Genesis 18:30

And he said [unto him], Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do [it], if I find thirty there.

And he said {H559} unto him, Oh {H4994} let not the Lord {H136} be angry {H2734}, and I will speak {H1696}: Peradventure there shall thirty {H7970} be found {H4672} there. And he said {H559}, I will not do {H6213} it, if I find {H4672} thirty {H7970} there.

He said, "I hope Adonai won't be angry if I speak. What if thirty are found there?" He said, "I won't do it if I find thirty there."

Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

Commentary

Genesis 18:30 is a pivotal moment in Abraham’s bold intercession for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. This verse captures Abraham's continued dialogue with the Lord, as he respectfully yet persistently pleads for the cities' salvation, lowering the required number of righteous inhabitants.

Context

This verse is part of a remarkable conversation between Abraham and the Lord, who appeared to him with two angels. After the Lord reveals His intent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah due to their grievous sin, Abraham begins to intercede, questioning if the Lord would truly "sweep away the righteous with the wicked." He starts his petition at fifty righteous people (Genesis 18:24), gradually lowering the number in a series of requests. Each time, the Lord patiently agrees to spare the city if the specified number is found. In verse 30, Abraham moves from forty to thirty, demonstrating his deep concern and understanding of God's justice tempered with mercy.

Key Themes

  • Abraham's Intercessory Prayer: This passage highlights Abraham's intimate relationship with God and his role as a powerful intercessor. His willingness to stand before the Lord and plead on behalf of others is a profound example for believers.
  • God's Patience and Mercy: The Lord's repeated agreement to Abraham's decreasing numbers showcases His immense patience and desire for mercy to prevail over judgment, even when faced with widespread wickedness. This reveals a core aspect of God's character.
  • The Power of a Righteous Remnant: The negotiation centers on the idea that even a small number of righteous individuals can avert widespread disaster. This principle underscores the significant impact of faithful believers in society.
  • Divine Justice: While mercy is evident, the eventual destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (as seen in Genesis 19:24) confirms God's ultimate commitment to justice when sin reaches its full measure and no righteous remnant is found.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Peradventure there shall thirty be found there" uses an older English term meaning 'perhaps' or 'it may be'. This reflects Abraham's respectful uncertainty and humility in his ongoing dialogue with the Almighty. The repetition of "And he said" emphasizes the back-and-forth, almost conversational nature of this extraordinary encounter between God and man, highlighting the accessibility Abraham had to the Creator.

Practical Application

Genesis 18:30 serves as a powerful encouragement for believers today to engage in intercessory prayer. Like Abraham, we are called to pray for our communities, nations, and for those who are lost or suffering. It reminds us that God listens to the earnest prayers of the righteous and that our petitions can have a real impact on spiritual and even physical outcomes. It also reinforces the idea that even a few faithful individuals can be a light and a preserving force in a dark world, echoing the sentiment of believers being the "salt of the earth."

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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Esther 4:11

    All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, [there is] one law of his to put [him] to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

  • Esther 4:16

    Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

  • Judges 6:39

    And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

  • Isaiah 6:5

    ¶ Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

  • Psalms 9:12

    When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

  • Hebrews 12:28

    Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

  • Hebrews 12:29

    For our God [is] a consuming fire.
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