Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. New Living Translation He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace. English Standard Version And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. Berean Standard Bible He 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. Berean Literal Bible And he looked toward the face of Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the plain, and he saw, and behold, smoke from the land went up like the smoke of the furnace. King James Bible And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. New King James Version Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. New American Standard Bible and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the surrounding area; and behold, he saw the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. NASB 1995 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. NASB 1977 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. Legacy Standard Bible and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. Amplified Bible and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley [of the Dead Sea]; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a kiln (pottery furnace). Berean Annotated Bible He looked down toward Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion) and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. Christian Standard Bible He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw that smoke was going up from the land like the smoke of a furnace. Holman Christian Standard Bible He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw that smoke was going up from the land like the smoke of a furnace. American Standard Version and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. Contemporary English Version He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and saw smoke rising from all over the land--it was like a flaming furnace. English Revised Version and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. GOD'S WORD® Translation When he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land in the plain, he saw smoke rising from the land like the thick smoke of a furnace. Good News Translation He looked down at Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole valley and saw smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a huge furnace. International Standard Version He looked off toward Sodom, Gomorrah, and the entire plain, and he saw smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. NET Bible He looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of that region. As he did so, he saw the smoke rising up from the land like smoke from a furnace. New Heart English Bible He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and he saw; and look, the smoke was rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. Webster's Bible Translation And he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and towards all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe 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. World English Bible He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he looks on the face of Sodom and Gomorrah, and on all the face of the land of the circuit, and sees, and behold, the smoke of the land went up as smoke of the furnace. Berean Literal Bible And he looked toward the face of Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the plain, and he saw, and behold, smoke from the land went up like the smoke of the furnace. Young's Literal Translation and he looketh on the face of Sodom and Gomorrah, and on all the face of the land of the circuit, and seeth, and lo, the smoke of the land went up as smoke of the furnace. Smith's Literal Translation And he will look out upon the face of Sodom and Gomorrah and upon all the face of the earth of the circuit, and he will see, and behold the smoke of the earth ascended as the smoke of a furnace. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and the whole land of that country: and he saw the ashes rise up from the earth as the smoke of a furnace. Catholic Public Domain Version looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and the entire land of that region. And he saw embers rising up from the land like smoke from a furnace. New American Bible As he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole region of the Plain, he saw smoke over the land rising like the smoke from a kiln. New Revised Standard Version and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the Plain and saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of a furnace. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the region of the plain, and beheld, lo, the smoke of the country went up like the smoke of a furnace. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he gazed at the face of Sadom and Amora and at the face of all the land of the plain, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and towards the surrounding country, and saw, and behold a flame went up from the earth, as the smoke of a furnace. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah…27Early the next morning, Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 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 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 18:16 When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off. 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.” 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. and all the land of the plain, Genesis 13:10-12 And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) / So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company. / Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom. Genesis 14:3 The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Deuteronomy 34:1-3 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which faces Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead as far as Dan, / all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, / the Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho (the City of Palms) all the way to Zoar. and he saw the smoke rising from the land Isaiah 34:9-10 Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch. / It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it. Revelation 18:9 Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. 2 Peter 2:6 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; like smoke from a furnace. Revelation 9:2 The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit. Daniel 3:19-23 At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, / and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace. / So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. … Exodus 19:18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. Luke 17:29-30 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. 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. 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. Jeremiah 50:40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there. Treasury of Scripture And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, see, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. Psalm 107:34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. 2 Peter 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jump to Previous Ascended Beheld Circuit Country Dense Direction Face Furnace Gomorrah Gomor'rah Oven Plain Rising Smoke Sodom Towards ValleyJump to Next Ascended Beheld Circuit Country Dense Direction Face Furnace Gomorrah Gomor'rah Oven Plain Rising Smoke Sodom Towards ValleyGenesis 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. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah This phrase refers to Abraham, who is observing the aftermath of God's judgment on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. These cities were known for their wickedness and sin, particularly the sin of sexual immorality and pride, as noted in Genesis 18:20-21 and Ezekiel 16:49-50. The destruction of these cities serves as a warning of divine judgment against sin. The geographical location of Sodom and Gomorrah is traditionally associated with the area near the Dead Sea, although their exact locations remain uncertain. This act of looking down signifies Abraham's concern and intercession for the righteous, as he had previously pleaded with God to spare the cities if righteous people could be found (Genesis 18:22-33). and all the land of the plain and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace Persons / Places / Events 1. AbrahamThe patriarch who interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah, demonstrating his concern for righteousness and justice. 2. Sodom and Gomorrah Cities known for their wickedness, which faced divine judgment and destruction. 3. The Plain The geographical area where Sodom and Gomorrah were located, known for its fertility before the destruction. 4. Smoke Rising A symbol of the complete destruction and judgment that befell the cities, akin to smoke from a furnace. 5. Divine Judgment The event of God's wrath being poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah due to their sinfulness. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinThe destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness with which God views sin and the inevitable judgment that follows unrepentance. Intercessory Prayer Abraham's role as an intercessor encourages believers to pray earnestly for others, especially those who are lost or living in sin. God's Justice and Mercy While God is just and must punish sin, He is also merciful and willing to spare the righteous, as seen in His dialogue with Abraham. The Reality of Divine Judgment The imagery of smoke rising like a furnace is a vivid reminder of the reality of divine judgment, urging believers to live righteously and warn others. Living in Expectation Just as the destruction of Sodom was sudden, believers are called to live in expectation of Christ's return, maintaining readiness and faithfulness. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 19:28?2. How does Genesis 19:28 illustrate God's judgment and mercy in our lives today? 3. What lessons can we learn from Abraham's perspective in Genesis 19:28? 4. How does Genesis 19:28 connect with God's justice in Romans 1:18-32? 5. How should witnessing God's judgment in Genesis 19:28 impact our daily decisions? 6. What role does intercessory prayer play, as seen in Genesis 19:28 and beyond? 7. How does Genesis 19:28 align with the concept of a loving and merciful God? 8. What archaeological evidence supports the historical accuracy of Genesis 19:28? 9. Why did God choose to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah as described in Genesis 19:28? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 19? 11. What is the Dead Sea's biblical significance? 12. Does any historical or geological data support such total annihilation by divine judgment (Genesis 19), or is it purely a religious narrative? 13. What is the Dead Sea's biblical significance? 14. How can Jericho be mentioned again (Joshua 16:1) if Joshua 6 supposedly left the city in total ruins? What Does Genesis 19:28 Mean He looked down- “He looked down” (Genesis 19:28) pictures Abraham rising early and fixing his gaze on the valley below, just as he had earlier “stood before the LORD” to intercede (Genesis 18:22-23). - Scripture often links physical sight with spiritual discernment. Compare Genesis 18:16, where “Abraham walked with them to see them off,” and Genesis 13:14-15, where God told him, “Lift up your eyes… for all the land that you see I will give you.” - The posture of looking down from a height underscores both perspective and distance. Abraham is outside the judgment zone yet wholly aware of what God has done—echoing Psalm 91:8, “You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.” Toward Sodom and Gomorrah - The focus of Abraham’s gaze is “Sodom and Gomorrah” (19:28 b), cities already notorious for rebellion (Genesis 18:20-21). - Their story becomes a template for future warnings: Deuteronomy 29:23 calls them “overthrown like Sodom and Gomorrah,” and 2 Peter 2:6 says God “condemned the cities… making them an example of what is coming on the ungodly.” - Abraham had pleaded for any righteous within them (Genesis 18:32). The fact he must now simply look confirms that divine justice is complete and indisputable. And all the land of the plain - The devastation extends to “all the land of the plain” (19:28 c). This is the very area Lot once chose because it was “like the garden of the LORD” (Genesis 13:10-12). - Genesis 14:3 calls it “the Valley of Siddim,” a fertile basin now transformed. By including the whole plain, the text shows that unchecked sin poisons surroundings as well as sinners (Romans 8:20-22). - The total sweep recalls Jeremiah 50:40, where Babylon is warned she will be “as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” And he saw - “And he saw” (19:28 d) confirms that Abraham’s intercession did not blind him to God’s holiness. Seeing becomes affirmation: the Judge has acted exactly as declared (Genesis 18:25). - In Genesis 15:17 Abraham saw “a smoking firepot and a flaming torch” confirming covenant promises; now he sees smoke confirming covenant justice. - Jeremiah 32:19 praises God, “Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men,” and Abraham now echoes that divine watching in miniature. The smoke rising from the land - “He saw the smoke rising from the land” (19:28 e). The imagery recalls Judges 20:40, where a signal column of smoke marks victory over wickedness, and Revelation 19:3, “Her smoke rises forever and ever,” marking irreversible judgment. - Smoke tells of fire already spent—judgment completed yet consequences ongoing. Isaiah 34:10 speaks of Edom: “Its smoke will rise forever.” The same permanence lies over Sodom’s ruins. - From a distance, smoke testifies louder than words: sin’s wage is death (Romans 6:23). Like smoke from a furnace - The comparison “like smoke from a furnace” (19:28 f) stresses volume and density. Exodus 19:18 describes Sinai: “Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD descended on it in fire.” Here, similar language marks divine presence in wrath instead of covenant revelation. - Revelation 9:2 pictures the abyss opened: “smoke rose like the smoke of a great furnace.” Both passages tie furnace-smoke to judgment that no human effort can contain. - The furnace metaphor also hints at purification; Malachi 3:3 portrays God as a refiner’s fire. The plain is now scorched clean, Lot is delivered, and Abraham is reminded that God’s refining can be severe. summary - Abraham’s downward look records fulfilled judgment, affirming God’s earlier word. - Sodom, Gomorrah, and the entire plain showcase the fate of unrepentant wickedness, becoming Scripture’s standing warning. - Smoke signals both finality and ongoing testimony; what Abraham saw that dawn still speaks across the Bible, underscoring that God answers intercession, but never at the expense of His righteousness. (28) Lo, the smoke of the country (really, land) went up as the smoke of a furnace.--The substitution of the word country for land is confusing. It was the land of the Ciccar, just mentioned, which was in flames. As Abraham could see the Ciccar, it must have been at the northern end of the Dead Sea (see Note on Genesis 18:16); and as a violent conflagration was raging throughout it, the site of the cities could not have been submerged (see Note on Genesis 14:3). The violence of the fire is indicated by the last word, which is not the ordinary word for a furnace, but means a kiln, such as that used for burning chalk into lime, or for melting ores of metal.Verse 28. - And he looked toward - literally, towards the face, or visible side (cf. Genesis 18:16 where the same phrase is employed to describe the act of the angels on leaving Mamre) - Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, or Jordan circle. The cities of the plain are commonly believed to have been situated at the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, The principal reasons assigned for this conclusion may be stated.1. Josephus and Jerome, the one representing Jewish, and the other Christian, tradition, both speak of a Zoar as existing in that locality. 2. The difference of level between the northern and southern ends of the lake, the one according to Lynch being 1300 feet, and the other not more than 16 feet, seems to favor the idea that the latter is of recent formation, having been, in fact, submerged at the time of the overthrow of the cities. 3. A ridge of rock-salt on the west of the Yale of Salt is called by the name Jebel Usdum, in which a trace of the word Sodom is by some detected; and the pillars of salt that in that region have from time to time been detached from the salt cliffs have been designated by the name of Lot's wife (Bint Sheikh Lot). . . . Hebrew He lookedוַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף (way·yaš·qêp̄) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 8259: To overhang, look out or down down עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against toward פְּנֵ֤י (pə·nê) Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face Sodom סְדֹם֙ (sə·ḏōm) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5467: Sodom -- a Canaanite city near the Dead Sea and Gomorrah וַעֲמֹרָ֔ה (wa·‘ă·mō·rāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 6017: Gomorrah -- a city in the Jordan Valley and all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the land אֶ֣רֶץ (’e·reṣ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 776: Earth, land of the plain, הַכִּכָּ֑ר (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) and he saw וַיַּ֗רְא (way·yar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see the smoke קִיטֹ֣ר (qî·ṭōr) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7008: A fume, cloud rising עָלָה֙ (‘ā·lāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively from the land הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land like smoke כְּקִיטֹ֖ר (kə·qî·ṭōr) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7008: A fume, cloud from a furnace. הַכִּבְשָֽׁן׃ (hak·kiḇ·šān) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3536: A smelting furnace Links Genesis 19:28 NIVGenesis 19:28 NLT Genesis 19:28 ESV Genesis 19:28 NASB Genesis 19:28 KJV Genesis 19:28 BibleApps.com Genesis 19:28 Biblia Paralela Genesis 19:28 Chinese Bible Genesis 19:28 French Bible Genesis 19:28 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 19:28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 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