Genesis 18:20

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559}, Because the cry {H2201} of Sodom {H5467} and Gomorrah {H6017} is great {H7227}, and because their sin {H2403} is very {H3966} grievous {H3513};

ADONAI said, "The outcry against S'dom and 'Amora is so great and their sin so serious

Then the LORD said, β€œThe outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,

And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 18:20 (KJV)

Genesis 18:20 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Abraham, revealing God's character as a righteous judge who is fully aware of human sin. This verse sets the stage for one of the most dramatic divine judgments in the Old Testament: the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Context

This declaration from the LORD comes immediately after Abraham has hosted three divine visitors (the LORD Himself and two angels) and received the promise of Isaac's birth. Following this intimate encounter, the LORD chooses to reveal His intentions to Abraham, stating, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" (Genesis 18:17). The subsequent verses, including 18:20, explain the reason for God's impending action: the overwhelming wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. This revelation prompts Abraham's bold intercession, where he pleads with God to spare the cities if a certain number of righteous people could be found.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Judgment: The verse underscores God's commitment to divine justice. He does not act arbitrarily but responds to genuine and grievous sin. The "cry" of Sodom and Gomorrah reaching God signifies the severity and pervasive nature of their wickedness, demanding a righteous response.
  • The Grievousness of Sin: The phrase "their sin is very grievous" highlights the extreme moral corruption that permeated these cities. The term "grievous" (Hebrew: kaved) implies a heavy, weighty, and profound depravity, suggesting that the iniquity was not isolated but widespread and deeply ingrained, causing immense harm and offense.
  • God's Omniscience: This verse demonstrates God's perfect knowledge of all human actions and societal conditions. He is not merely hearing rumors but has a direct and complete understanding of the extent of their sin, which He later confirms by sending angels to investigate (Genesis 18:21).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cry" is tse'aqah (Χ¦Χ’Χ§Χ”), which often refers to a cry of distress, pain, or injustice. In this context, it can be understood metaphorically as the "outcry" of the sin itself, rising up to God's ears, or perhaps the cries of victims suffering due to the pervasive wickedness within the cities. The word for "grievous" is kaved (Χ›ΦΌΧ‘Χ“), meaning heavy or severe, emphasizing the profound weight and seriousness of their moral corruption.

Practical Application

Genesis 18:20 serves as a powerful reminder that God is a holy and just God who sees and responds to sin. It teaches us several vital truths:

  1. God's Awareness of Sin: No sin, whether individual or societal, goes unnoticed by God. He is fully aware of all wickedness and injustice in the world.
  2. Consequences of Unrepentant Sin: The eventual destruction of these cities (Genesis 19:24-25) serves as a stark warning about the inevitable consequences of persistent and unrepentant sin.
  3. The Importance of Righteousness: This narrative highlights the value God places on righteousness and justice, and the severe repercussions when a society becomes utterly corrupt.

For a general audience, this verse underscores God's moral governance of the world and His unwavering commitment to justice, even when it involves severe judgment.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 19:13 (6 votes)

    For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

  • Ezekiel 16:49 (5 votes)

    Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

  • Ezekiel 16:50 (5 votes)

    And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw [good].

  • Isaiah 3:9 (5 votes)

    ΒΆ The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide [it] not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

  • Genesis 4:10 (4 votes)

    And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

  • Genesis 13:13 (4 votes)

    But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

  • James 5:4 (3 votes)

    Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.