Genesis 13:10
What does Genesis 13:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 13:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 13:10 means
Lot surveyed the entire Jordan River plain and saw it was lush and well-irrigated, resembling the fertile Garden of Eden or the productive land of Egypt, especially in the direction of Zoar. This observation occurred before God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's choice was based purely on the visible, earthly advantages of the land, prioritizing material prosperity and immediate comfort, which would prove to be a short-sighted and spiritually perilous decision, as the narrative soon reveals regarding the wickedness of its inhabitants.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the Plain of the Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before Jehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Jehovah, like the land of Egypt, as thou goest unto Zoar.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the Plain of the Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before Jehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Jehovah, like the land of Egypt, as thou goest unto Zoar.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Lot, lifting up his eyes and looking an the valley of Jordan, saw that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord had sent destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah; it was like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, on the way to Zoar.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Lot lifteth up his eyes, and seeth the whole circuit of the Jordan that it <FI>is<Fi> all a watered country (before Jehovah's destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, as Jehovah's garden, as the land of Egypt,) in thy coming toward Zoar,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Lot lifting up his eyes, saw all the country about the Jordan, which was watered throughout, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, as the paradise of the Lord, and like Egypt as one comes to Segor.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of the Jordan that it was thoroughly watered, before Jehovah had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; as the garden of Jehovah, like the land of Egypt, as one goes to Zoar.
Context
This verse describes Lot's action in response to Abram's generous offer in verse 9. His visual assessment of the Jordan plain, noting its fertile and well-watered nature, directly leads to his choice in the subsequent verse. The detail about the land resembling the Garden of Eden and Egypt and the timing before Sodom's destruction are critical for understanding Lot's motivations and the ironic foreshadowing of the consequences of his worldly choice.
v.9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go to the left.
v.10This passage
v.11So Lot chose him all the Plain of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 15:5
My heart crieth out for Moab; her nobles flee unto Zoar, to Eglath-shelishi-yah: for by the ascent of Luhith with weeping they go up; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.
- Genesis 14:8
And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar); and they set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim;
- Isaiah 51:3
For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
- Deuteronomy 34:3
and the South, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar.
- Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.
- Genesis 14:2
that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar).
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