The Meaning of Genesis 13:13 Explained

Genesis 13:13

KJV: But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

YLT: and the men of Sodom are evil, and sinners before Jehovah exceedingly.

Darby: And the people of Sodom were wicked, and great sinners before Jehovah.

ASV: Now the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners against Jehovah exceedingly.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the men  of Sodom  [were] wicked  and sinners  before the LORD  exceedingly. 

What does Genesis 13:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 13:1-13 - Abram And Lot Part
The patriarch, like a restored backslider, made his way back to the old spot, on the highlands of Bethel, where his first tent and altar had stood. Through his wanderings hitherto there had been a depressing element of worldliness in his camp, through the presence of Lot, who, like many more, was swept along by his uncle's religion, but had little of his own. Feeling that separation was inevitable, and that God would surely care for him, Abram offered Lot his choice. See Psalms 16:5. The younger man chose according to the sight of his eyes. In his judgment he gained the world-but see 2 Peter 2:7-8. The world is full of Lots-shallow, impulsive, doomed to be revealed by their choice and end. "Let there be no strife!" Blessed are the peacemakers! Wherever the interests of peace can be conserved through the sacrifice of your own interests, be prepared to forfeit the advantage, but stand like a rock when God's truth is in balance. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 13

1  Abram and Lot return with great riches out of Egypt
6  Strife arises between Abram's herdsmen and those of Lot
8  Abram allows Lot to choose his part of the country,
10  and Lot goes toward Sodom
14  God renews his promise to Abram
18  He moves to Hebron, and there builds an altar

What do the individual words in Genesis 13:13 mean?

But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinful against Yahweh exceedingly
וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י סְדֹ֔ם רָעִ֖ים וְחַטָּאִ֑ים לַיהוָ֖ה מְאֹֽד

וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י  But  the  men 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
סְדֹ֔ם  of  Sodom 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: סְדֹם  
Sense: a Canaanite city, usually paired with Gomorrah, located in the area of the Dead Sea and the Jordan river; both cities destroyed by God in judgment.
רָעִ֖ים  [were]  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וְחַטָּאִ֑ים  and  sinful 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַטָּא  
Sense: sinners adj.
לַיהוָ֖ה  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מְאֹֽד  exceedingly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.