Genesis 13:11
in Genesis 13So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So Lot chose him all the Plain of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
KJV
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
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This verse in Genesis 13
Commentary
6 notes on this verseHow appropriately then Scripture says, "Lot," that is, deviation, "chose for himself." Indeed, God has placed before us good and evil, so that each may choose what he wishes. Let us not then choose that which is more pleasing at first sight but that which is truly better, so that, having been granted the ability to choose what is preferable, we lift up our eyes and be attracted by false beauty while we leave concealed the truth of nature, as one who looks the other way.
This site's exposition
the whole plain of the Jordan
on Genesis 13:10-11
Lot decides by looking, and what he sees is water, the whole plain of the Jordan well watered. The writer measures it by the garden of the LORD and by the land of Egypt. Then he gives the end before Lot has chosen, that the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
This site's exposition
Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself
Clarke faults Lot, who took the first choice for himself and left Abram the rest of the land. Ambrose reads the name Lot as turning aside. Henry notes the man who chose the plain of the Jordan for its wealth fled at last to the mountains to save his life.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
While he lived among them, he vexed his righteous soul with their conversation, and never had a good day with them, till, at last, God fired the town over his head, and forced him to the mountain for safety who chose the plain for wealth and pleasure. Note, Sensual choices are sinful choices, and seldom speed well.
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Then Lot chose him all the plain - A little civility or good breeding is of great importance in the concerns of life. Lot either had none, or did not profit by it.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
From the east, 20 This is I.E.’s translation of va-yissa lot mi-kedem (and Lot journeyed east).
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
The verse states that the whole land of the Plain was adequately irrigated from the Jordan by working with the foot, just as was done with the garden of G-d, concerning which it is stated, And a river went out of Eden to water the garden, 103 Above,:10.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּבְחַר־ | vaiyivchar- | and he chose | H977 → | |
| ל֣וֹ | lo | for <the> himself | ||
| ל֗וֹט | lot | Lot | H3876 → | 33 times |
| אֵ֚ת | ʾet | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| כִּכַּ֣ר | kikar | [the] valley of | H3603 → | 68 times |
| הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן | haiyarden | the Jordan | H3383 → | 182 times |
| וַיִּסַּ֥ע | vaiyisa' | and he set out | H5265 → | 146 times |
| ל֖וֹט | lot | Lot | H3876 → | 33 times |
| מִקֶּ֑דֶם | mikedem | from [the] east | H6924 → | 87 times |
| וַיִּפָּ֣רְד֔וּ | vaiyiparedu | and they separated | H6504 → | 26 times |
| אִ֖ישׁ | ʾish | each | H376 → | 1663 times |
| מֵעַ֥ל | meal | from with | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אָחִֽיו׃ | ʾachiv | brother his | H251 → | 630 times |
וַיִּבְחַר־and he chose
vaiyivchar-H977 →
ל֣וֹfor <the> himself
lo
ל֗וֹטLot
lotH3876 →33 times
אֵ֚ת<obj.>
ʾetH853 →10935 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
כִּכַּ֣ר[the] valley of
kikarH3603 →68 times
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןthe Jordan
haiyardenH3383 →182 times
וַיִּסַּ֥עand he set out
vaiyisa'H5265 →146 times
ל֖וֹטLot
lotH3876 →33 times
מִקֶּ֑דֶםfrom [the] east
mikedemH6924 →87 times
וַיִּפָּ֣רְד֔וּand they separated
vaiyipareduH6504 →26 times
אִ֖ישׁeach
ʾishH376 →1663 times
מֵעַ֥לfrom with
mealH5921 →5755 times
אָחִֽיו׃brother his
ʾachivH251 →630 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 10:25Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
it leads to
- Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
- Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
- Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
- Acts 2:42
Through
1 Peter 2:17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
it leads to
- Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Proverbs 24:21
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
- Romans 13:7
Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
- Romans 12:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, On Abraham; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.