King James Version

What Does Genesis 14:10 Mean?

Genesis 14:10 in the King James Version says “And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits ; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that r...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits ; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.”

Genesis 14:10 · KJV

Context

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 joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

9

With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

10

And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits ; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

11

And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

12

And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Read Genesis 14 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell the... This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment.

Central themes include God's unconditional covenant promises (land, descendants, blessing to nations), the call to faith and obedience, the testing of faith through delays and impossibilities, the contrast between divine promises and human schemes, and God's gracious persistence despite human failures. Abraham emerges as the father of faith whose trust in God's promises becomes the model for all believers (Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 11).

Theologically, these narratives establish: (1) salvation by grace through faith rather than works; (2) covenant as God's gracious initiative binding Himself to His people; (3) the necessity of patient trust when promises seem impossible; (4) the consequences of attempting to fulfill God's promises through human effort; (5) the pattern of divine testing producing mature faith. The Abraham cycle foreshadows Christ as the ultimate seed through whom blessing extends to all nations (Galatians 3:16).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse contribute to the biblical doctrine of creation, fall, or redemption?
  2. How can we apply the principles from this passage to contemporary challenges in family, work, or church?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וְעֵ֣מֶק1 of 14

“And the vale”

H6010

a vale (i.e., broad depression)

הַשִׂדִּ֗ים2 of 14

“of Siddim”

H7708

siddim, a valley in palestine

בֶּֽאֱרֹת֙3 of 14

“slimepits”

H875

a pit; especially a well

בֶּֽאֱרֹת֙4 of 14

“slimepits”

H875

a pit; especially a well

חֵמָ֔ר5 of 14
H2564

bitumen (as rising to the surface)

נָּֽסוּ׃6 of 14

“fled”

H5127

to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)

מֶֽלֶךְ7 of 14

“and the kings”

H4428

a king

סְדֹ֥ם8 of 14

“of Sodom”

H5467

sedom, a place near the dead sea

וַֽעֲמֹרָ֖ה9 of 14

“and Gomorrah”

H6017

amorah, a place in palestine

וַיִּפְּלוּ10 of 14

“and fell”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

שָׁ֑מָּה11 of 14
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים12 of 14

“there and they that remained”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

הֶ֥רָה13 of 14

“to the mountain”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

נָּֽסוּ׃14 of 14

“fled”

H5127

to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 14:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 14:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 19:17Genesis 11:3Genesis 19:30Jeremiah 48:44Isaiah 24:18Joshua 8:24

Places in This Verse

GomorrahSettlement · Modern: south of the Lisan · 31.21°N, 35.45°E24 verses across 11 books
SodomSettlement · Modern: south of the Lisan · 31.21°N, 35.45°E50 verses across 15 books
Valley of SiddimValley · Modern: south of the Lisan · 31.21°N, 35.45°E3 verses across 1 book
View all places in Genesis 14 →

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