Genesis 19:14

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

And Lot {H3876} went out {H3318}, and spake {H1696} unto his sons in law {H2860}, which married {H3947} his daughters {H1323}, and said {H559}, Up {H6965}, get you out {H3318} of this place {H4725}; for the LORD {H3068} will destroy {H7843} this city {H5892}. But he seemed as one that mocked {H6711} unto {H5869} his sons in law {H2860}.

Lot went out and spoke with his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, "Get up and leave this place, because ADONAI is going to destroy the city." But his sons-in-law didn't take him seriously.

So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. β€œGet up,” he said. β€œGet out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for Jehovah will destroy the city. But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that mocked.

Commentary

Genesis 19:14 presents a critical moment in the narrative of Sodom's destruction, highlighting Lot's desperate attempt to save his family and their tragic disbelief. This verse serves as a powerful illustration of the human tendency to dismiss divine warnings.

Context

This verse occurs on the eve of God's judgment upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose sin had become exceedingly grave (Genesis 18:20-21). Two angels, sent by the LORD, had arrived in Sodom and were hosted by Lot (Genesis 19:1). After witnessing the depravity of the city's men, the angels revealed their mission: to destroy the city. They urged Lot to gather his family and flee. In this verse, Lot immediately acts on the warning, going out to notify his future sons-in-law, who were betrothed to his daughters.

Key Themes

  • Urgency of Divine Warning: Lot's immediate action ("Up, get you out of this place") underscores the critical, time-sensitive nature of God's judgment. The angels had given a clear, direct command to escape before destruction.
  • Disbelief and Mockery: The most poignant part of the verse is the sons-in-law's reaction: "But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law." Despite the severity of the situation and the source of the warning (Lot, their future father-in-law, who presumably had some standing), they dismissed his words as a joke or a delusion. This highlights a common human failing to take spiritual warnings seriously.
  • Consequences of Skepticism: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the subsequent narrative reveals the devastating consequences of their disbelief. Their failure to heed Lot's warning sealed their fate in the impending destruction.
  • Lot's Righteousness and Distress: Though Lot is often criticized for his choices, this verse shows his earnest desire to save his family from the coming wrath. His vexation by the ungodliness around him is noted elsewhere (2 Peter 2:7-8).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "mocked" is tsachaq (Χ¦ΦΈΧ—Φ·Χ§), which can mean to laugh, play, jest, or make sport. In this context, it conveys that Lot's warning was perceived as a ridiculous joke, perhaps even a sign of his senility or hysteria, rather than a genuine threat. This dismissive attitude reveals their deep complacency and spiritual blindness to the reality of God's impending judgment.

Practical Application

Genesis 19:14 serves as a timeless cautionary tale. It challenges us to consider:

  • Heeding Warnings: Are we quick to dismiss spiritual warnings from God's Word or from those who genuinely care for our spiritual well-being? The Bible frequently speaks of God's judgment and the need for repentance, echoing Lot's urgent plea.
  • Spiritual Complacency: The sons-in-law were comfortable in their surroundings, perhaps too preoccupied with their daily lives to perceive the spiritual danger. This warns against complacency in the face of spiritual realities, especially concerning the return of Christ and final judgment (as Jesus Himself warned, referencing the days of Lot in Luke 17:28-30).
  • Sharing Truth with Disbelief: For those who share the Gospel or warnings about sin, this verse acknowledges the difficulty of being taken seriously, even by loved ones. Sometimes, the truth is met with ridicule, yet the call remains to deliver the message faithfully.

The tragic outcome for Lot's sons-in-law underscores the eternal importance of taking God's word and His warnings seriously, lest we find ourselves unprepared when judgment arrives.

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

  • Numbers 16:21

    Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

  • Numbers 16:45

    Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

  • Numbers 16:26

    And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

  • Jeremiah 51:6

    Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this [is] the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:10

    So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.

  • 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.

  • Revelation 18:8

    Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.
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