King James Version

What Does Genesis 18:26 Mean?

Genesis 18:26 in the King James Version says “And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

Genesis 18:26 · KJV

Context

24

Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26

And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27

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

28

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

Read Genesis 18 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the pla... 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. What theological truths about Divine Visitation emerge from this passage?
  2. What obstacles prevent us from living out the truths presented in this verse?
  3. How does this verse fit into the broader biblical story culminating in Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 13

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֔ה2 of 13

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אִם3 of 13
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

אֶמְצָ֥א4 of 13

“If I find”

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

בִסְדֹ֛ם5 of 13

“in Sodom”

H5467

sedom, a place near the dead sea

חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים6 of 13

“fifty”

H2572

fifty

צַדִּיקִ֖ם7 of 13

“righteous”

H6662

just

בְּת֣וֹךְ8 of 13

“within”

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

הָעִ֑יר9 of 13

“the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

וְנָשָׂ֥אתִי10 of 13

“then I will spare”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

לְכָל11 of 13
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַמָּק֖וֹם12 of 13

“all the place”

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

בַּֽעֲבוּרָֽם׃13 of 13
H5668

properly, crossed, i.e., (abstractly) transit; used only adverbially, on account of, in order that

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 18:26 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 18:26 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 5:1Matthew 24:22Ezekiel 22:30Isaiah 65:8Isaiah 19:24Isaiah 6:13

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 18 →

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