The Meaning of Genesis 18:22 Explained

Genesis 18:22

KJV: And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

YLT: and the men turn from thence, and go towards Sodom; and Abraham is yet standing before Jehovah.

Darby: And the men turned thence, and went towards Sodom; and Abraham remained yet standing before Jehovah.

ASV: And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the men  turned their faces  from thence, and went  toward Sodom:  but Abraham  stood  yet  before  the LORD. 

What does Genesis 18:22 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 18:22 mean?

And turned away from there the men and went toward Sodom but Abraham still stood before Yahweh
וַיִּפְנ֤וּ מִשָּׁם֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ סְדֹ֑מָה וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ עֹמֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה

וַיִּפְנ֤וּ  And  turned  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.
מִשָּׁם֙  from  there 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים  the  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ  and  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
סְדֹ֑מָה  toward  Sodom 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person 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.
וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם  but  Abraham 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ  still 
Parse: Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
עֹמֵ֖ד  stood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.