Genesis 18 · Verse 23

Genesis 18:23

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
Genesis 18:23, King James Version

Genesis 18:23 in other translations

BSBAbraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
WEBAbraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
ASVAnd Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?
YLTAnd Abraham draweth nigh and saith, ‘Dost Thou also consume righteous with wicked?
DARBYAnd Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also cause the righteous to perish with the wicked?
BBEAnd Abraham came near, and said, Will you let destruction come on the upright with the sinners?
WebsterAnd Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

What does Genesis 18:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ge 18:23-33. Abraham's Intercession.

23. Abraham drew near, and said, &c.--The scene described is full of interest and instruction--showing in an unmistakable manner the efficacy of prayer and intercession. (See also Pr 15:8; Jas 5:16). Abraham reasoned justly as to the rectitude of the divine procedure (Ro 3:5, 6), and many guilty cities and nations have been spared on account of God's people (Mt 5:13; 24:22).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? - A form of speech similar to that in Gen 18:17, an invariable principle of justice, that the righteous shall not be punished for the crimes of the impious. And this Abraham lays down as the foundation of his supplications. Who can pray with any hope of success who cannot assign a reason to God and his conscience for the petitions he offers? The great sacrifice offered by Christ is an infinite reason why a penitent sinner should expect to find the mercy for which he pleads.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 18:23-33
Here is the first solemn prayer upon record in the Bible; and it is a prayer for the sparing of Sodom. Abraham prayed earnestly that Sodom might be spared, if but a few righteous persons should be found in it. Come and learn from Abraham what compassion we should feel for sinners, and how earnestly we should pray for them. We see here that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Abraham, indeed, failed in his request for the whole place, but Lot was miraculously delivered. Be encouraged then to expect, by earnest prayer, the blessing of God upon your families, your friends, your neighbourhood. To this end you must not only pray, but you must live like Abraham. He knew the Judge of all the earth would do right. He does not plead that the wicked may be spared for their own sake, or because it would be severe to destroy them, but for the sake of the righteous who might be found among them. And righteousness only can be made a plea before God. How then did Christ make intercession for transgressors? Not by blaming the Divine law, nor by alleging aught in extenuation or excuse of human guilt; but by pleading HIS OWN obedience unto death.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 18:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּגַּ֥שׁvai.yi.Gashand he drew nearH5066
אַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamAbrahamH85
וַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.Marand he saidH559
הַאַ֣ףha.'Af¿ alsoH637
תִּסְפֶּ֔הtis.Pehwill you sweep awayH5595
צַדִּ֖יקtza.Dik[the] righteousH6662
עִם\־'im-withH5973
רָשָֽׁע\׃ra.Sha'[the] wickedH7563

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 18:23

  • Numbers 16:22

    And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

  • 2 Samuel 24:17

    And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.

  • Genesis 20:4

    But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

  • Genesis 18:25

    That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

  • Psalms 11:4-7

    The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

  • Job 34:17

    Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

  • Hebrews 10:22

    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Romans 3:5-6

    But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

  • Job 8:3

    Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

  • Jeremiah 30:21

    And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.

  • Psalms 73:28

    But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

  • James 5:17

    Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
drew.
Ps 73:28; Jer 30:21; Heb 10:22; Jas 5:17
Wilt.
25; 20:4; Nu 16:22; 2Sa 24:17; Job 8:3; 34:17; Ps 11:4-7; Ro 3:5,6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 18:22

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

  • Genesis 18:23

    And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

  • Genesis 18:24

    Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Read all of Genesis 18

Genesis 18:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y acercóse Abraham y dijo: ¿Destruirás también al justo con el impío?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Abraham s’approcha, et dit: Feras-tu périr le juste avec le méchant?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Abraham trat hinzu und sprach: Willst du denn den Gerechten mit dem Gesetzlosen wegraffen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et appropinquans ait: Numquid perdes justum cum impio?