Genesis 19:12

KJV

¶ And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring [them] out of this place:

KJV (with Strong's)

And the men {H582} said {H559} unto Lot {H3876}, Hast thou here {H6311} any {H4310} besides? son in law {H2860}, and thy sons {H1121}, and thy daughters {H1323}, and whatsoever {H834} thou hast in the city {H5892}, bring them out {H3318} of this place {H4725}:

Complete Jewish Bible

The men said to Lot, "Do you have any people here besides yourself? Whomever you have in the city - son-in-law, your sons, your daughters - bring them out of this place;

Berean Standard Bible

Then the two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—a son-in-law, your sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here,

American Standard Version

And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whomsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of the place:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 19:12 records the urgent and pivotal command issued by two angelic messengers to Lot. They instruct him to identify and gather every member of his household—including his sons-in-law, sons, and daughters—along with all his possessions within the city, and immediately bring them out of Sodom. This divine directive underscores the imminent and certain nature of God's righteous judgment upon the exceedingly wicked city, while simultaneously highlighting His sovereign mercy and provision for Lot and his family to escape the impending, catastrophic destruction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical and climactic point in the narrative of God's judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, immediately preceding their fiery destruction. Prior to this, two angels, appearing as men, had arrived in Sodom and were hospitably received by Lot, a righteous man living amidst profound wickedness, as detailed in [Genesis 19:1](/genesis/19-1 "The Angels Arrive in Sodom"). The extreme depravity of the city's inhabitants was immediately and graphically displayed when the men of Sodom surrounded Lot's house, demanding access to the angelic visitors for perverse sexual acts ([Genesis 19:4-9](/genesis/19-4-9 "Sodom's Depravity and Lot's Ordeal")). After Lot's desperate and failed attempt to protect his guests, and the angels' miraculous intervention to blind the attackers, the angels reveal their true mission: to destroy the city due to the grievous outcry of its sin, a judgment previously discussed between the Lord and Abraham in [Genesis 18:20-21](/genesis/18-20-21 "The Outcry Against Sodom and Gomorrah"). Genesis 19:12 marks the direct, urgent, and non-negotiable instruction to Lot to gather his family and prepare for immediate evacuation, signifying the final moments before divine wrath is unleashed.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, hospitality was a sacred duty, especially towards strangers, and Lot's actions in [Genesis 19:1-3](/genesis/19-1-3 "Lot's Hospitality") reflect this cultural norm, contrasting sharply with the egregious violation of hospitality by the men of Sodom. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were known for their fertile plain, but also for their profound moral corruption, which had reached a point of no return in God's sight. The concept of divine messengers, or angels, acting as agents of God's will was a common understanding, and their appearance as men would have been a test of the inhabitants' character. Furthermore, the patriarchal structure of society placed immense responsibility on the head of the household, like Lot, to ensure the well-being and safety of his extended family, including sons, daughters, and sons-in-law. This cultural expectation is directly addressed by the angels' explicit command to Lot regarding his dependents.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 19:12 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment**, demonstrating God's absolute righteousness and His intolerance for pervasive wickedness, a theme echoed in the flood narrative of [Genesis 6-9](/genesis/6-9 "The Flood and Noah's Covenant"). Simultaneously, it highlights **Divine Mercy and Deliverance**, as God, in His sovereign grace, provides a way of escape for the righteous, a promise often seen throughout salvation history, such as in the Passover deliverance in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "The Passover"). The verse also emphasizes the **Urgency of Response** to God's warnings, illustrating that procrastination in the face of impending judgment can lead to dire consequences. Lastly, it underscores the theme of **Separation from Evil**, portraying the necessity for God's people to physically and spiritually distance themselves from corrupting influences and environments marked for divine wrath, a principle that recurs in calls for holiness throughout Scripture, from [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Be Holy, for I am Holy") to [2 Corinthians 6:17](/2-corinthians/6-17 "Come Out from Among Them").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The command in Genesis 19:12 is delivered by "the men," who are clearly identified as angels (Hebrew: *mal'akhim*, מַלְאָכִים, meaning "messengers") throughout the broader context of [Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah"). Their divine authority imbues their pronouncements with absolute weight, urgency, and the certainty of impending judgment.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **said (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** This primitive root signifies not merely speaking, but often carries the weight of declaring, commanding, appointing, or determining. In this context, it conveys a divine decree, an authoritative pronouncement that demands immediate and unquestioning obedience, rather than a mere suggestion or inquiry. The angels are not asking for Lot's opinion but delivering a non-negotiable mandate from God.
* **son in law (Hebrew, _châthân'_):** This term refers to a relative by marriage, specifically through the bride. Its inclusion here is significant, as it highlights Lot's responsibility not only for his immediate offspring but also for those who have married into his family. The subsequent narrative reveals the tragic skepticism and ultimate refusal of these sons-in-law to heed the warning, underscoring the spiritual blindness that can accompany worldly attachment.
* **bring [them] out (Hebrew, _yâtsâʼ'_):** This primitive root means "to go out" or, in its causative form as used here, "to bring out." It implies a forceful, decisive, and complete extraction or removal. The urgency of the situation is captured in this imperative verb, demanding swift action to physically separate Lot's household and possessions from the condemned city, symbolizing a spiritual severance from its pervasive wickedness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides?"**: This opening clause establishes the divine origin of the command and introduces a rhetorical question. It is not an inquiry born of ignorance on the part of the angels, but a direct, probing prompt designed to ensure Lot fully accounts for everyone connected to him within the city's boundaries. It serves as a stark reminder of Lot's patriarchal responsibility and a call to immediate action, leaving no room for oversight.
* **"son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters,"**: This specific enumeration of Lot's immediate and extended family members underscores the angels' meticulous concern for human life and Lot's profound responsibility as the head of the household. It highlights the inclusive nature of the divine warning, extending the opportunity for escape to all within Lot's sphere of influence, even those who might be reluctant or skeptical.
* **"and whatsoever thou hast in the city,"**: This phrase broadens the scope of the command beyond just people to encompass all of Lot's material possessions, livestock, servants, and any other valuables he had accumulated within Sodom. It signifies a complete and urgent severance from the condemned city and its economy, emphasizing that nothing from Sodom should be retained or valued above escaping God's judgment. It implies a call to abandon all worldly attachments to a place marked for destruction.
* **"bring [them] out of this place:"**: This is the forceful, imperative core of the command. The Hebrew verb implies a decisive and immediate action, demanding a complete physical removal. "Out of this place" underscores the absolute necessity of complete separation from a location marked for imminent destruction, symbolizing a spiritual separation from sin and its inevitable consequences. The urgency of this command leaves no room for delay, negotiation, or looking back.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 19:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The angels' opening query, **Rhetorical Question** ("Hast thou here any besides?"), serves not as a genuine inquiry but as a forceful directive, compelling Lot to consider and account for every individual under his care. This device heightens the urgency and Lot's personal responsibility. The core of the verse is an **Imperative Mood** command ("bring [them] out"), which conveys the absolute authority of the divine messengers and the non-negotiable nature of the instruction. This direct command leaves no room for hesitation or negotiation, emphasizing the critical need for immediate obedience. Furthermore, the act of "bringing them out of this place" functions as powerful **Symbolism**. Sodom itself symbolizes profound human depravity and the inevitable judgment it incurs, while the act of leaving it represents a necessary separation from sin and its consequences. This physical exodus foreshadows a spiritual principle of separating oneself from the corrupting influences of the world. The verse also contains an element of **Foreshadowing**, as the specific mention of "son in law" subtly hints at the tragic unbelief and ultimate fate of those who would mock Lot's warning in the subsequent verses ([Genesis 19:14](/genesis/19-14 "Lot's Sons-in-Law Mock Lot's Warning")), illustrating the dire consequences of rejecting divine counsel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 19:12 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of God, humanity, and salvation. It powerfully illustrates God's unyielding righteousness and His commitment to execute justice upon persistent wickedness, yet simultaneously showcases His boundless mercy and sovereign provision for those He chooses to deliver. The urgent command to Lot underscores the critical and immediate need for a decisive response to divine warnings, emphasizing that there is no time for delay or negotiation when facing impending judgment. It also highlights the divinely assigned responsibility of the head of a household to ensure the spiritual and physical well-being of those under their care. The imperative to "bring them out of this place" is a foundational call to complete separation from a condemned environment, symbolizing the necessity for believers to distance themselves from the corrupting influences of the world, especially when God's judgment is at hand.

* [Luke 17:28-30](/luke/17-28-30 "The Days of Lot and the Coming of the Son of Man")
* [2 Corinthians 6:17](/2-corinthians/6-17 "Come Out from Among Them")
* [Revelation 18:4](/revelation/18-4 "Come Out of Her, My People")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 19:12 serves as a timeless warning and a profound call to decisive action for believers today. Just as Sodom faced imminent physical destruction, the Scriptures speak of a future and certain judgment for all who reject God and His ways, a truth reiterated in passages like [John 3:18](/john/3-18 "Condemnation for Unbelief"). This verse implores us to recognize and actively flee from spiritual dangers and the pervasive influence of sin in the world around us, understanding that God's warnings are given for our salvation and require immediate, unwavering action. Procrastination in spiritual matters can have dire and eternal consequences, as tragically exemplified by Lot's wife, a warning Jesus Himself echoed in [Luke 17:32](/luke/17-32 "Remember Lot's Wife"). Furthermore, Lot's instruction to gather his family highlights the profound responsibility believers have to share the urgent message of salvation with their loved ones, urging them to escape the coming judgment and embrace God's mercy and provision in Christ. It calls us to examine our own lives: are we clinging to "whatsoever thou hast in the city" that might hinder our full obedience and escape from the world's destructive influences?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Sodoms" or corrupting influences in my life or culture is God calling me to separate from with urgency?**
* **How seriously do I take God's warnings in Scripture, and what immediate, decisive actions am I prompted to take?**
* **What responsibility do I bear for sharing the message of salvation and warning with my family and those under my care?**
* **Am I holding onto any "possessions in the city" (worldly attachments, comforts, or sins) that might hinder my complete obedience to God's call to "come out"?**

### FAQ
**Why did the angels specifically ask Lot about his family members?**

Answer: The angels' question, "Hast thou here any besides?", was not born of ignorance, but was a deliberate and rhetorical prompt. It served as a divine directive, ensuring Lot took full responsibility for gathering everyone under his care—his sons-in-law, sons, and daughters. This emphasized his patriarchal duty to protect his household from the impending judgment, thereby offering them a chance at salvation through his obedience. It underscored the comprehensive nature of God's concern for the righteous and those connected to them, even amidst widespread condemnation.

**What does 'whatsoever thou hast in the city' include?**

Answer: This phrase refers comprehensively to all of Lot's material possessions, including his wealth, livestock, servants, and any other valuable belongings he had acquired within Sodom. The command to bring them out signifies a complete and urgent severance from the condemned city. It emphasizes that nothing associated with its corrupt environment should remain or be valued above escaping God's judgment. This instruction highlights the principle that when God calls for separation, it often involves a radical detachment from worldly comforts and accumulations tied to a place under divine wrath.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The urgent divine command to Lot to "bring them out of this place" from a city destined for utter destruction profoundly foreshadows the ultimate deliverance offered through Jesus Christ. Just as Lot and his family were called to physically separate from Sodom to escape physical judgment, believers are called to "come out" from the dominion of sin and the world's condemnation through faith in Christ. Jesus Himself is the ultimate "place of refuge" and the only means of escape from the wrath to come, as [1 Thessalonians 1:10](/1-thessalonians/1-10 "Jesus Delivers from Wrath") declares, "Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come." The angels' urgent plea for Lot to gather his family echoes the urgency of the Gospel call, inviting all to flee the spiritual judgment on sin and find salvation in Christ's atoning sacrifice. He is the true Ark, the only way to escape the flood of divine justice, offering not merely physical escape but eternal redemption and reconciliation with God, as promised in [Matthew 1:21](/matthew/1-21 "Jesus Will Save His People from Their Sins"). Through His death and resurrection, Christ has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to His kingdom ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Delivered from the Domain of Darkness")), offering freedom from the fear of death and the power of the devil ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Jesus Frees from Death")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 7:1

¶ And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

2 Peter 2:7

¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

Revelation 18:4

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

2 Peter 2:9

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Joshua 6:22

But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.

Joshua 6:23

And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

Genesis 19:17

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.