The Meaning of Genesis 18:30 Explained

Genesis 18:30

KJV: And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

YLT: And he saith, 'Let it not be, I Pray thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak: peradventure there are found there thirty?' and He saith, 'I do it not, if I find there thirty.'

Darby: And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry that I speak! Perhaps there may be thirty found there. And he said, I will not do it if I find thirty there.

ASV: And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said  [unto him], Oh  let not the Lord  be angry,  and I will speak:  Peradventure there shall thirty  be found  there. And he said,  I will not do  [it], if I find  thirty  there. 

What does Genesis 18:30 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 18:16-33 - Abraham Pleads For Sodom
Christ had visited Abraham's tent, but He did more. He trusted him with His secrets, and led him almost unconsciously to a degree of faith and prayer that was far beyond what he had hitherto attained. Abraham seemed to be driving the Blessed One from point to point, but as a matter of fact, he was being drawn forward. It was so with the woman of Syrophenicia. God's love and willingness to bless far exceeded Abraham's faith, and when he had gone as far as he dared the divine love went farther and saved Lot from the overthrow. We can never go into the realms of love and compassion, without finding the footsteps of the Redeemer. See Hebrews 10:22. Amid all the mysteries of God's moral government we must always believe that He is just and righteous. His throne is encircled by the rainbow, but it is founded in unimpeachable integrity. How low Abraham lay in his self-estimate! They who know most of God do not presume on their knowledge, but esteem themselves the least of saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 18

1  The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels
9  Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son
16  The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham
23  Abraham makes intercession for its inhabitants

What do the individual words in Genesis 18:30 mean?

And he said not please be angry the Lord and I will speak Suppose should be found there thirty And He said not I will do [it] if I find thirty
וַ֠יֹּאמֶר אַל־ נָ֞א יִ֤חַר לַֽאדֹנָי֙ וַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָה אוּלַ֛י יִמָּצְא֥וּן שָׁ֖ם שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה אִם־ אֶמְצָ֥א שְׁלֹשִֽׁים

וַ֠יֹּאמֶר  And  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
נָ֞א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
יִ֤חַר  be  angry 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.
לַֽאדֹנָי֙  the  Lord 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
וַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָה  and  I  will  speak 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אוּלַ֛י  Suppose 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אוּלַי  
Sense: perhaps, peradventure.
יִמָּצְא֥וּן  should  be  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים  thirty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: שְׁלֹשִׁים  
Sense: thirty, thirtieth.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  And  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה  I  will  do  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶמְצָ֥א  I  find 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
שְׁלֹשִֽׁים  thirty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: שְׁלֹשִׁים  
Sense: thirty, thirtieth.