King James Version

What Does Genesis 14:21 Mean?

Genesis 14:21 in the King James Version says “And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. persons: Heb. souls” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. persons: Heb. souls”

Genesis 14:21 · KJV

Context

19

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

21

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. persons: Heb. souls

22

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23

That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet , and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.... 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 deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. How does this passage challenge modern cultural assumptions about identity, purpose, or morality?
  3. What connections can we trace from this verse to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר1 of 11

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מֶֽלֶךְ2 of 11

“And the king”

H4428

a king

סְדֹ֖ם3 of 11

“of Sodom”

H5467

sedom, a place near the dead sea

אֶל4 of 11
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַבְרָ֑ם5 of 11

“unto Abram”

H87

abram, the original name of abraham

תֶּן6 of 11

“Give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לִ֣י7 of 11
H0
הַנֶּ֔פֶשׁ8 of 11

“me the persons”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

וְהָֽרְכֻ֖שׁ9 of 11

“the goods”

H7399

property (as gathered)

קַֽח10 of 11

“and take”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

לָֽךְ׃11 of 11
H0

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 14:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Places in This Verse

SodomSettlement · Modern: south of the Lisan · 31.21°N, 35.45°E50 verses across 15 books
View all places in Genesis 14 →

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