Genesis 19:21

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

And he said {H559} unto him, See {H2009}, I have accepted {H5375} thee {H6440} concerning this thing {H1697} also, that I will not overthrow {H2015} this city {H5892}, for the which {H834} thou hast spoken {H1696}.

He replied, "All right, I agree to what you have asked. I won't overthrow the city of which you have spoken.

โ€œVery well,โ€ he answered, โ€œI will grant this request as well, and will not demolish the town you indicate.

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken.

Commentary

Genesis 19:21 captures a significant moment of divine mercy amidst impending judgment, where God responds directly to Lot's plea for refuge from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Context

This verse occurs at a critical juncture in the narrative of Genesis chapter 19. Angels had arrived in Sodom to rescue Lot and his family before the city's catastrophic overthrow. After leading them out, the angels commanded Lot to flee to the mountains and not to look back (Genesis 19:17). Fearing he would not survive the journey to the distant mountains, Lot pleaded with the Lord to allow him to escape to a smaller, closer city named Zoar (formerly Bela). In this verse, God, through His messenger, graciously accepts Lot's specific request, promising to spare Zoar from the general destruction of the surrounding plain for Lot's sake. This divine concession highlights God's attentiveness to individual pleas, even as His just judgment falls upon the wicked cities.

Key Themes

  • Divine Mercy and Forbearance: This verse powerfully demonstrates God's compassionate nature. Despite Lot's initial reluctance to obey the command to go to the mountains and his self-preserving plea, God chose to show mercy and accommodate his request, sparing Zoar. This underscores God's willingness to be flexible within His divine plan when His children cry out to Him.
  • The Power of Intercession (even for self-preservation): While Lot's prayer was for his own safety and that of his family, it effectively interceded for an entire city. This act, though less comprehensive than Abraham's earlier intercession for Sodom, still moved God to alter His immediate course of action, emphasizing that God listens to the earnest cries of His servants.
  • God's Discernment in Judgment: While the overwhelming wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah warranted complete destruction, God's justice is always tempered with discernment. He spares Zoar not because of its inherent righteousness, but solely because of Lot's presence and plea, illustrating that His judgment is precise and purposeful.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I have accepted thee" comes from the Hebrew ื ึธืฉึธื‚ื ืคึธึผื ึดื™ื (*nasa' panim*), which literally means "to lift up the face" or "to show favor." It conveys the idea of giving favorable attention to someone's person or request. In this context, it signifies God's personal and gracious reception of Lot's plea, indicating that He did not turn away from Lot's face but instead showed him a special act of grace and consideration.

Practical Application

Genesis 19:21 offers enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Boldness in Prayer: We are encouraged to bring our specific concerns and fears to God, knowing that He is a compassionate listener who hears and responds to our earnest prayers (Philippians 4:6). Even imperfect prayers can be met with divine favor.
  • God's Personal Care: This verse reminds us that even amid global events or widespread judgments, God's attention is focused on the individual. He cares deeply about our safety, our fears, and our deliverance from danger.
  • Seeking Refuge from Sin: Just as Lot sought physical refuge from the coming destruction, believers are called to flee from sin and its ultimate consequences, finding our ultimate refuge and salvation in God's grace through Christ.

Ultimately, this verse underscores God's profound mercy, His willingness to show forbearance, and His attentiveness to the pleas of His people, even in moments of severe judgment.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 145:19 (6 votes)

    He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

  • Psalms 102:17 (4 votes)

    He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

  • Job 42:8 (4 votes)

    Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you [after your] folly, in that ye have not spoken of me [the thing which is] right, like my servant Job.

  • Job 42:9 (4 votes)

    So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite [and] Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

  • Psalms 34:15 (4 votes)

    The eyes of the LORD [are] upon the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their cry.

  • Genesis 4:7 (3 votes)

    If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

  • Hebrews 4:15 (3 votes)

    For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.