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<!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 18:24 What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/18-24.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/01_Gen_18_24.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 18:24 - Abraham Begs for Sodom" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? 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Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/18.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/18.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/18.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that <i>are</i> therein?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/18.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare <i>it</i> for the fifty righteous that were in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city; will You indeed sweep <i>it</i> away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep <i>it</i> away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep <i>it</i> away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Suppose there are fifty righteous [people] within the city; will You really sweep it away and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will You really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in it? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Wouldn't you spare the city if there are only 50 good people in it? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />What if there are 50 innocent people in the city? Are you really going to sweep them away? Won't you spare that place for the sake of the 50 innocent people who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/18.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />If there are fifty innocent people in the city, will you destroy the whole city? Won't you spare it in order to save the fifty? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/18.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Perhaps there are 50 righteous ones within the city. Will you actually destroy it and not forgive the place for the sake of the 50 righteous that are found there? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/18.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />What if there are fifty godly people in the city? Will you really wipe it out and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty godly people who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you sweep it away and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are in it?<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Perhaps there are fifty righteous in the midst of the city; do You also consume, and not bear with the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who [are] in its midst?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> peradventure there are fifty righteous in the midst of the city; dost Thou also consume, and not bear with the place for the sake of the fifty -- the righteous who are in its midst?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Perhaps there is fifty just in the midst of the city: wilt thou also destroy and not forgive the place for the sake of the fifty just which are within it?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />If there were fifty of the just in the city, will they perish with the rest? And will you not spare that place for the sake of fifty of the just, if they were in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/18.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Suppose there were fifty righteous people in the city; would you really sweep away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people within it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt thou in thine anger destroy it, and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous that are in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />If there are fifty righteous within the city, do you destroy in a rage and do you not forgive the place because of fifty righteous who are within it?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Should there be fifty righteous in the city, wilt thou destroy them? wilt thou not spare the whole place for the sake of the fifty righteous, if they be in it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/18-24.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=3897" 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">23</span>Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? <span class="reftext">24</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/194.htm" title="194: ’ū·lay (Adv) -- Perhaps. Or rulay; from 'ow; if not; hence perhaps.">What if</a> <a href="/hebrew/3426.htm" title="3426: yêš (Adv) -- Being, substance, existence, is. ">there are</a> <a href="/hebrew/2572.htm" title="2572: ḥă·miš·šîm (Number-cp) -- Fifty. Multiple of chamesh; fifty.">fifty</a> <a href="/hebrew/6662.htm" title="6662: ṣad·dî·qim (Adj-mp) -- Just, righteous. From tsadaq; just.">righteous ones</a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: bə·ṯō·wḵ (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">in</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: hā·‘îr (Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">the city?</a> <a href="/hebrew/637.htm" title="637: ha·’ap̄ (Conj) -- Also, yea. A primitive particle; meaning accession; also or yea; adversatively though.">Will You really</a> <a href="/hebrew/5595.htm" title="5595: tis·peh (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To sweep or snatch away, catch up. A primitive root; properly, to scrape together or away.">sweep it away</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō- (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">and not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: ṯiś·śā (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">spare</a> <a href="/hebrew/4725.htm" title="4725: lam·mā·qō·wm (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- Or maqom; also mqowmah; or mqomah; from quwm; properly, a standing, i.e. A spot; but used widely of a locality; also of a condition.">the place</a> <a href="/hebrew/4616.htm" title="4616: lə·ma·‘an (Prep) -- From anah; properly, heed, i.e. Purpose; used only adverbially, on account of, teleologically, in order that.">for the sake of</a> <a href="/hebrew/2572.htm" title="2572: ḥă·miš·šîm (Number-cp) -- Fifty. Multiple of chamesh; fifty.">the fifty</a> <a href="/hebrew/6662.htm" title="6662: haṣ·ṣad·dî·qim (Art:: Adj-mp) -- Just, righteous. From tsadaq; just.">righteous ones</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/7130.htm" title="7130: bə·qir·bāh (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 3fs) -- Inward part, midst. From qarab; properly, the nearest part, i.e. The center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial.">are there?</a> </span><span class="reftext">25</span>Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”…<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/19-29.htm">Genesis 19:29</a></span><br />So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-14.htm">Exodus 32:14</a></span><br />So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people.<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/7-3.htm">Amos 7:3</a></span><br />So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/7-6.htm">Amos 7:6</a></span><br />So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.<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="/matthew/11-23.htm">Matthew 11:23-24</a></span><br />And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. / But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-12.htm">Luke 10:12-13</a></span><br />I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. / Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/17-28.htm">Luke 17:28-30</a></span><br />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.<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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-6.htm">2 Peter 2:6-9</a></span><br />if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; / and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— ...<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="/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/65-8.htm">Isaiah 65:8</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “As the new wine is found in a cluster of grapes, and men say, ‘Do not destroy it, for it contains a blessing,’ so I will act on behalf of My servants; I will not destroy them all.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: will you also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?</p><p class="hdg">there.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/18-32.htm">Genesis 18:32</a></b></br> And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy <i>it</i> for ten's sake.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-9.htm">Isaiah 1:9</a></b></br> Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, <i>and</i> we should have been like unto Gomorrah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/5-1.htm">Jeremiah 5:1</a></b></br> Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be <i>any</i> that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.</p><p class="hdg">spare.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/27-24.htm">Acts 27:24</a></b></br> Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-18.htm">Chance</a> <a href="/genesis/11-8.htm">City</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Consume</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/genesis/9-29.htm">Fifty</a> <a href="/1_john/1-9.htm">Forgive</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/jude/1-23.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/genesis/15-10.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/2_timothy/2-25.htm">Peradventure</a> <a href="/genesis/18-14.htm">Really</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/genesis/12-16.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-5.htm">Spare</a> <a href="/1_peter/5-12.htm">Suppose</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Sweep</a> <a href="/genesis/9-7.htm">Therein</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Wilt</a> <a href="/genesis/18-12.htm">Within</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/22-23.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Chance</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">City</a> <a href="/genesis/41-30.htm">Consume</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Fifty</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Forgive</a> <a href="/genesis/20-12.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Mercy</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Peradventure</a> <a href="/genesis/20-12.htm">Really</a> <a href="/genesis/18-25.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Spare</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Suppose</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-10.htm">Sweep</a> <a href="/genesis/23-11.htm">Therein</a> <a href="/genesis/18-25.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/genesis/18-28.htm">Wilt</a> <a href="/genesis/18-26.htm">Within</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'; 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The number fifty is significant, representing a substantial minority that could influence the moral standing of the city. The concept of "righteous ones" is central to biblical theology, emphasizing the importance of a faithful remnant. This echoes the idea found in other scriptures, such as Noah's family being spared during the flood (Genesis 6-9) and the remnant of Israel (<a href="/isaiah/10-20.htm">Isaiah 10:20-22</a>).<p><b>Will You really sweep it away</b><br>The phrase "sweep it away" suggests total destruction, akin to the flood narrative. It reflects the severity of divine judgment against sin, a theme consistent throughout the Bible. This anticipates the eventual destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, serving as a warning of the consequences of widespread unrighteousness.<p><b>and not spare the place</b><br>The concept of sparing is linked to God's mercy and justice. Abraham appeals to God's character, suggesting that the presence of the righteous should lead to mercy. This reflects the biblical tension between justice and mercy, seen in passages like <a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Exodus 34:6-7</a>, where God is described as both just and merciful.<p><b>for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?</b><br>This phrase highlights the potential influence of the righteous within a community. It suggests that the presence of the righteous can bring blessings or preservation to others, a principle seen in Joseph's story in Egypt (<a href="/genesis/39-5.htm">Genesis 39:5</a>) and the New Testament teaching of believers as "salt and light" (<a href="/matthew/5-13.htm">Matthew 5:13-16</a>). The intercession here can be seen as a type of Christ, who intercedes on behalf of humanity (<a href="/hebrews/7-25.htm">Hebrews 7:25</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a></b><br>The patriarch who intercedes with God for the city of Sodom, demonstrating his role as a mediator and a man of faith.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (The LORD)</a></b><br>Engages in a dialogue with Abraham, showcasing His justice and mercy.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sodom.htm">Sodom</a></b><br>The city under divine scrutiny due to its wickedness, representing human sinfulness and the need for righteousness.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/r/righteous_ones.htm">Righteous Ones</a></b><br>The hypothetical group of people whose presence could potentially save the city, highlighting the power of righteousness.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/intercession.htm">Intercession</a></b><br>The act of Abraham pleading with God, illustrating the importance of prayer and advocacy.<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 highlights the importance of interceding for others. Believers are called to pray for their communities and nations, 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. It encourages believers to trust in God's perfect balance of justice and mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_influence_of_the_righteous.htm">The Influence of the Righteous</a></b><br>The presence of righteous individuals can have a profound impact on their surroundings. Christians are encouraged to live righteously and influence their communities positively.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_sin.htm">The Seriousness of Sin</a></b><br>Sodom's impending judgment serves as a warning about the consequences of sin. Believers are reminded to pursue holiness and avoid complacency in a sinful world.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_character.htm">Faith in God's Character</a></b><br>Abraham's boldness in negotiating with God is rooted in his understanding of God's character. Christians are encouraged to deepen their knowledge of God to strengthen their faith and prayer life.<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/how_can_a_city's_fate_depend_on_one_deal.htm">How can an entire city's fate hinge on a negotiation between God and one individual (Genesis 18:23-33)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_threaten_a_city_if_one_righteous_saves.htm">Why would God threaten a city in Jeremiah 5:1 if one righteous person could save it, unlike the mercy shown in Genesis 18?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_scripture_show_collective_punishment.htm">Ezekiel 33:17 - If God's ways are truly just, why do we see instances of collective punishment and suffering elsewhere in Scripture?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_claim_unbuilt_cities,_unplanted_crops.htm">Why should the Israelites claim cities they did not build and harvest crops they did not plant (Deuteronomy 6:10-11), and doesn't this raise ethical dilemmas?</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 24.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city</span>. A charitable supposition, as the event showed, though at first sight it might not appear so to Abraham; and the bare Possibility of Sodom's - not Sodom alone (Kalisch), but the Pentapolis - containing so many good men was enough to afford a basis for the argument which followed. <span class="cmt_word">Wilt thou also destroy and not spare</span> - literally, <span class="accented">take away</span> (sc. the iniquity) <span class="accented">i.e.</span> remove the punishment from - the place (not the godly portion of the city merely, but the entire population; a complete discovery of Abraham s design) <span class="cmt_word">for the fifty righteous that are therein?</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/18-24.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">What if</span><br /><span class="heb">אוּלַ֥י</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">there are</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵ֛שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(yêš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3426.htm">Strong's 3426: </a> </span><span class="str2">Being, substance, existence, is</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fifty</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·miš·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2572.htm">Strong's 2572: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fifty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">righteous</span><br /><span class="heb">צַדִּיקִ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(ṣad·dî·qim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6662.htm">Strong's 6662: </a> </span><span class="str2">Just, righteous</span><br /><br /><span class="word">ones in</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּת֣וֹךְ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṯō·wḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bisection, the centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the city?</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעִ֑יר</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Will You really</span><br /><span class="heb">הַאַ֤ף</span> <span class="translit">(ha·’ap̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_637.htm">Strong's 637: </a> </span><span class="str2">Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sweep it away</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּסְפֶּה֙</span> <span class="translit">(tis·peh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5595.htm">Strong's 5595: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sweep or snatch away, catch up</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and not</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | 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">spare</span><br /><span class="heb">תִשָּׂ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(ṯiś·śā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> </span><span class="str2">To lift, carry, take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the place</span><br /><span class="heb">לַמָּק֔וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(lam·mā·qō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4725.htm">Strong's 4725: </a> </span><span class="str2">A standing, a spot, a condition</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for the sake of</span><br /><span class="heb">לְמַ֛עַן</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ma·‘an)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4616.htm">Strong's 4616: </a> </span><span class="str2">Purpose -- intent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the fifty</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·miš·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2572.htm">Strong's 2572: </a> </span><span class="str2">Fifty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">righteous</span><br /><span class="heb">הַצַּדִּיקִ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(haṣ·ṣad·dî·qim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6662.htm">Strong's 6662: </a> </span><span class="str2">Just, righteous</span><br /><br /><span class="word">ones</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who are there?</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(bə·qir·bāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7130.htm">Strong's 7130: </a> </span><span class="str2">The nearest part, the center</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/18-24.htm">Genesis 18:24 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/18-24.htm">OT Law: Genesis 18:24 What if there are fifty righteous within (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/18-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 18:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/18-25.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 18:25"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 18:25" /></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>