Genesis 18:23-33

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

23 Then Abraham drew near and said, k "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, l so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! m Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" 26 And the Lord said, n "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

27 Abraham answered and said, o "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." 29 Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." 30 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31 He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." 32 Then he said, p "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 20:4
    Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent people?
    Numbers 16:22
    And they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?
    2 Samuel 24:17
    Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.
  2. Cross References
    Job 8:20
    Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
  3. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
    Job 8:3
    Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
    Job 34:10
    Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
    Romans 3:5 - 6
    But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? ( I speak in a human way.)
  4. Cross References
    Jeremiah 5:1
    Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her.
    Ezekiel 22:30
    And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
    Isaiah 65:8
    Thus says the Lord : "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, 'Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,' so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all.
  5. Cross References
    Luke 18:1
    And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 6:39
    Then Gideon said to God, "Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.