CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 18:29 Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, "Suppose forty are found there?" He answered, "On account of the forty, I will not do it."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/18-29.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/01_Gen_18_29.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 18:29 - Abraham Begs for Sodom" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, Suppose forty are found there? He answered, On account of the forty, I will not do it." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/18-29.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/18-29.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 29</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad9.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/18-28.htm" title="Genesis 18:28">◄</a> Genesis 18:29 <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm" title="Genesis 18:30">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/18.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Once again he spoke to him, &#8220What if only forty are found there?&#8221 He said, &#8220For the sake of forty, I will not do it.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do <i>it</i> for forty's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do <i>it</i> for the sake of forty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do <i>it</i> on account of the forty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He spoke to Him yet again and said, &#8220Suppose forty are found there?&#8221 And He said, &#8220I will not do it on account of the forty.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do <i>it</i> on account of the forty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do <i>it</i> on account of the forty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Abraham spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose [only] forty are found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty [who are righteous].”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he spoke to him again, “Suppose forty are found there? ” He answered, “I will not do it on account of forty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he spoke to Him again, &#8220Suppose 40 are found there?&#8221 He answered, &#8220I will not do it on account of 40.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />"Suppose there are just 40 good people?" Abraham asked. "Even for them," the LORD replied, "I won't destroy the city." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Abraham asked him again, "What if 40 are found there?" He answered, "For the sake of the 40 I will not do it."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Abraham spoke again: "Perhaps there will be only forty." He replied, "I will not destroy it if there are forty." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Abraham continued to speak to him, asking, "What if 40 are found there?" The LORD replied, "I won't do it for the sake of those 40."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, ?Suppose forty are found there?? He answered, ?On account of the forty, I will not do it.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Abraham spoke to him again, "What if forty are found there?" He replied, "I will not do it for the sake of the forty." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he spoke to him yet again, and said, Peradventure there will be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he adds again to speak to Him and says, “Perhaps there are found there forty?” And He says, “I do not do [it], because of the forty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he addeth again to speak unto Him and saith, 'Peradventure there are found there forty?' and He saith, 'I do it not, because of the forty.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he added yet to speak to him, and he will say, If forty shall be found there? And he will say, I will not do for sake of forty.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And again he said to him, “But if forty were found there, what would you do?” He said, “I will not strike, for the sake of the forty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But Abraham persisted, saying, “What if only forty are found there?” He replied: I will refrain from doing it for the sake of the forty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Again he spoke to him, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Abraham spoke to him and said, Suppose there shall be forty found there? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Abraham added again to say to him, “And if forty are found there?” And he said, “I shall not destroy if I find forty there.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he spoke unto Him yet again, and said: 'Peradventure there shall be forty found there.' And He said: 'I will not do it for the forty's sake.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he continued to speak to him still, and said, But if there should be found there forty? And he said, I will not destroy it for the forty's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/18-29.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=3951" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm">Abraham Begs for Sodom</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">28</span>suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.” <span class="reftext">29</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3254.htm" title="3254: way·yō·sep̄ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To add. A primitive root; to add or augment.">Once again</a> <a href="/hebrew/5750.htm" title="5750: ‘ō·wḏ (Adv) -- Or rod; from uwd; properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially, again, repeatedly, still, more."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: lə·ḏab·bêr (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">Abraham spoke</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- To, into, towards. ">to the LORD,</a> <a href="/hebrew/194.htm" title="194: ’ū·lay (Adv) -- Perhaps. Or rulay; from 'ow; if not; hence perhaps.">“Suppose</a> <a href="/hebrew/705.htm" title="705: ’ar·bā·‘îm (Number-cp) -- Forty. Multiple of arba'; forty.">forty</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4672.htm" title="4672: yim·mā·ṣə·’ūn (V-Nifal-Imperf-3mp:: Pn) -- To attain to, find. ">are found</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">there?”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">He answered,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5668.htm" title="5668: ba·‘ă·ḇūr (Prep-b:: N-ms) -- Or rabur; passive participle of abar; properly, crossed, i.e. transit; used only adverbially, on account of, in order that.">“On account</a> <a href="/hebrew/705.htm" title="705: hā·’ar·bā·‘îm (Art:: Number-cp) -- Forty. Multiple of arba'; forty.">of the forty,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">I will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ’e·‘ĕ·śeh (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">do it.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">30</span>Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/19-24.htm">Genesis 19:24-25</a></span><br />Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. / Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-11.htm">Exodus 32:11-14</a></span><br />But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/14-17.htm">Numbers 14:17-20</a></span><br />So now I pray, may the power of my Lord be magnified, just as You have declared: / ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’ / Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of Your loving devotion, just as You have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-1.htm">Jeremiah 5:1</a></span><br />“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-30.htm">Ezekiel 22:30</a></span><br />I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/7-2.htm">Amos 7:2-6</a></span><br />And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?” / So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said. / This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10</a></span><br />When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-9.htm">Isaiah 1:9</a></span><br />Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-6.htm">Isaiah 55:6-7</a></span><br />Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/7-14.htm">2 Chronicles 7:14</a></span><br />and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-7.htm">Matthew 7:7-8</a></span><br />Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-19.htm">Matthew 18:19-20</a></span><br />Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. / For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-9.htm">Luke 11:9-10</a></span><br />So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/18-1.htm">Luke 18:1-8</a></span><br />Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-27.htm">Romans 9:27-29</a></span><br />Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved. / For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth thoroughly and decisively.” / 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.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he spoke to him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/6-18.htm">Ephesians 6:18</a></b></br> Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/4-16.htm">Hebrews 4:16</a></b></br> Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Account</a> <a href="/genesis/8-10.htm">Addeth</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Chance</a> <a href="/genesis/12-9.htm">Continued</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Forty</a> <a href="/genesis/18-3.htm">Found</a> <a href="/revelation/19-19.htm">Once</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Peradventure</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Perhaps</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Speak</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Suppose</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/18-31.htm">Account</a> <a href="/genesis/25-1.htm">Addeth</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Chance</a> <a href="/genesis/26-13.htm">Continued</a> <a href="/genesis/25-20.htm">Forty</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Found</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Once</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Peradventure</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Perhaps</a> <a href="/genesis/18-31.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Speak</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Suppose</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 18</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/18-1.htm">The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/18-9.htm">Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/18-16.htm">The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Abraham makes intercession for its inhabitants.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/18.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/18.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD</b><br>Abraham's intercession with God highlights his role as a mediator, a type of Christ who intercedes on behalf of humanity. This dialogue reflects the intimate relationship between Abraham and God, emphasizing the privilege of direct communication with the Divine. The persistence of Abraham in speaking to God demonstrates the importance of perseverance in prayer, a theme echoed in the New Testament (<a href="/luke/18.htm">Luke 18:1-8</a>).<p><b>“Suppose forty are found there?”</b><br>Abraham's negotiation with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah shows his deep concern for the righteous within the city. The number forty often symbolizes a period of testing or judgment in the Bible, as seen in the forty days of rain during the flood (<a href="/genesis/7-12.htm">Genesis 7:12</a>) and the forty years of Israel's wandering in the desert (<a href="/numbers/14-33.htm">Numbers 14:33-34</a>). This plea underscores the principle that God is willing to spare judgment for the sake of the righteous, a theme that resonates with the concept of a remnant throughout Scripture (<a href="/isaiah/10-20.htm">Isaiah 10:20-22</a>).<p><b>He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”</b><br>God's response reveals His justice and mercy, willing to withhold judgment if even a small number of righteous people are present. This reflects God's character as described in <a href="/ezekiel/18-23.htm">Ezekiel 18:23</a>, where He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires repentance. The dialogue foreshadows the ultimate act of mercy through Jesus Christ, who, as the one righteous person, provides salvation for many (<a href="/romans/5-18.htm">Romans 5:18-19</a>). This passage also illustrates the biblical principle that the presence of the righteous can have a preserving effect on society, akin to the role of salt as described in <a href="/matthew/5-13.htm">Matthew 5:13</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a></b><br>The patriarch of the Israelites, known for his faith and obedience to God. In this passage, he is interceding with God for the city of Sodom.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>God, who is engaging in a dialogue with Abraham. This passage highlights His justice and mercy.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sodom.htm">Sodom</a></b><br>A city known for its wickedness, which God plans to judge. Abraham is negotiating with God to spare it if righteous people are found there.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/intercession.htm">Intercession</a></b><br>The act of Abraham pleading with God on behalf of Sodom, demonstrating a deep concern for the righteous within the city.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_intercession.htm">The Power of Intercession</a></b><br>Abraham's dialogue with God demonstrates the importance and power of intercessory prayer. Believers are encouraged to pray for others, trusting in God's mercy and justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice_and_mercy.htm">God's Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>This passage reveals God's willingness to spare the wicked for the sake of the righteous, highlighting His just and merciful nature.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/persistence_in_prayer.htm">Persistence in Prayer</a></b><br>Abraham's repeated requests show the value of persistence in prayer. Believers should not hesitate to bring their concerns to God multiple times.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/concern_for_the_righteous.htm">Concern for the Righteous</a></b><br>Abraham's concern for the righteous in Sodom challenges believers to care deeply for the spiritual and physical well-being of others.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 18</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_'h'_in_jesus_h._christ_mean.htm">Why did Sarah refer to Abraham as lord?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_abraham_host_the_lord_as_travelers.htm">How could Abraham host and feed three travelers identified as the Lord in human form (Genesis 18:1-5) without any hint of deception or strangeness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_claim_god_is_present_with_abraham.htm">Why does the text claim God is physically present and conversing with Abraham if other passages emphasize God's transcendence (Genesis 18:1, 22)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_visited_abraham_in_genesis_18.htm">Who were the three men visiting Abraham in Genesis 18?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 29.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he spoke unto him yet again</span> - literally, <span class="accented">and he added yet to speak to him</span> (cf. <a href="/genesis/4-2.htm">Genesis 4:2</a>; <a href="/genesis/8-10.htm">Genesis 8:10, 12</a>; <a href="/genesis/25-1.htm">Genesis 25:1</a>) <span class="cmt_word">and said</span> (increasing in his boldness as God abounded in his grace), <span class="cmt_word">Peradventure there shall be forty found there.</span> Does Abraham hesitate to add the query, "Wilt thou also?" etc., as if fearing he had at last touched the limit of the Divine condescension. If so, he must have been surprised by the continued gracious response which his supplication received. <span class="cmt_word">And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/18-29.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Once again</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֨סֶף</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·sep̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3254.htm">Strong's 3254: </a> </span><span class="str2">To add, augment</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[Abraham] spoke</span><br /><span class="heb">לְדַבֵּ֤ר</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḏab·bêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to [the LORD],</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלָיו֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Suppose</span><br /><span class="heb">אוּלַ֛י</span> <span class="translit">(’ū·lay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_194.htm">Strong's 194: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perhaps</span><br /><br /><span class="word">forty</span><br /><span class="heb">אַרְבָּעִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ar·bā·‘îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_705.htm">Strong's 705: </a> </span><span class="str2">Forty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are found</span><br /><span class="heb">יִמָּצְא֥וּן</span> <span class="translit">(yim·mā·ṣə·’ūn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4672.htm">Strong's 4672: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present</span><br /><br /><span class="word">there?”</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(šām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> </span><span class="str2">There, then, thither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He answered,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּאמַ֔ר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“On account</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּעֲב֖וּר</span> <span class="translit">(ba·‘ă·ḇūr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5668.htm">Strong's 5668: </a> </span><span class="str2">Crossed, transit, on account of, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the forty,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ar·bā·‘îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_705.htm">Strong's 705: </a> </span><span class="str2">Forty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I will not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">do it.”</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(’e·‘ĕ·śeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/18-29.htm">Genesis 18:29 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/18-29.htm">OT Law: Genesis 18:29 He spoke to him yet again (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/18-28.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 18:28"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:28" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/18-30.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 18:30"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:30" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>