Genesis 18:29
in Genesis 18Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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 forty’s sake.
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This verse in Genesis 18
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
I am but dust and ashes
on Genesis 18:27-29
He drops from fifty to forty-five, and at each step he names what he is, dust and ashes. Clarke pairs the two words as the lightest particles of earth and what is left when a thing has burned. Genesis 2:7 says the man was formed from the dust.
This site's exposition
Suppose forty are found there
Abraham spoke to the LORD once again and asked about forty. John Gill reads the shorter plea as the boldness of a man encouraged by the gracious answer before it. The LORD will not do it on account of the forty.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Who could worthily praise the God of all for his marvelous long suffering and considerateness or congratulate the good man for enjoying such great confidence? "He continued to speak," the text goes on. " 'But what if only forty can be found there?' He replied, 'For the sake of the forty I will not destroy it.' " Then at that point the good man, while respecting God's ineffable long suffering and being afraid of ever seeming to go too far and surpass the limit in his entreaty, said, "Pardon me, Lord, if I continue to speak: if only thirty can be found there?" Since he saw God was disposed to kindness, he still did not proceed gradually with his compromise. He sought to rescue not merely five good people but ten in pursuing his request thus, "If only thirty can be found there?" He replied, "I will not destroy it if I find thirty there." Consider the degree of the good man's persistence. As though he personally were due to be liable for sentence, he takes great pains to snatch the people of Sodom from the impending punishment. "He said, 'Since I am able to speak to the Lord, what if there are only twenty there?' He replied, 'For the sake of the twenty I will not destroy it.' " O, the goodness of the Lord beyond all telling and all imagining! I mean, which of us living in the middle of countless evils could ever choose to exercise such wonderful considerateness and loving kindness in executing a sentence against our peers?
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And he spake unto him yet again, and said,.... Being encouraged by such a gracious answer: Peradventure there shall be forty found there; forty righteous persons; and, from preceding passages, it must be supplied,"wilt thou destroy and not spare the place for their sakes?" and he said, I will not do it for forty's sake; but spare them for their sake.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֨סֶף | vaiyosef | and he repeated | H3254 → | 212 times |
| ע֜וֹד | od | again | H5750 → | 490 times |
| לְדַבֵּ֤ר | ledaber | to speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אֵלָיו֙ | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| וַיֹּאמַ֔ר | vaiyomar | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אוּלַ֛י | ʾulai | perhaps | H194 → | 45 times |
| יִמָּצְא֥וּן | yimatzeun | they will be found ! | H4672 → | 455 times |
| שָׁ֖ם | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| אַרְבָּעִ֑ים | ʾarbaim | forty | H705 → | 136 times |
| וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה | ʾeeseh | I will do [it] | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| בַּעֲב֖וּר | baavur | for sake of | H5668 → | 49 times |
| הָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃ | haarbaim | the forty | H705 → | 136 times |
וַיֹּ֨סֶףand he repeated
vaiyosefH3254 →212 times
ע֜וֹדagain
odH5750 →490 times
לְדַבֵּ֤רto speak
ledaberH1696 →1141 times
אֵלָיו֙to him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
וַיֹּאמַ֔רand he said
vaiyomarH559 →5305 times
אוּלַ֛יperhaps
ʾulaiH194 →45 times
יִמָּצְא֥וּןthey will be found !
yimatzeunH4672 →455 times
שָׁ֖םthere
shamH8033 →834 times
אַרְבָּעִ֑יםforty
ʾarbaimH705 →136 times
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔הI will do [it]
ʾeesehH6213 →2628 times
בַּעֲב֖וּרfor sake of
baavurH5668 →49 times
הָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃the forty
haarbaimH705 →136 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 4:16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
it leads to
- Ephesians 3:12
In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.
- Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
- Hebrews 10:19–23
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
- Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
- Ephesians 3:12
Through
Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
- Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
- Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- 1 Timothy 2:1
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Where this verse is studied
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; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 42.19; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).