Genesis 19:38

KJV

And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same [is] the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the younger {H6810}, she also bare {H3205} a son {H1121}, and called {H7121} his name {H8034} Benammi {H1151}: the same is the father {H1} of the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983} unto this day {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The younger also gave birth to a son, and she called him Ben-'Ammi; he is the ancestor of the people of 'Amon to this day.

Berean Standard Bible

The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today.

American Standard Version

And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 19:38 concludes the morally complex narrative of Lot and his daughters, meticulously detailing the birth of Benammi, the son of Lot's younger daughter, who is identified as the progenitor of the Ammonite people. This verse is pivotal in establishing the foundational lineage of a nation that would maintain a significant, often contentious, relationship with Israel throughout its history, thereby underscoring the enduring consequences of human desperation, moral compromise, and the intricate tapestry of divine sovereignty interwoven with human choices.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the account of the elder daughter conceiving Moab by Lot in [Genesis 19:37](/genesis/19-37 "The Origin of Moab"). Together, verses 37 and 38 serve as an etiological explanation for the origins of two prominent nations, Moab and Ammon, who were perennial neighbors and often adversaries of ancient Israel. The preceding narrative details the catastrophic destruction of [Sodom and Gomorrah](/genesis/19-24 "The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah") and Lot's miraculous, albeit reluctant, deliverance. Having lost everything and isolated in a cave, Lot's daughters, fearing the extinction of their family line, resort to a desperate and morally transgressive plan involving incest. This concluding segment of Lot's story provides a stark contrast to the divine covenant being established with Abraham, highlighting the moral decay even among those spared from judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the preservation of family lineage and the continuation of one's name were paramount cultural imperatives, often seen as a form of immortality. The daughters' fear of having no descendants ("there is not a man on earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth," [Genesis 19:31](/genesis/19-31 "Lot's Daughters' Plan")) must be understood within this cultural framework. Their actions, though shocking, reflect a desperate attempt to fulfill this deeply ingrained cultural expectation in a perceived state of absolute isolation. The geographical isolation in a cave further amplifies their sense of urgency and detachment from societal norms. The narrative, written from an Israelite perspective, subtly critiques these origins, laying the groundwork for understanding the later strained relationships between Israel, Moab, and Ammon.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 19:38 contributes significantly to several key themes within Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the **consequences of sin and moral compromise**, demonstrating how even those who escape direct divine judgment can still be profoundly shaped by the corrupting influence of their environment, as seen in the daughters' actions born of desperation. The verse also serves as a crucial **etiology for the origins of nations**, explaining the ancestry of the Ammonites and their kinship with Israel through Lot, Abraham's nephew. This shared, yet problematic, lineage sets the stage for future interactions. Furthermore, the phrase "unto this day" underscores the **historical continuity and enduring impact** of these founding narratives, emphasizing that the origins of these nations had lasting implications for their identity and their relationship with God's covenant people, Israel, as seen in later interactions throughout [the books of Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges") and [Kings](/1_kings/1 "The Book of 1 Kings").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Benammi (Hebrew, _Ben-ʻAmmîy'_):** (H1151) Derived from "son" (H1121, _bên_) and "my people" (H5983, _ʻammîy_, from _ʻam_ with pronomial suffix), this name literally translates to "son of my people" or "son of my kinsman." It is a poignant and deliberate naming choice that subtly yet powerfully alludes to the incestuous nature of his conception, indicating that his father was a close relative—her own father, Lot. The name itself encapsulates the scandalous origin story, embedding the narrative's moral implications directly into the identity of the nation's progenitor.
* **father (Hebrew, _ʼâb'_):** (H1) This primitive word denotes a progenitor, chief, or source, used here in a literal sense to establish Benammi as the direct ancestor of the Ammonite people. The use of "father" here is crucial for understanding the genealogical link and the subsequent national identity derived from this single individual. It signifies not just biological parentage but the foundational headship of a tribal or national entity, emphasizing the direct line of descent.
* **day (Hebrew, _yôwm'_):** (H3117) Used in the phrase "unto this day," this word signifies a literal period of time, often from sunrise to sunset, but here it denotes a continuous, enduring period extending to the time of the narrative's composition. This phrase is a common biblical idiom used to affirm the historical reality and lasting consequence of an event, indicating that the Ammonites, descended from Benammi, were a distinct and recognized nation known to the original audience, whose origins were directly traced back to this account.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the younger, she also bare a son":** This clause directly states the outcome of the younger daughter's plan, mirroring the previous verse regarding her elder sister. It highlights the successful, albeit morally compromised, continuation of Lot's lineage through his younger daughter, emphasizing the parallel nature of the two births.
* **"and called his name Benammi":** This specifies the name given to the son. The act of naming in ancient cultures was highly significant, often reflecting circumstances of birth, hopes for the child, or a commemoration of an event. As analyzed above, "Benammi" ("son of my people") serves as a linguistic marker of the child's unusual and incestuous origin, a perpetual reminder of the desperate act that brought him into being.
* **"the same [is] the father of the children of Ammon unto this day":** This concluding phrase provides the etiological explanation, explicitly linking Benammi to the Ammonite nation. The phrase "unto this day" serves as a historical marker, affirming the enduring reality of the Ammonites as a distinct people group known to the biblical audience, whose national identity and relationship with Israel were shaped by this foundational, morally ambiguous origin.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 19:38 employs several literary devices to convey its message. **Etiology** is primary, as the verse explicitly explains the origin of the Ammonite people, providing a foundational narrative for their identity and their later interactions with Israel. The **naming convention** of "Benammi" itself functions as a powerful device, embedding the scandalous and incestuous nature of his conception directly into the child's and thus the nation's identity. This name serves as a constant, subtle reminder of the problematic origins. The recurring phrase "**unto this day**" is a common biblical formula that emphasizes the historical continuity and lasting impact of the events described, underscoring that the consequences of Lot's daughters' actions reverberated through generations, shaping the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East. Furthermore, there is an element of **foreshadowing**, as the morally compromised origins of the Ammonites (and Moabites) subtly prefigure the often hostile and problematic relationship they would have with Israel in later biblical history.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 19:38, by detailing the origins of the Ammonite nation, contributes to the broader biblical understanding of human depravity and divine sovereignty. The desperate actions of Lot's daughters underscore the pervasive nature of sin, even among those who have witnessed God's judgment and experienced His deliverance. While their motive was to preserve lineage, the means employed were a profound moral transgression, demonstrating how fear and isolation can lead to choices that defy God's created order. Yet, even through such flawed human actions, God's overarching plan for history and the nations unfolds. This verse establishes the Ammonites' kinship with Israel through Lot, Abraham's nephew, but also sets them apart due to their morally compromised origins, which would later inform divine prohibitions and historical conflicts.

* [Deuteronomy 23:3](/deuteronomy/23-3 "Exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites from the Assembly"): "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."
* [Judges 10:7](/judges/10-7 "Ammonite Oppression of Israel"): "And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon."
* [Nehemiah 13:1-2](/nehemiah/13-1-2 "Exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites"): "On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This stark historical account from Genesis 19:38 offers profound lessons for contemporary readers, highlighting the enduring consequences of moral compromise and the dangers of acting out of desperation rather than faith. The daughters' actions, born of fear for their lineage's survival, resulted in a legacy forever marked by sin and a complicated, often adversarial, relationship with God's chosen people. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder that even seemingly isolated choices have far-reaching implications, shaping not only individual lives but also the destinies of generations and nations. It challenges us to consider the ethical implications of our decisions, especially in times of crisis, and to trust in God's providence rather than resorting to self-serving or morally questionable solutions. Ultimately, understanding the morally ambiguous origins of nations like the Ammonites is crucial for comprehending the biblical narrative's unflinching portrayal of human fallenness and the pervasive need for divine grace and redemption in a broken world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this narrative challenge our understanding of "good intentions" when they lead to morally compromised actions?**
* **In what ways might desperation or fear lead us to make choices that contradict our values or God's commands?**
* **What does the phrase "unto this day" imply about the lasting impact of our choices, both positive and negative?**
* **How can we, like the biblical narrative, acknowledge difficult truths about human origins and sin while still affirming God's sovereignty?**

### FAQ
**Why is the origin of the Ammonites described in such a scandalous way?**

Answer: The biblical narrative, particularly in Genesis, often provides unflinching accounts of the origins of various peoples, including those related to Israel, even when those origins involve moral failures or scandalous acts. This candid portrayal serves several key purposes. Firstly, it underscores the pervasive nature of sin and human fallenness, demonstrating that even those connected to God's covenant people are not immune to moral compromise. Secondly, it offers an etiological explanation for the later historical animosity and specific divine prohibitions (such as their exclusion from Israel's assembly mentioned in [Deuteronomy 23:3](/deuteronomy/23-3 "Exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites from the Assembly")) against these nations. Finally, it highlights God's sovereign plan unfolding amidst human imperfection and sin, rather than being contingent on human purity, showcasing His ability to work through flawed circumstances to achieve His purposes.

**What is the significance of the name Benammi?**

Answer: The name Benammi (Hebrew for "son of my people" or "son of my kinsman") is profoundly significant because it acts as a linguistic and symbolic encapsulation of his incestuous conception. It serves as a constant, subtle yet powerful, reminder that his father was a close relative—specifically, Lot, the younger daughter's own father. This naming convention is a deliberate literary device that embeds the scandalous origin directly into the identity of the nation's progenitor, ensuring that the moral implications of the narrative are not overlooked and providing a perpetual linguistic link to the circumstances of the Ammonite people's founding.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While the origins of the Ammonites through Benammi are deeply rooted in human sin, desperation, and moral compromise, this account, like all of Scripture, ultimately points to the greater need for and perfect fulfillment found in Christ. The pervasive nature of sin, evident in the actions of Lot's daughters and the subsequent lineage, underscores humanity's profound inability to secure its future, purity, or redemption through its own flawed means. In stark contrast, Christ enters human history not through sin and compromised lineage, but through divine purity and redemptive purpose, offering a true and lasting lineage of salvation. He is the ultimate "kinsman-redeemer" ([Ruth 4:1-12](/ruth/4-1-12 "Boaz, the Kinsman-Redeemer")) who perfectly fulfills the need for a "son of our people" who can genuinely save humanity from its brokenness and sin, unlike the flawed and sinful origins of nations born of human imperfection. Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus provides the only true escape from the pervasive effects of sin, offering a new spiritual lineage rooted in grace and truth, transcending the tragic origins of nations like Ammon, and fulfilling the deepest human longings for belonging and redemption ([Galatians 3:26-29](/galatians/3-26-29 "Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus")).

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 2:19

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.

Nehemiah 13:1

¶ On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

Nehemiah 13:3

Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

1 Samuel 11:1

¶ Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

1 Samuel 11:15

And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

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:

Zephaniah 2:9

Therefore [as] I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, [even] the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.