Devine Scripture

Genesis 18:30

What does Genesis 18:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 18:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 18:30 means

Abraham, with a humble plea not to anger the Lord, continued his petition, dropping the number of righteous individuals to thirty. The Lord, demonstrating incredible patience and mercy, again agreed to spare the city if thirty righteous could be found within it. This persistent back-and-forth highlights the profound nature of Abraham's intercessory prayer and God's readiness to respond to the earnest appeals of His servant.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said, Let not the Lord be angry with me if I say, What if there are thirty there? And he said, I will not do it if there are thirty.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he saith, `Let it not be, I Pray thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak: peradventure there are found there thirty?' and He saith, `I do <FI>it<Fi> not, if I find there thirty.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry that I speak! Perhaps there may be thirty found there. And he said, I will not do it if I find thirty there.

Context

This verse records Abraham's fourth proposition, where he lowers the number to thirty, immediately after the Lord's agreement for forty in verse 29. His respectful preface, "Oh let not the Lord be angry," shows his deference. The Lord's continued willingness to spare the city for a smaller number deepens the understanding of His mercy and encourages Abraham's courageous persistence in intercession.

v.29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty’s sake.

v.30This passage

v.31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.

Cross references

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

  • Judges 6:39

    And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once: let me make trial, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

  • Esther 4:11

    All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

  • Psalms 10:17

    Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear;

  • Psalms 9:12

    For he that maketh inquisition for blood remembereth them; He forgetteth not the cry of the poor.

  • Genesis 44:18

    Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant; for thou art even as Pharaoh.

  • Isaiah 55:8

    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.

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