King James Version

What Does Genesis 18:31 Mean?

Genesis 18:31 in the King James Version says “And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. An...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And 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 twenty's sake.”

Genesis 18:31 · KJV

Context

29

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

30

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.

31

And 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 twenty's sake.

32

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

33

And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Read Genesis 18 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be tw... 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 understanding this verse shape our doctrine of humanity, sin, or salvation?
  2. How does this passage challenge modern cultural assumptions about identity, purpose, or morality?
  3. How does this passage point forward to Christ and the gospel of redemption?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙1 of 16

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הִנֵּֽה2 of 16
H2009

lo!

נָ֤א3 of 16
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙4 of 16

“Behold now I have taken upon me”

H2974

properly, to yield, especially assent; hence (pos.) to undertake as an act of volition

לְדַבֵּ֣ר5 of 16

“to speak”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

אֶל6 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֲדֹנָ֔י7 of 16

“unto the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

אוּלַ֛י8 of 16
H194

if not; hence perhaps

יִמָּֽצְא֥וּן9 of 16

“found”

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

שָׁ֖ם10 of 16
H8033

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

הָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃11 of 16

“Peradventure there shall be twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙12 of 16

“And he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לֹ֣א13 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אַשְׁחִ֔ית14 of 16

“I will not destroy”

H7843

to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

בַּֽעֲב֖וּר15 of 16
H5668

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

הָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃16 of 16

“Peradventure there shall be twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

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 18:31 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 18:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hebrews 10:20-22Luke 18:1Genesis 18:27Matthew 7:7Ephesians 6:18Hebrews 4:16

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