The Meaning of Genesis 18:20 Explained

Genesis 18:20

KJV: And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

YLT: And Jehovah saith, 'The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah -- because great; and their sin -- because exceeding grievous:

Darby: And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grievous,

ASV: And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  said,  Because the cry  of Sodom  and Gomorrah  is great,  and because their sin  is very  grievous; 

What does Genesis 18:20 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 18:20 mean?

And said Yahweh the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah because is great and their sin because is grave very
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה זַעֲקַ֛ת סְדֹ֥ם וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה כִּי־ רָ֑בָּה וְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔ם כִּ֥י כָבְדָ֖ה מְאֹֽד

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
זַעֲקַ֛ת  the  outcry  against 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: זְעָקָה  
Sense: cry, outcry.
סְדֹ֥ם  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.
וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה  and  Gomorrah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֲמֹרָה  
Sense: the twin-city in evil with Sodom, both destroyed in judgment by God with fire from heaven.
כִּי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
רָ֑בָּה  is  great 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
וְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔ם  and  their  sin 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
כִּ֥י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
כָבְדָ֖ה  is  grave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
מְאֹֽד  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.