The Meaning of Genesis 18:28 Explained

Genesis 18:28

KJV: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

YLT: peradventure there are lacking five of the fifty righteous -- dost Thou destroy for five the whole of the city?' and He saith, 'I destroy it not, if I find there forty and five.'

Darby: Perhaps there may want five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city on account of the five? And he said, If I shall find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.

ASV: peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Peradventure there shall lack  five  of the fifty  righteous:  wilt thou destroy  all the city  for [lack of] five?  And he said,  If I find  there forty  and five,  I will not destroy  [it]. 

What does Genesis 18:28 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 18:28 mean?

Suppose there were less than the fifty righteous ones five would You destroy for [lack of] five - all the city so He said not I will destroy [it] if I find there forty and five
א֠וּלַי יַחְסְר֞וּן חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים הַצַּדִּיקִם֙ ؟ חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אֶת־ כָּל־ ؟ הָעִ֑יר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אַשְׁחִ֔ית אִם־ אֶמְצָ֣א שָׁ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֖ים וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה

א֠וּלַי  Suppose 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אוּלַי  
Sense: perhaps, peradventure.
יַחְסְר֞וּן  there  were  less  than 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: חָסֵר  
Sense: to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need.
חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים  the  fifty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: חֲמִשִּׁים 
Sense: fifty.
הַצַּדִּיקִם֙  righteous  ones 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
؟ חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה  five 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: חָמֵשׁ  
Sense: five.
הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית  would  You  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה  for  [lack  of]  five 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: חָמֵשׁ  
Sense: five.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
؟ הָעִ֑יר  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  so  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אַשְׁחִ֔ית  I  will  destroy  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
אֶמְצָ֣א  I  find 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
אַרְבָּעִ֖ים  forty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: אַרְבָּעִים  
Sense: forty.
וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה  and  five 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, masculine singular
Root: חָמֵשׁ  
Sense: five.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 18:28?

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