

*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: H4116
   There are 60 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָהַר
   Transliteration: mâhar
   Pronunciation: maw-har'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly; be carried headlong, fearful, (cause to make, in, make) haste(-n, -ily), (be) hasty, (fetch, make ready) [idiom] quickly, rash, [idiom] shortly, (be so) [idiom] soon, make speed, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] straightway, [idiom] suddenly, swift.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4422
   There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָלַט
   Transliteration: mâlaṭ
   Pronunciation: maw-lat'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparks; deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone, let go, preserve, save, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] surely.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3201
   There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָכֹל
   Transliteration: yâkôl
   Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
   Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
6. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8034
   There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁם
   Transliteration: shêm
   Pronunciation: shame
   Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5892
   There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עִיר
   Transliteration: ʻîyr
   Pronunciation: eer
   Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7121
   There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרָא
   Transliteration: qârâʼ
   Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
   
10. Strong's Number: H6820
    There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צֹעַר
    Transliteration: Tsôʻar
    Pronunciation: tso'ar
    Description: from צָעַר; little; Tsoar, a place East of the Jordan; Zoar.