Devine Scripture

Genesis 18:27

What does Genesis 18:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 18:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 18:27 means

Humbled by the magnitude of his conversation with the Lord, Abraham acknowledged his own lowly status as "but dust and ashes" before continuing his intercession. This self-effacing statement expresses his profound reverence and recognition of God's majesty and his own creaturely position. Despite his humility, he boldly pressed on, demonstrating both awe and perseverance in his plea for Sodom.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Abraham answering said, Truly, I who am only dust, have undertaken to put my thoughts before the Lord:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Abraham answereth and saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord, and I--dust and ashes;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have ventured to speak unto the Lord; I, who am dust and ashes.

Context

This verse serves as Abraham's humble preface before continuing his intercession, occurring directly after the Lord agreed to spare Sodom for the sake of fifty righteous in verse 26. His self-abasement highlights the immense privilege of his ongoing dialogue with God. This statement of humility strengthens his position to ask further, setting the tone for the subsequent rounds of bargaining with increasingly lower numbers.

v.26And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.

v.27This passage

v.28peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 18:1

    And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1

    For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.

  • Job 30:19

    He hath cast me into the mire, And I am become like dust and ashes.

  • Psalms 8:4

    What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?

  • Job 4:19

    How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!

  • Genesis 3:19

    in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

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