Genesis 18:23
New International Version
Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

New Living Translation
Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?

English Standard Version
Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Berean Standard Bible
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

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

New King James Version
And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

New American Standard Bible
Abraham approached and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

NASB 1995
Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

NASB 1977
And Abraham came near and said, “Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Amplified Bible
Abraham approached [the LORD] and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous (those who do right) with the wicked (those who do evil)?

Christian Standard Bible
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

American Standard Version
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?

Contemporary English Version
And Abraham asked him, "LORD, when you destroy the evil people, are you also going to destroy those who are good?

English Revised Version
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Abraham came closer and asked, "Are you really going to sweep away the innocent with the guilty?

Good News Translation
Abraham approached the LORD and asked, "Are you really going to destroy the innocent with the guilty?

International Standard Version
Abraham approached and asked, "Will you actually destroy the righteous along with the wicked?

Majority Standard Bible
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

NET Bible
Abraham approached and said, "Will you sweep away the godly along with the wicked?

New Heart English Bible
Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

World English Bible
Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abraham draws near and says, “Do You also consume righteous with wicked?

Young's Literal Translation
And Abraham draweth nigh and saith, 'Dost Thou also consume righteous with wicked?

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abraham will draw near, and will say, Wilt thou also destroy the just with the wicked.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the wicked?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And as they drew near, he said: “Will you destroy the just with the impious?

New American Bible
Then Abraham drew near and said: “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

New Revised Standard Version
Then Abraham came near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abraham drew near and said, Wilt thou in thine anger destroy the righteous with the sinners?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abraham came near and said, “Do you destroy the righteous in a rage with sinners?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham drew near, and said: 'Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam drew nigh and said, Wouldest thou destroy the righteous with the wicked, and shall the righteous be as the wicked?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abraham Begs for Sodom
22And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?…

Cross References
Exodus 32:11-14
But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” ...

Numbers 14:13-19
But Moses said to the LORD, “The Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought this people from among them. / And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. / If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, ...

Jeremiah 5:1
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.

Ezekiel 22:30
I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.

Amos 7:2-6
And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?” / So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said. / This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land. ...

Job 23:4-5
I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. / I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Psalm 106:23
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.

Psalm 34:15-17
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry. / But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth. / The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 37:28
For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

Psalm 145:18-20
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth. / He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. / The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.

Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. / You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ...

Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. / Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ...

Luke 11:5-10
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, / because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ / And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ ...

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham drew near, and said, Will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

drew.

Psalm 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.

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.

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.

Wilt.

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?

Genesis 20:4
But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

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?

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Abraham Approached Cause Consume Destroy Destruction Draweth Drew Indeed Nigh Perish Righteous Sinners Sweep Upright Wicked Wilt
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.














Abraham stepped forward
This phrase indicates a bold and courageous action by Abraham. The Hebrew root for "stepped forward" is "nagash," which conveys the idea of drawing near with purpose or intent. In the context of ancient Near Eastern culture, approaching a figure of authority, especially God, required reverence and courage. Abraham's action here is significant as it demonstrates his intimate relationship with God, characterized by both reverence and boldness. It reflects the privilege of believers to approach God with confidence, as seen in Hebrews 4:16, where believers are encouraged to "approach the throne of grace with confidence."

and said
The act of speaking here is not just a casual conversation but a profound dialogue with the Divine. The Hebrew word "amar" is used, which often implies a thoughtful or deliberate speech. This highlights the importance of communication with God, emphasizing that prayer and intercession are not only about speaking but also about engaging in meaningful dialogue with the Creator. Abraham's words are carefully chosen, reflecting his deep concern and his understanding of God's character.

Will You really sweep away
The phrase "sweep away" comes from the Hebrew "saphah," which means to destroy or consume completely. This word choice underscores the severity of the judgment that is being contemplated. It reflects the biblical theme of divine justice, where God, as a righteous judge, must address sin. However, it also sets the stage for the exploration of God's mercy, as Abraham's question implies a hope for a different outcome. This duality of justice and mercy is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, illustrating the complexity of God's nature.

the righteous with the wicked?
Here, Abraham is appealing to God's justice and fairness. The Hebrew words "tzaddik" (righteous) and "rasha" (wicked) are used. "Tzaddik" refers to those who are just, lawful, and in right standing with God, while "rasha" denotes those who are guilty and morally wrong. Abraham's question challenges the notion of collective punishment and highlights the biblical principle that God distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked. This is echoed in Ezekiel 18:20, where it is stated that "the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." Abraham's intercession is a profound reminder of the power of prayer and advocacy for others, encouraging believers to stand in the gap for those who may be subject to judgment.

(23) Abraham drew near.--As Jewish commentators remark, this word is especially used of prayer, and Abraham's intercession is unspeakably noble. Nor must we suppose that he thought only of Lot. Doubtless he remembered the day when he had restored the persons and spoil to the king of Sodom. He had then seen their human affection; the joy of parent meeting with child, and friend with friend; and he hoped that there were good people among them, and that so marvellous a deliverance would work in many of them a true repentance. Neither must we suppose that Abraham adroitly began with a large number, with the intention of lessening it. It was the readiness with which each prayer was heard which made him in his earnestness continue his entreaties. It thus illustrates the principle that the faith of the believer grows strong as he feels that his prayers are accepted, and he ventures finally to offer petitions, nothing wavering, which at an earlier stage would have seemed to him to ask more than he might venture to hope from the Divine goodness.

Destroy.--Heb., sweep away; and so in Genesis 18:24. The difference is not without force; for the verb "to sweep away" gives the idea of a more indiscriminate ruin than the usual word destroy, which Abraham substitutes for it in Genesis 18:28; Genesis 18:31-32.

Verse 23. - And Abraham drew near. I.e. to Jehovah; not simply locally, but also spiritually. The religious use of יִגַּשּׁ as a performing religious services to God, or a pious turning of the mind to God, is found in Exodus 30:20; Isaiah 29:13; Jeremiah 30:21; and in a similar sense ἐγγίζω is employed in the New Testament (cf. Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8). The Jonathan Targum explains, "and Abraham prayed." And said. Commencing the sublimest act of human intercession of which Scripture preserves a record, being moved thereto, if not by an immediate regard for Lot (Lange), at least by a sense of compassion towards the inhabitants of Sodom, "communis erga quinque populos misericordia" (Calvin), which was heightened and intensified by his own previous experience of forgiving grace (Keil). Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? The question presupposes that God had, according to the resolution of Ver. 17, explained to the patriarch his intention to destroy the cities of the plain. The object the patriarch contemplated in his intercession was not simply the preservation of any godly remnant that might be found within the doomed towns, but the rescue of their entire populations from the impending judgment, - only he does not at first discover his complete design, perhaps regarding such an absolute reversal of the Divine purpose as exceeding the legitimate bounds of creature supplication; but with what might be characterized as holy adroitness he veils his ulterior aim, and commences his petition at a Point somewhat removed from that to which he hopes to come. Assuming it as settled that the fair Pentapolis is to be destroyed, he practically asks, with a strange mixture of humility and boldness, if Jehovah has considered that this will involve a sad commingling in one gigantic overthrow of both the righteous and the wicked.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֖ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

stepped forward
וַיִּגַּ֥שׁ (way·yig·gaš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

and said,
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (way·yō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Will You really
הַאַ֣ף (ha·’ap̄)
Conjunction
Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though

sweep away
תִּסְפֶּ֔ה (tis·peh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5595: To sweep or snatch away, catch up

the righteous
צַדִּ֖יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the wicked?
רָשָֽׁע׃ (rā·šā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person


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OT Law: Genesis 18:23 Abraham drew near and said Will you (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 18:22
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