Genesis 19:6

KJV

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

KJV (with Strong's)

And Lot {H3876} went out {H3318} at the door {H6607} unto them, and shut {H5462} the door {H1817} after him {H310},

Complete Jewish Bible

Lot went out to them and stood in the doorway, closing the door behind him,

Berean Standard Bible

Lot went outside to meet them, shutting the door behind him.

American Standard Version

And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 19:6 vividly portrays Lot's desperate and perilous act of stepping outside his home to confront a violent mob, sealing the door behind him. This critical moment underscores Lot's profound adherence to the sacred ancient Near Eastern custom of hospitality, even when it demanded extreme personal risk and a morally compromised preceding action. It starkly illuminates the escalating depravity of Sodom and the immediate, grave threat to both Lot's angelic guests and his family, setting the stage for the imminent divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into the dramatic and somber narrative of God's impending judgment upon the cities of [Sodom and Gomorrah](/genesis/19 "The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah"). Immediately preceding this scene, two angels, appearing as men, arrived in Sodom and were offered shelter and hospitality by Lot. The narrative quickly escalates as the men of the city, from young to old, surround Lot's house, demanding that he bring out his guests so they could "know" them, a clear and chilling euphemism for sexual assault, as explicitly indicated in [Genesis 19:5](/genesis/19-5 "The demand of the men of Sodom"). In a desperate and morally reprehensible attempt to protect his guests, Lot offered his own virgin daughters to the mob, an offer they vehemently rejected, instead pressing in with greater aggression and threatening to break down the door. It is at this climactic moment of extreme peril that Lot takes the action described in [Genesis 19:6](/genesis/19-6 "Lot's confrontation with the mob"), physically interposing himself between the aggressors and those under his protection.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Genesis 19 unfold against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern cultural norms, where hospitality was not merely a courtesy but a sacred, inviolable duty. A host was absolutely bound to protect guests under his roof, even at the cost of his own life or the lives of his family members. Lot's actions, though deeply flawed by his offer of his daughters, reflect this profound cultural imperative. The demand of the Sodomite mob to "know" the guests was a egregious violation of this sacred custom, indicating an extreme level of moral depravity, lawlessness, and a complete breakdown of social order within the city. Such behavior, characterized by rampant sexual immorality, violence, and a blatant disregard for the stranger and the sanctity of the home, was considered an abomination and a direct affront to divine order, providing the immediate justification for the impending divine judgment.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 19:6 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the broader narrative of Genesis and biblical theology. It powerfully underscores the **sacred duty of hospitality**, contrasting Lot's flawed but earnest adherence to it with the complete and violent rejection of it by the men of Sodom. It vividly illustrates the **escalating depravity of humanity**, particularly the unchecked and pervasive sinfulness of Sodom that necessitates divine intervention and judgment. Furthermore, the verse highlights the theme of **divine judgment** as the inevitable and righteous consequence of such pervasive wickedness, echoing the themes found throughout [the book of Genesis](/genesis "The Book of Genesis") concerning God's justice. Finally, it subtly touches upon the **complexity of human righteousness**, as Lot, despite being described elsewhere as "righteous" in [2 Peter 2:7-8](/2_peter/2-7-8 "Peter's description of Lot"), demonstrates both courageous loyalty to his guests and profound moral compromise in his desperate attempts to protect them.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **went out (Hebrew, _yâtsâʼ'_):** This verb (H3318) signifies a decisive and deliberate movement from an enclosed, protected space to an open, vulnerable one. In this context, it denotes Lot's purposeful action of exiting the relative safety of his home to confront the hostile mob. It implies a direct, confrontational engagement, placing himself in a position of extreme personal risk and direct interaction with the aggressors.
* **door (Hebrew, _pethach'_):** This noun (H6607) refers to an "opening," "entrance way," or "threshold" of a dwelling. In this verse, the *pethach* represents the critical boundary between the private, sacred, and protected space of Lot's home and the public, dangerous, and corrupted space occupied by the mob. Lot's action at this *pethach* emphasizes his role as a physical barrier and the point of direct confrontation, guarding the sanctity of his household.
* **shut (Hebrew, _çâgar'_):** This verb (H5462) means "to shut up," "to close off," or "to enclose." Lot's act of shutting the door after him is profoundly significant. It creates an immediate physical barrier, sealing off his home and its occupants from the direct threat of the mob. Simultaneously, it underscores his isolation; by closing the door, he cuts off his own immediate retreat and any direct access for the mob to those inside, demonstrating his resolute, albeit desperate, commitment to protecting his guests by placing himself in solitary danger.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Lot went out at the door unto them":** This clause describes Lot's courageous, though ultimately desperate and ethically fraught, physical interposition. By stepping beyond the literal threshold of his home, Lot places himself directly in the path of the violent and sexually aggressive mob. This act is a profound demonstration of his immediate and personal commitment to protecting his guests, aligning with the stringent ancient Near Eastern code of hospitality which demanded a host defend those under his roof at all costs, even if it meant risking his own life.
* **"and shut the door after him":** This action is crucial and multi-layered in its implications. The closing of the door signifies Lot's attempt to create a secure, physical barrier between the mob and his household, effectively sealing off his guests from immediate harm and potential violation. Simultaneously, it emphasizes his isolation; he is now outside, alone, confronting the aggressive crowd, having deliberately cut off his own immediate retreat or the mob's access to those inside. This highlights the extreme personal risk he was willing to undertake in fulfilling his duty as a host, even as it reveals the dire circumstances he faced.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices that amplify its dramatic and thematic impact. **Symbolism** is powerfully evident in the "door" itself, which serves as a potent symbol of a boundary: between safety and danger, order and chaos, the private sanctity of the home versus the public depravity outside. Lot's movement across this threshold, and his subsequent sealing of it, powerfully conveys the gravity of the situation and his role as a desperate guardian. There is also a strong element of **dramatic irony** at play. Lot's courageous act of self-sacrifice to protect his guests, an honorable display of hospitality, is immediately preceded by his morally reprehensible offer of his own daughters to the same mob. This stark juxtaposition highlights the profound moral compromise and desperation of the situation, revealing the complex and deeply flawed character of Lot, a "righteous" man caught in an unrighteous city. The escalating tension and the physical confrontation also build considerable **suspense**, foreshadowing the imminent divine intervention and judgment that will inevitably follow this climax of human depravity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 19:6 serves as a powerful illustration of the profound moral decay that necessitated God's righteous judgment upon Sodom, while simultaneously highlighting the complex and sometimes tragically flawed nature of human righteousness. Lot's desperate act, though ethically compromised by his prior offer of his daughters, underscores the sacred, divinely-ordained duty of hospitality in biblical ethics. It reveals the destructive, pervasive power of unchecked sin within a community, where even fundamental social norms and human dignity are violently rejected, leading to a situation that only divine intervention can resolve. This passage ultimately points to the stark reality of human depravity and the absolute necessity of God's holy and righteous judgment against sin, while also hinting at His mercy in providing a way of escape for those He deems righteous.

* [Hebrews 13:2](/hebrews/13-2 "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.")
* [Jude 1:7](/jude/1-7 "Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.")
* [2 Peter 2:7-8](/2_peter/2-7-8 "and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormented in his righteous soul by their lawless deeds)—")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 19:6 offers a challenging and sobering reflection on the complexities of moral decision-making under extreme duress and the devastating consequences of unchecked societal depravity. While Lot's preceding offer of his daughters is unequivocally condemned as a profound moral failure, his subsequent act of placing himself in harm's way to protect his vulnerable guests underscores the enduring value of courageous protection for the innocent and the sacred nature of hospitality. This narrative serves as a stark warning against the unchecked progression of sin within a community, where even fundamental societal norms are violently rejected, leading to a complete breakdown of order and morality. For believers today, it prompts deep self-examination regarding our own moral integrity in the face of temptation, the importance of standing against unrighteousness, and the necessity of trusting in God's ultimate deliverance even when human efforts are flawed or insufficient. We are called to discern the signs of moral decay in our own contexts and to act with integrity, seeking God's wisdom and courage to stand for righteousness and to offer genuine, Christ-like hospitality to those in need, without compromise.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does Lot's action in this verse, despite his earlier moral compromise, reveal about the nature of desperate courage and the cultural value of hospitality?**
* **How does the mob's behavior in Sodom, leading to Lot's desperate act, serve as a warning about the unchecked progression of sin in a community?**
* **In what ways are believers today called to "stand at the door" against spiritual or moral threats, even when it involves personal risk, and how can we do so without compromising our own integrity?**

### FAQ
**Why did Lot go out to the mob instead of staying inside?**

Answer: Lot went out to the mob as a desperate act of hospitality and protection for his guests. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a host was honor-bound to protect those under his roof, even at great personal risk. By stepping outside the door and shutting it behind him, Lot physically interposed himself as a barrier between the violent mob and his vulnerable guests. He attempted to reason with them and prevent them from breaching his home, demonstrating a profound commitment to his sacred duty as a host, even in the face of overwhelming danger and his own moral compromise.

**Does Lot's action in Genesis 19:6 justify his earlier offer of his daughters?**

Answer: No, Lot's action in [Genesis 19:6](/genesis/19-6 "Lot's confrontation with the mob") does not justify his earlier, morally reprehensible offer of his daughters in [Genesis 19:8](/genesis/19-8 "Lot offers his daughters"). While his courage in confronting the mob demonstrates a commitment to the cultural duty of hospitality, his willingness to sacrifice his daughters to protect his guests reveals a profound moral compromise and a distorted sense of values. The biblical narrative presents Lot's actions as complex and deeply flawed, highlighting the extreme depravity of the situation in Sodom rather than endorsing his choices.

**What does this passage reveal about the nature of sin and divine judgment?**

Answer: This passage vividly illustrates the pervasive and escalating nature of sin, culminating in a society so morally corrupt that it violently rejects even fundamental norms like hospitality and human dignity. The mob's demand for sexual assault on Lot's guests, and their subsequent aggression, demonstrates a complete disregard for righteousness. This extreme depravity ultimately necessitates and justifies God's righteous judgment, showing that there are limits to divine patience and that unrepentant sin leads to inevitable consequences, as seen in the subsequent destruction of [Sodom and Gomorrah](/genesis/19-24-25 "The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Genesis 19:6 does not directly prophesy Christ, it powerfully foreshadows the ultimate divine intervention required to deliver humanity from the pervasive power of sin, a deliverance far beyond what any human, even a "righteous" but flawed one like Lot, could ever accomplish. Lot's desperate and ethically compromised attempt to protect his guests by placing himself in harm's way points to the perfect, sinless, and ultimately successful protection offered by Christ. Unlike Lot, who merely stood at a door, Jesus Christ entered into the very heart of human depravity and the curse of sin, offering Himself as the ultimate, unblemished sacrifice to deliver His people from the judgment their sin justly deserves ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us")). The narrative of Sodom's judgment, precipitated by unchecked sin and the absolute necessity of divine wrath, underscores the profound significance of Christ's atoning work on the cross. He became the perfect Lamb of God, providing a way of escape from divine wrath and reconciling a fallen world to a holy God, securing a deliverance that Lot's desperate measures could never achieve ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!") and [1 Peter 3:18](/1_peter/3-18 "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God")). Through Christ, God provides the ultimate refuge and protection, not just from a physical mob, but from the eternal consequences of sin itself and the coming judgment ([Hebrews 9:28](/hebrews/9-28 "so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.")).

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

Judges 19:23

And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, [nay], I pray you, do not [so] wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.