Genesis 19:34

KJV

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, [and] lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it came to pass on the morrow {H4283}, that the firstborn {H1067} said {H559} unto the younger {H6810}, Behold, I lay {H7901} yesternight {H570} with my father {H1}: let us make him drink {H8248} wine {H3196} this night {H3915} also; and go thou in {H935}, and lie {H7901} with him, that we may preserve {H2421} seed {H2233} of our father {H1}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The following day, the older said to the younger, "Here, I slept last night with my father. Let's make him drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him, and that way we'll enable our father to have descendants."

Berean Standard Bible

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Look, I slept with my father last night. Let us get him drunk with wine again tonight so you can go in and sleep with him and we can preserve our father’s line.”

American Standard Version

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 19:34 records the second night of Lot's daughters' desperate and morally compromised plan to ensure the continuation of their family line. Believing themselves to be the last surviving family unit after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the elder daughter instructs her younger sister to intoxicate their father, Lot, and lie with him, mirroring her own actions from the previous night. This verse starkly illustrates the profound moral decay and extreme measures taken in a perceived crisis, leading to the tragic and ignoble origins of the Moabite and Ammonite nations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the first night of the incestuous acts, described in [Genesis 19:33](/genesis/19-33 "The First Night of Incest"). The narrative arc of [Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's Daughters") moves from divine judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, through Lot's reluctant escape and the tragic loss of his wife, to his subsequent retreat into a cave with his two daughters. The daughters' actions are presented as a direct consequence of their perceived isolation and the cataclysmic events they had just witnessed, which seemingly wiped out all other potential partners and the possibility of a legitimate lineage. The passage concludes with the birth of Moab and Ammon, establishing the origins of two nations that would later become adversaries of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the continuation of a family line, or "seed," was of paramount importance. It ensured inheritance, identity, social standing, and a form of immortality. Childlessness was often considered a curse or a great misfortune. The concept of preserving a family name was deeply ingrained, sometimes leading to practices like levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) to raise up offspring for a deceased brother. Lot's daughters, isolated in a cave and believing themselves to be the sole survivors of their immediate community, would have felt an overwhelming cultural imperative to prevent their father's line from dying out. Their desperate solution, while morally reprehensible, was rooted in this deeply held cultural value, albeit executed through profoundly sinful means.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 19:34 contributes significantly to several key themes within the broader narrative of [Genesis](/genesis "The Book of Genesis"). It powerfully illustrates the **pervasive nature of human depravity** and the extent to which individuals can fall when separated from divine guidance and moral anchors. It highlights the dangers of **desperation leading to moral compromise**, demonstrating that even a culturally valued goal like preserving a lineage does not justify sinful means. Furthermore, the passage underscores the **long-term consequences of sin**, as the offspring of these acts would become nations hostile to God's covenant people, foreshadowing future conflicts and the ripple effects of moral failure throughout generations, as seen in the later interactions between [Israel and Moab](/numbers/22 "Balaam and Balak") and [Ammon](/judges/11 "Jephthah and the Ammonites").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **firstborn (Hebrew, _bᵉkîyrâh'_):** From H1067. This feminine noun denotes "the eldest daughter." The text's emphasis on the "firstborn" highlights her initiative and leadership in this morally transgressive plan. As the elder, she bears the primary responsibility for conceiving and orchestrating the scheme, demonstrating a calculated and deliberate intent to achieve her goal.
* **wine (Hebrew, _yayin'_):** From H3196. This term refers to "wine (as fermented)" and, by implication, "intoxication." The deliberate use of wine to incapacitate Lot is crucial to the daughters' plan. It underscores the manipulative and deceptive nature of their actions, as they exploit their father's vulnerability and render him unconscious, thereby removing any possibility of his consent or awareness of the incestuous acts.
* **seed (Hebrew, _zeraʻ'_):** From H2233. This word primarily means "seed," but figuratively extends to "fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity," and idiomatically, "child." In this context, "preserve seed" directly refers to the desire to produce offspring or descendants. It reveals the daughters' motivation: to ensure the continuation of their father's lineage, believing it to be the only way to prevent their family from perishing in the aftermath of the catastrophe.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger,"**: This opening phrase establishes continuity from the previous night's events, indicating a deliberate, pre-meditated, and sequential plan. The elder daughter, having successfully executed her part, now takes charge in directing the younger sister, highlighting her leadership and the shared, albeit twisted, purpose between them.
* **"Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, [and] lie with him,"**: The elder daughter's confession confirms the incestuous act of the previous night and serves as a precedent and instruction for the younger. The explicit command to "make him drink wine this night also" reveals the continued use of intoxication as a means to incapacitate Lot, ensuring his unawareness and lack of consent. The directive "go thou in, [and] lie with him" is a direct command for the younger sister to commit the same incestuous act.
* **"that we may preserve seed of our father."**: This clause states the daughters' explicit motivation. Their goal is to "preserve" (Hebrew, *châyâh*, H2421, meaning "to live, revive, keep alive") the "seed" (Hebrew, *zeraʻ*, H2233, meaning "offspring" or "posterity") of their father. This reveals their desperate attempt to ensure the continuity of their family line, driven by the perceived extinction of other options and the cultural imperative to have descendants.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative in [Genesis 19:34](/genesis/19-34 "Literary Analysis of Genesis 19:34") employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Foreshadowing** is evident in the daughters' stated motivation to "preserve seed," as the subsequent verses (Genesis 19:37-38) explicitly detail the birth of Moab and Ammon, whose descendants would become significant adversaries to Israel. This act, born of desperation, sets the stage for future conflict, demonstrating the long-term consequences of moral compromise. There is also a profound **Irony** in the daughters' actions: in their attempt to "preserve life" (their lineage), they engage in acts that deeply corrupt and degrade human morality, effectively "killing" their own ethical standing and bringing forth a lineage marked by ignominy. Furthermore, the passage highlights **Moral Decline**, tracing the trajectory of Lot's family from their proximity to the depravity of Sodom to their own engagement in incest. The daughters, having witnessed the destruction of a wicked city, ironically resort to a form of wickedness themselves, illustrating how exposure to sin, even as victims, can desensitize and corrupt.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This challenging passage serves as a stark theological commentary on human depravity and the dangers of allowing perceived necessity to override divine commands. While the daughters' motivation to preserve their family line was culturally understandable, their chosen means—incest, deception, and intoxication—were a profound violation of God's moral order. The narrative underscores that human desperation, when untempered by faith in God's sovereign provision, can lead to catastrophic moral failure. It powerfully illustrates the principle that the end does not justify the means, and that even noble intentions cannot sanctify sinful actions. The tragic outcome of this episode, the birth of the Moabite and Ammonite nations, who would later become persistent adversaries of Israel, serves as a sobering reminder of the long-term, often intergenerational, consequences of sin and moral compromise.

* [Leviticus 18:6](/leviticus/18-6 "Prohibition of Incest in the Law") - This later Mosaic law explicitly forbids sexual relations with close relatives, including a father, underscoring the inherent sinfulness of the daughters' actions.
* [Deuteronomy 23:3-6](/deuteronomy/23-3-6 "Exclusion of Moabites and Ammonites from the Assembly") - The descendants of Moab and Ammon, born from this incestuous union, were excluded from the assembly of the Lord, highlighting the lasting consequences of their origins.
* [Proverbs 14:12](/proverbs/14-12 "The Way That Seems Right") - "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death," aptly describes the daughters' misguided reasoning, believing their desperate plan was the only viable path.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 19:34 forces us to confront the uncomfortable realities of human sin and the devastating impact of moral compromise, particularly in moments of extreme pressure or perceived crisis. It challenges us to examine our own responses when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles or when our deepest desires (like the desire for family or legacy) appear threatened. The daughters' actions, born of desperation and a lack of faith in God's broader plan, serve as a potent warning against allowing circumstances to dictate our ethics. We are called to trust in God's sovereignty and provision, even when our human solutions seem impossible or when the path of righteousness appears to lead to an undesirable outcome. This narrative underscores that true life and lasting legacy are found not in human contrivance or sinful expedience, but in faithful adherence to God's righteous standards. It compels us to ask if we are willing to compromise our values for perceived security or benefit, and reminds us that the long-term consequences of sin always outweigh any immediate perceived gain.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do perceived crises or extreme circumstances challenge our moral boundaries and principles?**
* **What does this narrative teach us about the long-term, intergenerational consequences of sin, even when motivated by desperation?**
* **How can we cultivate a deeper trust in God's provision and wisdom, even when our human solutions seem to fail or when the future appears bleak?**

### FAQ
**Why did Lot's daughters believe they were the only people left to preserve seed?**

Answer: After witnessing the cataclysmic destruction of [Sodom and Gomorrah](/genesis/19-24-25 "The Fiery Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah") and the loss of their mother, who became a [pillar of salt](/genesis/19-26 "Lot's Wife Becomes a Pillar of Salt"), Lot and his daughters fled to a cave. In their isolated state, cut off from other communities and having just experienced such widespread devastation, they likely believed that their immediate world had been utterly wiped out. This profound sense of desolation and the absence of any other viable marriage prospects led them to conclude, albeit mistakenly, that they were the last remaining family unit capable of continuing their lineage. Their perception, though not literally accurate for the entire world, was real within their immediate, traumatized experience.

**Was Lot culpable in the incestuous acts?**

Answer: The biblical text explicitly states that Lot was unaware of the incestuous acts because his daughters made him drink wine until he was intoxicated on both nights ("he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose," [Genesis 19:33](/genesis/19-33 "Lot's Unawareness of the Incest")). Therefore, he was not complicit in the planning or execution of the scheme. However, his drunkenness indicates a significant lapse in judgment and self-control, and the overall situation reflects a spiritual and moral decline in his household, perhaps influenced by their prolonged exposure to the depravity of [Sodom](/genesis/13-13 "The Wickedness of Sodom"). While not actively participating in the sin, his state of inebriation made him vulnerable and allowed the daughters' plan to succeed.

**Why is such a morally disturbing story included in the Bible?**

Answer: The Bible, as a divinely inspired text, does not shy away from depicting the full spectrum of human depravity and the consequences of sin, even among those connected to God's covenant people. This story serves multiple crucial purposes: it illustrates the pervasive nature of sin and its capacity to corrupt, even after divine judgment; it explains the ignoble origins of the Moabite and Ammonite nations, who later became significant adversaries of [Israel](/numbers/22-1-6 "Moab and Ammon Oppose Israel") and were excluded from the assembly of the Lord ([Deuteronomy 23:3-6](/deuteronomy/23-3-6 "Exclusion of Moabites and Ammonites")); it highlights the stark contrast between human desperation and God's faithful provision; and ultimately, it underscores humanity's profound need for divine guidance, grace, and redemption, pointing to the necessity of a righteous lineage that would eventually lead to the Messiah.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [Genesis 19:34](/genesis/19-34 "Christ-Centered Perspective on Genesis 19:34") depicts a profound human failure and a desperate, unholy attempt to "preserve seed," it implicitly highlights the absolute necessity of God's sovereign and pure plan for preserving a righteous lineage. The daughters' actions, born of fear and human contrivance, stand in stark contrast to God's covenant promise to Abraham that through his "seed" all the nations of the earth would be blessed ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "The Abrahamic Covenant")). This divinely ordained "seed" would not be preserved through human sin or manipulation, but through God's miraculous intervention and faithfulness, culminating in the person of Jesus Christ. As the true "seed" of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Christ as the Seed of Abraham")), Christ is the one who truly "preserves" humanity, not through a physical lineage born of sin, but through His perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection. He offers a spiritual lineage and eternal life to all who believe, fulfilling the promise of a blessed posterity that far transcends any earthly, biological continuation, and establishing a new, holy family of God ([John 1:12-13](/john/1-12-13 "Born of God")).

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

Isaiah 3:9

¶ 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.

Jeremiah 3:3

Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

Jeremiah 6:15

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 8:12

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 5:3

O LORD, [are] not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, [but] they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.