The Meaning of Genesis 19:17 Explained

Genesis 19:17

KJV: And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

YLT: And it cometh to pass when he hath brought them out without, that he saith, 'Escape for thy life; look not expectingly behind thee, nor stand thou in all the circuit; to the mountain escape, lest thou be consumed.'

Darby: And it came to pass when they had brought them outside, that he said, Escape for thy life: look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain: escape to the mountain, lest thou perish.

ASV: And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth  abroad,  that he said,  Escape  for  thy life;  look  not behind thee,  neither stay  thou in all the plain;  escape  to the mountain,  lest thou be consumed. 

What does Genesis 19:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 19:12-23 - Sodom And Gomorrah Destroyed
It was a very weak nature that heaven was so eager to rescue. Though described as a righteous man, Lot was a very weak one. He had pitched his tent toward Sodom, but apparently had been unable to resist its attractions, and had gone to live within its precincts. It would almost appear that he had become one of its leading citizens. Therefore, his testimony for God was invalidated and worthless. He seemed as one that mocked, even to his own family. How the angels must have loved this work. There were four people to be saved, and between them, in the human forms they had assumed, there were four hands-one for each. Is not this work in which we all should share? Let us hasten the lingerers! It is fatal to look behind. All our past is strewn with the memories of our sins and failures. There is but one hope. Escape to the Cross of the Divine Redeemer! Shelter in the cleft Rock of Ages! Hasten to the open arms of the Father! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 19

1  Lot entertains two angels
4  The vicious Sodomites are smitten with blindness
12  Lot is warned, and in vain warns his sons-in-law
15  He is directed to flee to the mountains, but obtains leave to go into Zoar
24  Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed
26  Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt
29  Lot dwells in a cave
31  The incestuous origin of Moab and Ammon

What do the individual words in Genesis 19:17 mean?

So it came to pass when they had brought them outside that he said Escape for your life not do look behind you nor stay in all the plain to the mountains escape lest you be destroyed
וַיְהִי֩ כְהוֹצִיאָ֨ם אֹתָ֜ם הַח֗וּצָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִמָּלֵ֣ט עַל־ נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ אַל־ תַּבִּ֣יט אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְאַֽל־ תַּעֲמֹ֖ד בְּכָל־ הַכִּכָּ֑ר הָהָ֥רָה הִמָּלֵ֖ט פֶּן־ תִּסָּפֶֽה

וַיְהִי֩  So  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְהוֹצִיאָ֨ם  when  they  had  brought 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הַח֗וּצָה  outside 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  that  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הִמָּלֵ֣ט  Escape 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: מָלַט 
Sense: to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered.
נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ  your  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
תַּבִּ֣יט  do  look 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָבַט  
Sense: to look, regard.
אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ  behind  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
וְאַֽל־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תַּעֲמֹ֖ד  stay 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
בְּכָל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַכִּכָּ֑ר  the  plain 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: כִּכָּר  
Sense: round.
הָהָ֥רָה  to  the  mountains 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
הִמָּלֵ֖ט  escape 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: מָלַט 
Sense: to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered.
פֶּן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
תִּסָּפֶֽה  you  be  destroyed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: סָפָה  
Sense: to sweep or snatch away, catch up, destroy, consume.