Genesis 19:37

KJV

And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same [is] the father of the Moabites unto this day.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the firstborn {H1067} bare {H3205} a son {H1121}, and called {H7121} his name {H8034} Moab {H4124}: the same {H1931} is the father {H1} of the Moabites {H4124} unto this day {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The older one gave birth to a son and called him Mo'av; he is the ancestor of Mo'av to this day.

Berean Standard Bible

The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today.

American Standard Version

And the first-born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 19:37 chronicles the pivotal birth of Moab, the son conceived by Lot's elder daughter through an incestuous union, thereby establishing the ancestral lineage of the Moabite nation. This verse is situated within the immediate aftermath of the divine judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, revealing a desperate act driven by a perceived need to preserve the family line, and it lays the historical and etymological groundwork for understanding the future relationship between Israel and the Moabites throughout biblical history.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the direct outcome of a deeply disturbing narrative found in [Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "Genesis 19 - The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's Daughters"). Following the catastrophic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the tragic loss of Lot's wife, Lot and his two daughters seek refuge in a cave near Zoar, a small town spared from the judgment ([Genesis 19:30](/genesis/19-30 "Lot's Refuge in the Cave")). Convinced that no men remained on earth to perpetuate their family line, the daughters conspire to intoxicate their father and lie with him. [Genesis 19:37](/genesis/19-37 "The Birth of Moab") records the result of the elder daughter's act, immediately followed by the younger daughter's similar action leading to the birth of Ben-Ammi, the progenitor of the Ammonites ([Genesis 19:38](/genesis/19-38 "The Birth of Ben-Ammi")). This passage serves as an etiological account, explaining the origins of two significant nations that would later become frequent adversaries of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the continuation of a family line was paramount, often viewed as a matter of survival, honor, and legacy. The perceived extinction of all other men, however misguided, would have instilled extreme desperation in Lot's daughters. While incest was strictly forbidden by later Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 18:6-18](/leviticus/18-6-18 "Laws Concerning Sexual Relations")), the narrative here portrays a pre-Mosaic era where moral standards, especially in such extreme circumstances, could be severely compromised. The story reflects a stark reality of human depravity and desperation, even among those who had escaped divine judgment. The geographical proximity of the future Moabite and Ammonite territories to Israel (east of the Jordan River) ensured their frequent interaction, often marked by conflict, as their scandalous origins would often color Israel's perception of them.
* **Key Themes:** The immediate context highlights several profound themes. Firstly, it underscores the **pervasive nature of sin and human depravity**, demonstrating that even those preserved from judgment can fall into grave moral compromise when driven by fear and desperation. Secondly, it serves as an **etiological narrative**, explaining the origins and names of the Moabite and Ammonite nations, thereby providing a foundational understanding for their later roles in biblical history. Thirdly, it subtly points to **God's sovereignty**, as even through such dark and scandalous events, His broader redemptive plan for humanity, particularly through the lineage of Abraham, continues to unfold, eventually incorporating unexpected individuals like Ruth the Moabitess into the messianic line. This passage also implicitly contrasts the desperate measures taken by Lot's daughters with God's faithful provision for Abraham's lineage, which would be preserved through divine promise, not human manipulation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The verse "And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same [is] the father of the Moabites unto this day" is a concise yet profound statement, establishing the ancestry of a nation that would play a significant role in Israel's history. It directly links the Moabites to Lot's elder daughter, emphasizing the controversial nature of their origin.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **firstborn (Hebrew, _bᵉkîyrâh'_):** This feminine noun (H1067) refers to "the eldest daughter." Its use here specifically identifies the mother as Lot's older daughter, emphasizing her role in initiating the desperate plan to preserve their family line. The term highlights the specific individual responsible for conceiving Moab, setting the stage for the lineage.
* **bare (Hebrew, _yâlad'_):** This primitive root (H3205) means "to bear young; causatively, to beget." It is a fundamental term for procreation, indicating the act of giving birth. In this context, it starkly describes the physical act of the elder daughter conceiving and delivering a son, directly linking the child to its mother and the circumstances of its conception.
* **Moab (Hebrew, _Môwʼâb'_):** This proper noun (H4124) is derived from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix 'm-' (from) and 'אב' (father). It literally means "from (her) father." This etymology is crucial, as it directly alludes to the incestuous origin of the nation. The name itself serves as a perpetual reminder of the scandalous circumstances of Moab's birth, profoundly shaping the biblical perception of the Moabites.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the firstborn bare a son":** This clause directly identifies the mother as Lot's elder daughter, who, following the plan concocted with her sister, conceived a child through sexual relations with her intoxicated father. The phrase "bare a son" is a straightforward statement of birth, but within the context, it carries the weight of a morally compromised act.
* **"and called his name Moab":** The act of naming was highly significant in ancient cultures, often reflecting the circumstances of birth, a parent's hopes, or a prophecy. Here, the name "Moab" (meaning "from father") is a stark and deliberate choice by the mother, serving as a permanent, albeit scandalous, memorial to the child's paternity and the incestuous nature of his conception. This naming solidifies the etiological purpose of the narrative.
* **"the same [is] the father of the Moabites unto this day":** This concluding phrase functions as an editorial comment, confirming Moab as the progenitor of the entire Moabite nation. The phrase "unto this day" is a common biblical idiom, indicating that the origin story was still recognized and relevant at the time the text was written or compiled, underscoring the enduring legacy of this controversial beginning for the Moabite people. It establishes the historical continuity from the individual Moab to the collective nation.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several significant literary devices. **Etiology** is central, as the verse explicitly explains the origin and naming of the Moabite nation, providing a foundational narrative for their identity and their later relationship with Israel. The name "Moab" itself is a powerful example of **onomatopoeia** or **wordplay**, directly reflecting its scandalous etymology ("from father"). The narrative also utilizes **foreshadowing**, implicitly setting the stage for future conflicts and complex interactions between the Israelites and the Moabites, whose origins are here presented as morally tainted. Finally, there is a strong element of **irony** in the daughters' desperate attempt to preserve their lineage through an act of sin, highlighting the tragic consequences of human desperation when divorced from divine guidance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The narrative of Moab's origin, though unsettling, offers profound theological insights into the nature of sin, human desperation, and God's sovereign plan. It demonstrates that even those who escape divine judgment can succumb to deep moral failure, highlighting the pervasive reach of sin beyond the overtly wicked cities. The daughters' actions, born of a distorted perception of necessity, underscore how fear can lead to morally reprehensible choices, revealing the fragility of human virtue without a firm foundation in God's law and trust. Yet, paradoxically, this dark origin story also serves as a testament to God's overarching sovereignty; He works His purposes even through human sin and scandal, weaving unlikely threads into the tapestry of His redemptive plan. The inclusion of such a scandalous origin in the biblical canon speaks to the Bible's unflinching honesty about human fallenness and its commitment to historical truth, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be.

* [Numbers 22:1-6](/numbers/22-1-6 "Balak and Balaam") - Illustrates the Moabites' adversarial relationship with Israel, rooted in fear and hostility, leading to their attempt to curse Israel through Balaam.
* [Deuteronomy 23:3-6](/deuteronomy/23-3-6 "Exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites") - Explicitly states the perpetual exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites from the assembly of the Lord due to their lack of hospitality and hiring Balaam against Israel, further emphasizing their problematic origins and actions.
* [Ruth 4:13-17](/ruth/4-13-17 "Ruth's Marriage and Lineage") - Remarkably, this passage shows a Moabitess, Ruth, being grafted into the lineage of Israel and becoming an ancestress of King David, demonstrating God's redemptive grace transcending national origins and past judgments.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 19:37, while detailing a morally challenging event, serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring consequences of human choices, especially those made under duress or moral compromise. It compels us to consider the fine line between desperate measures and sinful acts, and how even seemingly pragmatic decisions can have long-lasting, sometimes scandalous, repercussions that shape identities and relationships for generations. This narrative challenges us to examine our own responses to perceived crises, urging us to trust in God's provision and guidance rather than resorting to ethically dubious means. Moreover, the story, when viewed through the broader biblical narrative, offers a profound lesson in God's redemptive capacity: despite the dark origins of the Moabites, God's grace ultimately extends to include a Moabitess, Ruth, in the lineage of the Messiah. This illustrates that God's plan is not thwarted by human sin or flawed beginnings, but rather, His sovereignty can redeem and transform even the most unlikely circumstances for His divine purposes, inviting us to find hope and grace even in our own imperfect histories.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do fear and desperation influence our moral decision-making, and what safeguards can we put in place to prevent compromise?**
* **In what ways might our past choices, or the choices of our ancestors, continue to shape our identity or relationships today?**
* **How does God's ability to work through scandalous origins, as seen with the Moabites and ultimately Ruth, challenge our understanding of His grace and sovereignty?**
* **What does this passage teach us about the Bible's commitment to portraying human history with unflinching honesty, including its darker aspects?**

### FAQ
**Why is such a scandalous story included in the Bible?**

Answer: The Bible's inclusion of the Moabite and Ammonite origins, despite their scandalous nature, underscores its commitment to historical honesty and its portrayal of the human condition in its fallen state. It does not sanitize the past or hide the flaws of even those connected to God's chosen lineage. This unflinching realism highlights the pervasive nature of sin and humanity's constant need for God's grace and redemption. It demonstrates that God works His purposes even through broken and imperfect people and circumstances, showcasing His sovereignty over all human events, good or ill, as seen in the broader narrative of [Genesis](/genesis "The Book of Genesis").

**How could a nation with such an origin be used in God's plan?**

Answer: While the origins of the Moabites are rooted in sin, the biblical narrative demonstrates God's sovereign ability to work His purposes through all circumstances, even those born of human failure. The most prominent example is Ruth, a Moabitess, who through her faithfulness and God's providence, became an ancestress of King David and, ultimately, of Jesus Christ ([Ruth 4:13-17](/ruth/4-13-17 "Ruth's Marriage and Lineage")). This illustrates God's expansive grace, His capacity to redeem and transform, and His willingness to include those from unexpected or even condemned backgrounds into His redemptive plan, transcending human distinctions and moral failings. This divine inclusion is a powerful testament to the breadth of God's love and His ability to bring good out of even the most challenging beginnings, echoing the themes of redemption found throughout [Scripture](/bible "The Holy Bible").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Genesis 19:37 details a dark and scandalous origin for the Moabite nation, its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment is found in the unexpected and profound inclusion of a Moabitess, Ruth, in the very lineage of Jesus Christ. Despite the explicit prohibition against Moabites entering the assembly of the Lord ([Deuteronomy 23:3](/deuteronomy/23-3 "No Ammonite or Moabite May Enter the Assembly")), God's redemptive grace transcends human boundaries, national distinctions, and the consequences of sin. Ruth's faithfulness and God's sovereign plan allowed her to marry Boaz, a kinsman of Judah, becoming the great-grandmother of King David ([Ruth 4:17](/ruth/4-17 "Ruth's Lineage to David")). This remarkable inclusion, highlighted in the genealogies of Christ ([Matthew 1:5](/matthew/1-5 "The Genealogy of Jesus Christ") and [Luke 3:32](/luke/3-32 "The Genealogy of Jesus Christ")), demonstrates that the Messiah's lineage, though rooted in the covenant people, was not exclusively "pure" by human standards. It embraced even those from a morally compromised ancestry, underscoring the inclusive, redemptive nature of Christ's mission. He came to save all, regardless of their origins, and His lineage beautifully illustrates God's ability to redeem and transform the most unlikely circumstances for His divine purposes, offering hope and grace to all humanity.

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

Deuteronomy 2:9

And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land [for] a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot [for] a possession.

Ruth 4:10

Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye [are] witnesses this day.

2 Kings 3:1

¶ Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.

2 Kings 3:27

Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him [for] a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to [their own] land.

Deuteronomy 2:19

And [when] thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon [any] possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot [for] a possession.

Deuteronomy 23:3

An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:

2 Samuel 8:1

¶ And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.