Genesis 19:28
New International Version
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.

New Living Translation
He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.

English Standard Version
And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

Berean Standard Bible
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

King James Bible
And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

New King James Version
Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.

New American Standard Bible
and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the surrounding area; and behold, he saw the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace.

NASB 1995
and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace.

NASB 1977
and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace.

Legacy Standard Bible
and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

Amplified Bible
and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley [of the Dead Sea]; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a kiln (pottery furnace).

Christian Standard Bible
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw that smoke was going up from the land like the smoke of a furnace.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw that smoke was going up from the land like the smoke of a furnace.

American Standard Version
and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Contemporary English Version
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and saw smoke rising from all over the land--it was like a flaming furnace.

English Revised Version
and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land in the plain, he saw smoke rising from the land like the thick smoke of a furnace.

Good News Translation
He looked down at Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole valley and saw smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a huge furnace.

International Standard Version
He looked off toward Sodom, Gomorrah, and the entire plain, and he saw smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

Majority Standard Bible
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

NET Bible
He looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of that region. As he did so, he saw the smoke rising up from the land like smoke from a furnace.

New Heart English Bible
He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and he saw; and look, the smoke was rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and towards all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

World English Bible
He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he looks on the face of Sodom and Gomorrah, and on all the face of the land of the circuit, and sees, and behold, the smoke of the land went up as smoke of the furnace.

Young's Literal Translation
and he looketh on the face of Sodom and Gomorrah, and on all the face of the land of the circuit, and seeth, and lo, the smoke of the land went up as smoke of the furnace.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will look out upon the face of Sodom and Gomorrah and upon all the face of the earth of the circuit, and he will see, and behold the smoke of the earth ascended as the smoke of a furnace.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and the whole land of that country: and he saw the ashes rise up from the earth as the smoke of a furnace.

Catholic Public Domain Version
looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and the entire land of that region. And he saw embers rising up from the land like smoke from a furnace.

New American Bible
As he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole region of the Plain, he saw smoke over the land rising like the smoke from a kiln.

New Revised Standard Version
and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the Plain and saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of a furnace.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the region of the plain, and beheld, lo, the smoke of the country went up like the smoke of a furnace.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he gazed at the face of Sadom and Amora and at the face of all the land of the plain, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and towards the surrounding country, and saw, and behold a flame went up from the earth, as the smoke of a furnace.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
27Early the next morning, Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace. 29So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived.…

Cross References
Luke 17:29-30
But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. / It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

2 Peter 2:6
if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;

Jude 1:7
In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

Revelation 18:9-10
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. / In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jeremiah 50:40
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.

Matthew 11:23-24
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. / But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Ezekiel 16:49-50
Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. / Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen.

Deuteronomy 29:23
All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.

Amos 4:11
“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.

Zephaniah 2:9
Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”

Lamentations 4:6
The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.

Isaiah 34:9-10
Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch. / It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it.

Revelation 14:10-11
he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. / And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,


Treasury of Scripture

And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, see, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Psalm 107:34
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

2 Peter 2:7
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

Jude 1:7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Jump to Previous
Ascended Beheld Circuit Country Dense Direction Face Furnace Gomorrah Gomor'rah Oven Plain Rising Smoke Sodom Towards Valley
Jump to Next
Ascended Beheld Circuit Country Dense Direction Face Furnace Gomorrah Gomor'rah Oven Plain Rising Smoke Sodom Towards Valley
Genesis 19
1. Lot entertains two angels.
4. The vicious Sodomites are smitten with blindness.
12. Lot is warned, and in vain warns his sons-in-law.
15. He is directed to flee to the mountains, but obtains leave to go into Zoar.
24. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed.
26. Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
29. Lot dwells in a cave.
31. The incestuous origin of Moab and Ammon.














and he looked down
The phrase "looked down" suggests a vantage point of observation, often associated with divine perspective or judgment. In Hebrew, the verb used here is "נָבַט" (nabat), which means to look intently or to regard with attention. This implies not just a casual glance but a purposeful observation, possibly reflecting God's omniscience and the gravity of the situation. Abraham, from his elevated position, witnesses the aftermath of divine judgment, reminding us of God's sovereignty and the serious consequences of sin.

toward Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah are infamous cities known for their wickedness and subsequent destruction. The historical and archaeological context suggests these cities were located near the Dead Sea, an area known for its sulfur and bitumen deposits, which could naturally contribute to the "fire and brimstone" narrative. The mention of these cities serves as a moral and spiritual lesson on the dangers of deviating from God's commandments and the inevitable judgment that follows unrepentant sin.

and toward all the land of the plain
The "land of the plain" refers to the fertile Jordan Valley, which was once lush and well-watered, akin to the "garden of the LORD" (Genesis 13:10). This phrase highlights the extent of the destruction, emphasizing that the judgment was not limited to the cities alone but affected the entire region. It serves as a stark reminder of the comprehensive nature of God's judgment when His righteousness is violated.

and he saw the smoke rising
The imagery of "smoke rising" is evocative of destruction and desolation. In Hebrew, "עָשָׁן" (ashan) is the word for smoke, often associated with burning and divine wrath. This visual serves as a powerful symbol of the totality of the destruction and the irreversible nature of God's judgment. It also foreshadows the ultimate judgment that will come upon the earth, urging believers to live righteously.

from the land
The phrase "from the land" indicates the source of the smoke, underscoring the complete devastation of the area. The land, once a symbol of prosperity and abundance, is now a testament to the consequences of sin. This transformation from fertility to barrenness serves as a metaphor for the spiritual desolation that results from turning away from God.

like smoke from a furnace
The comparison to "smoke from a furnace" conveys intense heat and thorough destruction. In ancient times, a furnace was used for refining metals, symbolizing purification through fire. This imagery suggests that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was not only punitive but also purifying, removing the wickedness from the land. It serves as a sobering reminder of the refining fire of God's judgment and the call to holiness for His people.

(28) Lo, the smoke of the country (really, land) went up as the smoke of a furnace.--The substitution of the word country for land is confusing. It was the land of the Ciccar, just mentioned, which was in flames. As Abraham could see the Ciccar, it must have been at the northern end of the Dead Sea (see Note on Genesis 18:16); and as a violent conflagration was raging throughout it, the site of the cities could not have been submerged (see Note on Genesis 14:3). The violence of the fire is indicated by the last word, which is not the ordinary word for a furnace, but means a kiln, such as that used for burning chalk into lime, or for melting ores of metal.

Verse 28. - And he looked toward - literally, towards the face, or visible side (cf. Genesis 18:16 where the same phrase is employed to describe the act of the angels on leaving Mamre) - Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, or Jordan circle. The cities of the plain are commonly believed to have been situated at the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, The principal reasons assigned for this conclusion may be stated.

1. Josephus and Jerome, the one representing Jewish, and the other Christian, tradition, both speak of a Zoar as existing in that locality.

2. The difference of level between the northern and southern ends of the lake, the one according to Lynch being 1300 feet, and the other not more than 16 feet, seems to favor the idea that the latter is of recent formation, having been, in fact, submerged at the time of the overthrow of the cities.

3. A ridge of rock-salt on the west of the Yale of Salt is called by the name Jebel Usdum, in which a trace of the word Sodom is by some detected; and the pillars of salt that in that region have from time to time been detached from the salt cliffs have been designated by the name of Lot's wife (Bint Sheikh Lot). . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He looked
וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף (way·yaš·qêp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8259: To overhang, look out or down

down
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

toward
פְּנֵ֤י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

Sodom
סְדֹם֙ (sə·ḏōm)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5467: Sodom -- a Canaanite city near the Dead Sea

and Gomorrah
וַעֲמֹרָ֔ה (wa·‘ă·mō·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6017: Gomorrah -- a city in the Jordan Valley

and all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the land
אֶ֣רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of the plain,
הַכִּכָּ֑ר (hak·kik·kār)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3603: A round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money)

and he saw
וַיַּ֗רְא (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

the smoke
קִיטֹ֣ר (qî·ṭōr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7008: A fume, cloud

rising
עָלָה֙ (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from the land
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

like smoke
כְּקִיטֹ֖ר (kə·qî·ṭōr)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7008: A fume, cloud

from a furnace.
הַכִּבְשָֽׁן׃ (hak·kiḇ·šān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3536: A smelting furnace


Links
Genesis 19:28 NIV
Genesis 19:28 NLT
Genesis 19:28 ESV
Genesis 19:28 NASB
Genesis 19:28 KJV

Genesis 19:28 BibleApps.com
Genesis 19:28 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 19:28 Chinese Bible
Genesis 19:28 French Bible
Genesis 19:28 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 19:28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 19:27
Top of Page
Top of Page