Genesis 19:29
New International Version
So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

New Living Translation
But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.

English Standard Version
So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

Berean Standard Bible
So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

New King James Version
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.

New American Standard Bible
So it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the surrounding area, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

NASB 1995
Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.

NASB 1977
Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus it happened, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.

Amplified Bible
Now when God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain [of Siddim], He remembered Abraham [and for that reason], and He sent [Abraham’s nephew] Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when He destroyed the cities in which Lot had lived.

Christian Standard Bible
So it was, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the middle of the upheaval when he demolished the cities where Lot had lived.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So it was, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the middle of the upheaval when He demolished the cities where Lot had lived.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.

Contemporary English Version
When God destroyed the cities of the valley where Lot lived, he remembered his promise to Abraham and saved Lot from the terrible destruction.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When God destroyed the cities on the plain, he remembered Abraham. Lot was allowed to escape from the destruction that came to the cities where he was living.

Good News Translation
But when God destroyed the cities of the valley where Lot was living, he kept Abraham in mind and allowed Lot to escape to safety.

International Standard Version
And so it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham and brought Lot out from the midst of the destruction when he overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

Majority Standard Bible
So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.

NET Bible
So when God destroyed the cities of the region, God honored Abraham's request. He removed Lot from the midst of the destruction when he destroyed the cities Lot had lived in.

New Heart English Bible
It happened, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.

World English Bible
When God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, in God’s destroying the cities of the circuit, that God remembers Abraham, and sends Lot out of the midst of the overthrow in the overthrowing of the cities in which Lot dwelt.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, in God's destroying the cities of the circuit, that God remembereth Abraham, and sendeth Lot out of the midst of the overthrow in the overthrowing of the cities in which Lot dwelt.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it shall be in God's destroying the cities of the circuit, and God will remember Abraham, and he will send forth Lot out of the midst of the overthrow in overthrowing the cities in which Lot dwelt in them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now when God destroyed the cities of that country, remembering Abraham, he delivered Lot out of the destruction of the cities wherein he had dwelt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For when God overthrew the cities of that region, remembering Abraham, he freed Lot from the overthrow of the cities, in which he had dwelt.

New American Bible
When God destroyed the cities of the Plain, he remembered Abraham and sent Lot away from the upheaval that occurred when God overthrew the cities where Lot had been living.

New Revised Standard Version
So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had settled.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass when God destroyed the cities of the plain that God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the devastated region, when he overthrew the cities wherein Lot dwelt.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it was that when God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and he sent Lot from within the upheaval, when He overturned the cities where Lot had dwelt among them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass that when God destroyed all the cities of the region round about, God remembered Abraam, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when the Lord overthrew those cities in which Lot dwelt.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
28He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. 29So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.

Cross References
Genesis 18:23-33
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? / What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? / Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” ...

2 Peter 2:6-9
if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; / and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— ...

Luke 17:28-30
It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. / But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. / It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.

Genesis 18:20-21
Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous, / I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”

Jude 1:7
In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

Romans 9:29
It is just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.”

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Ezekiel 16:49-50
Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. / Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen.

Deuteronomy 29:23
All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.

Matthew 11:23-24
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. / But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Genesis 6:8
Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 8:1
But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside.

Exodus 2:24-25
So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. / God saw the Israelites and took notice.

Psalm 106:4
Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor to Your people; visit me with Your salvation,


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelled.

that God.

Genesis 8:1
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Genesis 18:23-33
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? …

Jump to Previous
Abraham Catastrophe Circuit Cities Destroyed Destroying Destruction Dwelt God's Kept Lot Middle Midst Overthrew Overthrow Overthrowing Plain Remembered Remembereth Safely Towns Valley Word
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Abraham Catastrophe Circuit Cities Destroyed Destroying Destruction Dwelt God's Kept Lot Middle Midst Overthrew Overthrow Overthrowing Plain Remembered Remembereth Safely Towns Valley Word
Genesis 19
1. Lot entertains two angels.
4. The vicious Sodomites are smitten with blindness.
12. Lot is warned, and in vain warns his sons-in-law.
15. He is directed to flee to the mountains, but obtains leave to go into Zoar.
24. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed.
26. Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
29. Lot dwells in a cave.
31. The incestuous origin of Moab and Ammon.














So when God destroyed
The phrase begins with a conjunction that connects the narrative to the preceding events. The Hebrew word for "destroyed" is "שָׁחַת" (shachat), which implies a complete and utter ruin. This destruction is not arbitrary but a divine judgment against the pervasive wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. The historical context reveals that these cities were known for their moral depravity, and archaeological evidence suggests that they were located near the Dead Sea, an area prone to natural disasters, which God used as instruments of His judgment.

the cities of the plain
The "cities of the plain" refers to the five cities in the Jordan Valley, including Sodom and Gomorrah. The Hebrew word for "plain" is "כִּכָּר" (kikkar), meaning a circular region, often associated with fertility and prosperity. This area was initially chosen by Lot for its lushness, yet it became a place of judgment due to its inhabitants' sinfulness. Theologically, this serves as a reminder that material prosperity without righteousness leads to destruction.

He remembered Abraham
The act of God "remembering" is significant in Hebrew thought. The word "זָכַר" (zakar) implies more than recalling; it denotes a covenantal faithfulness. God’s remembrance of Abraham highlights the power of intercessory prayer and the importance of righteous individuals in influencing divine actions. Abraham's earlier plea for the righteous in Sodom (Genesis 18) underscores the relational aspect of God's justice and mercy.

and He brought Lot out
The deliverance of Lot is an act of divine grace. The Hebrew verb "יָצָא" (yatsa) means to bring out or deliver, emphasizing God's active role in rescuing Lot. Despite Lot's compromised position in Sodom, God’s mercy extends to him because of Abraham’s intercession. This illustrates the theme of salvation and deliverance that runs throughout Scripture, where God rescues the faithful from judgment.

of the catastrophe
The term "catastrophe" in Hebrew is "הָפַךְ" (haphak), which means to overturn or overthrow. This word conveys the sudden and complete nature of the destruction. Theologically, it serves as a warning of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine judgment. It also foreshadows the ultimate judgment and the need for repentance and righteousness.

that destroyed the cities
The repetition of destruction emphasizes the totality of the judgment. The cities' obliteration serves as a historical and moral lesson for future generations. It is a testament to God's holiness and the seriousness with which He views sin. The narrative invites reflection on the need for societal righteousness and the dangers of moral decay.

where Lot had lived
Lot's residence in these cities highlights the tension between living in a sinful environment and maintaining personal righteousness. The Hebrew word "יָשַׁב" (yashab) means to dwell or settle, indicating Lot's choice to live among the wicked. His deliverance, despite his surroundings, underscores God's grace and the possibility of redemption even in the midst of corruption. It challenges believers to be in the world but not of it, maintaining integrity and faithfulness to God.

Verse 29. - And it came to pass - not a pluperfect (Rosenmüller), as if a direct continuation of the preceding narrative, but a preterit, being the commencement of a new subdivision of the history in which the writer treats of Lot's residence in Zoar - when God - Elohim. Hence, as a fragment of the original Elohist's composition, the present verse is by the pseudo-criticism connected with Genesis 17:27 (Ilgen, Tuch, Block); but "a greater abruptness of style and a more fragmentary mode of composition" than this would indicate "could not easily be imagined" (Kalisch). The change in the Divine name is sufficiently explained by the supposition that the destruction of the cities of the plain was not at the moment viewed by the writer in its connection with the Abrahamic covenant and intercession, but as a sublime vindication of Divine justice (cf. Quarry, p. 444) - destroyed (literally, in he destroying, by Elohim, or in Elohim s destroying) the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham. If the narrative containing the intercession of Abraham and the overthrow of Sodom was due to the Jehovist, how came the earlier author to know anything about those events? The obvious allusions to them in the present verse could only have been made by one acquainted with them. Either, therefore, the present verse proceeded from the hand of the so-called Jehovist, or it requires explanation how in the original document this should be the first and only occasion on which they are referred to (cf. Quarry, p. 445). And - in answer to Abatham's prayer (Genesis 18:23) - sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow (there is no reason to suppose that Abraham was aware of his nephew's escape), when he overthrew - literally, in the overthrowing of the cities, the inf. being construed with the case of its verb (vide Gesenius, § 133) - the cities in the which - one of which (cf. Judges 15:7) - Lot dwelt.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So
וַיְהִ֗י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

when God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

destroyed
בְּשַׁחֵ֤ת (bə·ša·ḥêṯ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

the cities
עָרֵ֣י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of the plain,
הַכִּכָּ֔ר (hak·kik·kār)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3603: A round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money)

He
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

remembered
וַיִּזְכֹּ֥ר (way·yiz·kōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

Abraham,
אַבְרָהָ֑ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

and He brought
וַיְשַׁלַּ֤ח (way·šal·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

Lot
לוֹט֙ (lō·wṭ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3876: Lot -- Abraham's nephew

out of the
מִתּ֣וֹךְ (mit·tō·wḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

catastrophe
הַהֲפֵכָ֔ה (ha·hă·p̄ê·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2018: An overthrow

that destroyed
בַּהֲפֹךְ֙ (ba·hă·p̄ōḵ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

the cities
הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים (he·‘ā·rîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

where
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

[he]
לֽוֹט׃ (lō·wṭ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3876: Lot -- Abraham's nephew

had lived.
יָשַׁ֥ב (yā·šaḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry


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OT Law: Genesis 19:29 It happened when God destroyed the cities (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 19:28
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