Genesis 19:13 · Bible study
Genesis 19:13 Commentary: The Outcry That Brought Judgment
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the significance of the outcry (tsa’aqah) against Sodom, showing God's judgment as a response to grievous sin, executed through angelic messengers.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The angels announce imminent destruction because the outcry against Sodom has reached Yahweh, who sends them to execute judgment.
- Key words: mashchitim (about to destroy), tsa’aqah (outcry), shalach (send).
- Main debate: Is the 'outcry' the cry of the victims or the cry of the sins themselves? (Cambridge: cry against the people; Gill: cry of their sins).
- Theological theme: God's righteous judgment in response to pervasive evil, executed through angelic agents.
- Best use: Preaching on God's justice, the certainty of judgment, and the urgency of responding to warning.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
because we are about to destroy this place. For the outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy it.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown so great before Yahweh that Yahweh has sent us to destroy it.”
KJV King James Version 1769
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before Jehovah; and Jehovah hath sent us to destroy it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
for we are destroying this place, for their cry hath been great before the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth send us to destroy it.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For we are going to destroy this place, because the cry of them is great before Jehovah, and Jehovah has sent us to destroy it.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For we will destroy this place, because their cry is grown loud before the Lord, who hath sent us to destroy them.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque vamos á destruir este lugar, por cuanto el clamor de ellos ha subido de punto delante de Jehová; por tanto Jehová nos ha enviado para destruirlo.
Porque vamos destruir este lugar, porquanto o clamor deles subiu demais diante do SENHOR; portanto o SENHOR nos enviou para destruí-lo.
Car nous allons détruire ce lieu, parce que le cri contre ses habitants est grand devant l’ Éternel. L’ Éternel nous a envoyés pour le détruire.
Denn wir werden diese Stätte verderben, darum daß ihr Geschrei groß ist vor dem HERRN; der hat uns gesandt, sie zu verderben.
Want wij gaan deze plaats verderven, omdat haar geroep groot geworden is voor het aangezicht des HEEREN, en de HEERE ons uitgezonden heeft, om haar te verderven.
poiché noi distruggeremo questo luogo, perché il grido contro i suoi abitanti è grande nel cospetto dell’Eterno, e l’Eterno ci ha mandati a distruggerlo”.
Skazimy bowiem to miejsce, przeto, że się wzmógł krzyk ich przed Panem, i posłał nas Pan, abyśmy je skazili.
ибо мы истребим сие место, потому что велик вопль на жителей его к Господу, и Господь послал нас истребить его.
我們 要毀滅 這 地方；因為 城內罪惡的聲音 在耶和華 面 前 甚大，耶和華 差我們來，要毀滅這地方。」
For we are about to send destruction on this place, because a great outcry against them has come to the ears of the Lord; and the Lord has sent us to put an end to the town.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 19:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse reveals the angels as agents of divine judgment, sent in response to the outcry against Sodom. Calvin notes that the angels serve as ministers of God's wrath, just as they serve his grace. The Cambridge Bible identifies the men as distinct from, yet messengers of, Jehovah. Gill emphasizes that the 'cry of them' refers to the sins of Sodom's inhabitants, which became so great that they called for immediate vengeance. The Hebrew verb mashchitim (Hiphil participle) conveys imminent action: they are about to destroy. The phrase 'before the face of Yahweh' (lifnei Yahweh) underscores that the entire situation is open before God. The judgment is not capricious; it is a direct response to evil that has grown intolerable. The verse thus demonstrates God's moral governance: he hears the cry of sin or suffering and acts through his appointed messengers.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Cry of sins: Gill argues that the 'cry' is the outcry of their sins, which because they were many and open, called for vengeance.
- Cry of victims: Cambridge and others understand it as the cry of the oppressed against Sodom's inhabitants, similar to the cry in Exodus 2:23.
What is clear: The outcry, however understood, expresses the severity of Sodom's sin and triggers God's judgment.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the messengers | They are angels sent by Yahweh, distinct from the third angel who remained with Abraham. | Calvin argues they are elect angels acting as ministers of wrath; others simply identify them as 'the two angels' without speculating on their status. |
| Nature of the 'outcry' | It signifies that the sin of Sodom has been fully exposed and demands divine response. | Some (Gill) interpret the outcry as the cry of the sins themselves ascending; others (Cambridge) read it as the cry of the oppressed against Sodom's inhabitants. |
| Meaning of 'destroy' | The Hebrew verb <em>shachat</em> implies ruin and corruption; the destruction is total. | The exact manner (fire, brimstone, earthquake) is not specified here but described in v.24. Traditions differ on whether natural or supernatural means are emphasized. |
| Lot's responsibility | The angels instruct Lot to warn his family, showing God's mercy despite the coming judgment. | Matthew Henry emphasizes Lot's duty to save others; Keil & Delitzsch note that the sons-in-law mocked the warning, raising questions about the effectiveness of witness. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The narrative places Lot inside Sodom, a city known for rampant wickedness (Genesis 13:13). The two angels had arrived that evening, and after a violent confrontation with the men of the city, they now reveal their mission. The gate of Sodom functioned as the city's legal and commercial center; Lot's presence there suggests he had become a settled resident, not merely a visitor. The Hebrew term tsa’aqah (outcry) evokes the language of the oppressed crying for justice, as in Exodus 2:23 where Israel's cry ascended to God. Here the outcry is against Sodom, indicating either the cry of victims or the cry of their sins mounting up.
The angels' declaration that 'Yahweh has sent us' establishes their authority and distinguishes them from God himself, yet they act with full divine backing. In the ancient setting, a king would send messengers to execute judgment; here the King of heaven dispatches these beings. The phrase 'before the face of Yahweh' (et-penei Yahweh) conveys the idea of an open, unhindered relationship: nothing is hidden. The destruction is imminent, a theme reinforced by the Hebrew participle mashchitim. The verse also echoes Genesis 18:20, where the same outcry is first noted during Abraham's intercession. Now the time for intercession has passed, and judgment has arrived.
This background deepens the gravity. Lot's family, who lived in Sodom, were not innocent, but the angels offer a path of escape. The historical context of hospitality customs (as noted by Knobel in Lange's commentary) further highlights the breach of decency in Sodom's treatment of Lot's guests. The city's corruption is complete, and the outcry has reached a point where God must respond.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Genesis 19:13. The Hebrew text (MT) is consistent across manuscripts, and the translations vary only in phrasing (e.g., 'we will destroy' vs. 'we are about to destroy'), which reflects interpretive choices rather than different readings. The verse is well preserved.
Reception History
In the history of interpretation, this verse has been used to discuss the role of angels in executing divine judgment. Calvin (1564) devoted extended attention to the angels as ministers of both grace and wrath, arguing that elect angels carry out God's judgments. Matthew Henry (1710) emphasized the pastoral application: Lot's duty to warn his sons-in-law and the tragedy of their unbelief. Wesley (1754) echoed that holy angels are ministers of wrath as well as mercy. The Geneva Bible (1599) notes simply the connection to the earlier outcry in Genesis 18. In Eastern Orthodox tradition, the verse is read as part of the sobering narrative of Sodom's fall, reminding believers of God's justice. The verse has also been cited in discussions of God's responsiveness to human suffering and sin.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God hears the cry of evil. The outcry against Sodom is not anonymous; it reaches Yahweh personally. This shows God's active awareness of injustice and sin.
- Judgment is delegated to messengers. The angels announce that Yahweh has sent them to destroy. God works through agents in both mercy and judgment (Calvin).
- The urgent call to escape. The announcement is also a warning. Lot must act, and he must warn others. Judgment is certain, but deliverance is offered.
Five-point outline
- The nature of the cry. Whether from victims or the sins themselves, the outcry signifies that evil has reached intolerable levels.
- The certainty of destruction. 'We will destroy this place' uses the Hebrew intensive participle, indicating immediate and decisive action.
- The role of the messengers. They are both revealers of judgment and instruments of mercy, urging Lot to flee.
- The call to action. Lot is told to bring out all who belong to him. Personal salvation must extend to a warning for others.
- The warning mocked. Verse 14 shows the sons-in-law laughed. This underscores the danger of complacency and the cost of unbelief.
Illustration hooks
- A community's outcry. A neighborhood that has long suffered from a drug house finally sees police action after a child is hurt. The cry was heard and answered.
- Smoke alarm. A fire alarm sounds in a crowded building. Those who take it seriously leave; those who think it's a drill face the consequences.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God hears the outcry of evil, why doesn't he act more quickly against injustice today?
- Does this verse mean I should expect angels to bring judgment on my enemies?
- How do I know when a society's sin has reached a point of no return?
Leading a Discussion
This verse invites us to consider the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine judgment. The outcry against Sodom is a picture of how evil accumulates and finally demands a response from God. Yet in the middle of judgment, mercy appears: the angels warn Lot and urge him to flee. As you discuss this passage, reflect on how God balances justice and rescue, and what this means for our own lives.
Discussion questions
- What does the verse reveal about God's character and his response to sin?
- Why do you think the angels mention the 'outcry'? What does this word suggest about the nature of Sodom's evil?
- How does the role of the angels here compare to their role in other parts of Scripture (e.g., Genesis 18, Psalm 91)?
- Lot was told to warn his family. In what ways might we be called to warn others today about spiritual danger?
- Read Genesis 18:20 and then this verse. What changed between Abraham's intercession and the angels' announcement?
- How does the fact that the sons-in-law mocked the warning (v.14) challenge us about how we respond to God's messengers?
- What practical steps can our group take to 'hear the cry' of injustice or sin in our own community and respond as God would?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 13:13 | Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh. |
| Genesis 18:20 | Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, |
| I Chronicles 21:15 | God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and he relented of the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough. Now withdraw your hand.” Yahweh’s angel was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. |
| I Chronicles 21:16 | David lifted up his eyes, and saw Yahweh’s angel standing between earth and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. |
| Psalms 11:5 | Yahweh examines the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence. |
| Psalms 11:6 | On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. |
| Isaiah 3:11 | Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them, for the deeds of their hands will be paid back to them. |
| Isaiah 36:10 | Have I come up now without Yahweh against this land to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, “Go up against this land, and destroy it.”’” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin insists that holy angels serve God in executing judgment, not only in showing grace. He argues that elect angels preside over divine punishments even when reprobate angels carry them out, since it honors God to have his faithful ministers inflict wrath.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the cry mentioned is the accusation rising against Sodom, as in Genesis 18:20. It also stresses that the angels are distinct messengers sent by the Lord, not acting on their own authority.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The angels declare that their mission to destroy the city is a direct answer to the outcry of its inhabitants, which has come before the Lord. The destruction is not arbitrary but a judgment sent by God in response to sin. The angels stress they act as God’s appointed agents in this.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the angels speak in the present tense, "we are destroying this place," to show the judgment is immediate, not delayed. He also points out that both angels were sent with the identical task of destroying Sodom, correcting the Jewish idea that they had separate errands.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue the sons-in-law were still only betrothed, not married, based on how they mocked Lot’s warning. If Lot had married daughters, he would have called them to escape too. The scornful disbelief of these men shows they never saw God’s judgment coming.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange interprets Lot’s offer of his daughters not merely as desperation but as a calculated irony that exposes Sodom’s depravity. He argues Lot likely expected the mob to reject such an extreme proposal, thereby confirming their unnatural lusts. This stratagem serves as a sharp rebuke, highlighting how the city’s wickedness had abandoned all moral boundaries.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the duty of those saved from sin to warn their own family, just as Lot was told to bring out everyone he had. He also notes a striking mercy: the angels offered to save Lot's relations even though none were righteous, showing that ungodly people often gain temporal blessings through godly relatives.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that holy angels serve a double ministry: they carry out God's mercy by protecting and rescuing his people, and they also execute his wrath by destroying sinners. The same angels who deliver the righteous bring judgment upon the wicked.