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Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy <i>it</i> for twenty'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 said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy <i>it</i> for the sake of twenty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy <i>it</i> on account of the twenty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And he said, &#8220Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?&#8221 And He said, &#8220I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy <i>it</i> on account of the twenty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy <i>it</i> on account of the twenty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And he said, “Now behold, I have decided to speak to the Lord [again]. Suppose [only] twenty [righteous people] are found there?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he said, “Since I have ventured to speak to my lord, suppose twenty are found there? ” He replied, “I will not destroy it on account of twenty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he said, &#8220Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose 20 are found there?&#8221 He replied, &#8220I will not destroy it on account of 20.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Then Abraham said, "I don't have any right to ask you, LORD, but what would you do if you find only 20?" "Because of them, I won't destroy the city," was the LORD's answer. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Look now, if I may be so bold as to ask you," Abraham said. "What if 20 are found there?" He answered, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the 20."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Abraham said, "Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. Suppose that only twenty are found?" He said, "I will not destroy the city if I find twenty." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Look," Abraham said, "I've presumed to speak to my LORD… so what if 20 are found there?" "For the sake of those 20," the LORD responded, "I won't destroy it."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Abraham said, ?Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?? He answered, ?On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Abraham said, "Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?" He replied, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He said, "Look, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty'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 said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord: Peradventure there will be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’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 says, “Now behold, I have willed to speak to the Lord: perhaps there are found there twenty?” And He says, “I do not destroy [it], because of the twenty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he saith, 'Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there are found there twenty?' and He saith, 'I do not destroy it, because of the twenty.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say, Behold now, I have begun to speak to the Lord If twenty shall be found there? And he will say, I will not destroy for sake of twenty.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />“Since now I have begun,” he said, “I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty were found there?” He said, “I will not put to death, for the sake of the twenty.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Abraham went on, “Since I have thus presumed to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?” I will not destroy it, he answered, for the sake of the twenty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He said, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy 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 he said, Behold, I have ventured to speak before the LORD; suppose there shall be twenty found there? And he said, I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he said, “Behold, I have begun to speak before LORD JEHOVAH; and if twenty are found there?” And he said, “I shall not destroy for twenty.”<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 said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord. Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty'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 said, Since I am able to speak to the Lord, what if there should be found there twenty? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I should find there twenty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/18-31.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=3974" 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">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.” <span class="reftext">31</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">And Abraham said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2009.htm" title="2009: hin·nêh- (Interjection) -- Lo! behold! Prolongation for hen; lo!">“Now that</a> <a href="/hebrew/4994.htm" title="4994: nā (Interjection) -- I (we) pray, now. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/2974.htm" title="2974: hō·w·’al·tî (V-Hifil-Perf-1cs) -- A primitive root; properly, to yield, especially assent; hence To undertake as an act of volition.">I have ventured</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.">to speak</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/136.htm" title="136: ’ă·ḏō·nāy (N-proper-ms) -- Lord. Am emphatic form of 'adown; the Lord.">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/6242.htm" title="6242: ‘eś·rîm (Number-cp) -- Twenty. From eser; twenty; also twentieth.">twenty</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·mer (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/6242.htm" title="6242: hā·‘eś·rîm (Art:: Number-cp) -- Twenty. From eser; twenty; also twentieth.">of the twenty,</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/7843.htm" title="7843: ’aš·ḥîṯ (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs) -- Perhaps to go to ruin. A primitive root; to decay, i.e. ruin.">destroy it.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">32</span>Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy 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="/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 14:17-19</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="/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/53-12.htm">Isaiah 53:12</a></span><br />Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-23.htm">Psalm 106:23</a></span><br />So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/42-8.htm">Job 42:8-10</a></span><br />So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.” / So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. / After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-23.htm">1 Samuel 12:23</a></span><br />As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/30-18.htm">2 Chronicles 30:18-20</a></span><br />A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone / who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” / And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/5-16.htm">James 5:16</a></span><br />Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/2-1.htm">1 John 2:1</a></span><br />My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-34.htm">Romans 8:34</a></span><br />Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/7-25.htm">Hebrews 7:25</a></span><br />Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he said, Behold now, I have taken on me to speak to the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Genesis 18:27</a></b></br> And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which <i>am but</i> dust and ashes:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/7-7.htm">Matthew 7:7,11</a></b></br> Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/11-8.htm">Luke 11:8</a></b></br> I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/18-29.htm">Account</a> <a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Bold</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Found</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Peradventure</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Perhaps</a> <a href="/genesis/18-29.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Speak</a> <a href="/genesis/18-30.htm">Suppose</a> <a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Thoughts</a> <a href="/genesis/11-24.htm">Twenty</a> <a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Undertaken</a> <a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Ventured</a> <a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Willed</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/18-33.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Account</a> <a href="/numbers/16-1.htm">Bold</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Found</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Peradventure</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Perhaps</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Speak</a> <a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Suppose</a> <a href="/judges/5-15.htm">Thoughts</a> <a href="/genesis/23-1.htm">Twenty</a> <a href="/genesis/21-1.htm">Undertaken</a> <a href="/mark/12-34.htm">Ventured</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/10-10.htm">Willed</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>And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord,</b><br>This phrase highlights Abraham's boldness and humility in approaching God. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, speaking directly to a deity was a rare and audacious act, indicating a special relationship. Abraham's approach is reminiscent of Moses' later intercessions for Israel (<a href="/exodus/32-11.htm">Exodus 32:11-14</a>). It also foreshadows the New Testament teaching of believers having direct access to God through Christ (<a href="/hebrews/4-16.htm">Hebrews 4:16</a>).<p><b>suppose twenty are found there?”</b><br>Abraham's negotiation with God reflects the ancient practice of bargaining, common in Middle Eastern cultures. The number twenty signifies a further reduction in Abraham's plea for mercy, demonstrating his deep concern for the righteous in Sodom. This intercession is a type of Christ's mediatory role, as Jesus intercedes for humanity (<a href="/1_timothy/2-5.htm">1 Timothy 2:5</a>). The focus on the righteous minority underscores the biblical theme of God's justice and mercy.<p><b>He answered, “On account of the twenty,</b><br>God's response reveals His willingness to spare the city for the sake of a few righteous individuals, emphasizing His mercy and justice. This principle is echoed in <a href="/ezekiel/22-30.htm">Ezekiel 22:30</a>, where God seeks someone to stand in the gap for the land. It also prefigures the New Testament concept of believers being the salt of the earth (<a href="/matthew/5-13.htm">Matthew 5:13</a>), preserving and influencing the world through their presence.<p><b>I will not destroy it.”</b><br>God's assurance to Abraham highlights His character as both just and merciful. This promise reflects the biblical theme of divine patience and the opportunity for repentance, as seen in <a href="/2_peter/3-9.htm">2 Peter 3:9</a>. The sparing of Sodom for the sake of the righteous parallels the ultimate salvation offered through Christ, who bore the judgment for sin so that believers might be spared (<a href="/romans/5-9.htm">Romans 5:9</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 for the city of Sodom.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The Lord</a></b><br>Refers to God, who is in dialogue with Abraham. This interaction highlights God's 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 destroy due to its sinfulness. Abraham is negotiating for its preservation if righteous people are found there.<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 shows 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 illustrates 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/b/boldness_in_prayer.htm">Boldness in Prayer</a></b><br>Abraham's boldness in approaching God serves as an example for believers to come confidently before God with their requests.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_righteousness.htm">The Value of Righteousness</a></b><br>The negotiation underscores the value God places on righteousness, encouraging believers to live upright lives that can impact their communities.<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 31.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me</span> (<span class="accented">vide</span> Ver. 27) <span class="cmt_word">to speak unto the Lord</span> (Adonai): <span class="cmt_word">Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/18-31.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">And [Abraham] said,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֗אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</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">“Now that</span><br /><span class="heb">הִנֵּֽה־</span> <span class="translit">(hin·nêh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2009.htm">Strong's 2009: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I have ventured</span><br /><span class="heb">הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙</span> <span class="translit">(hō·w·’al·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2974.htm">Strong's 2974: </a> </span><span class="str2">To show willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake (to do anything)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to speak</span><br /><span class="heb">לְדַבֵּ֣ר</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</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<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">the Lord,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲדֹנָ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḏō·nāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_136.htm">Strong's 136: </a> </span><span class="str2">The Lord</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">twenty</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶשְׂרִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘eś·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6242.htm">Strong's 6242: </a> </span><span class="str2">Twenty, twentieth</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 replied,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</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 twenty,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘eś·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6242.htm">Strong's 6242: </a> </span><span class="str2">Twenty, twentieth</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">destroy [it].”</span><br /><span class="heb">אַשְׁחִ֔ית</span> <span class="translit">(’aš·ḥîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7843.htm">Strong's 7843: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perhaps to go to ruin</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/18-31.htm">Genesis 18:31 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/18-31.htm">OT Law: Genesis 18:31 He said See now I have taken (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/18-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 18:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/18-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 18:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:32" /></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>