Genesis 19:14 · Bible study
Genesis 19:14 Commentary: Lot's Warning Mocked
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore why Lot’s sons-in-law thought he was joking about Sodom’s destruction. A study of unbelief, mercy, and the cost of indifference.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Lot urgently warned his sons-in-law of imminent destruction, but they thought he was joking because of their spiritual blindness.
- Key words: לֹקְחֵי (taking/about to take, ambiguous timing), מַשְׁחִית (about to destroy, imminent act), צָחַק (laugh/mock, same root as Isaac’s laughter).
- Main debate: Were the sons-in-law already married or only betrothed? The participle supports both, but context favors betrothal.
- Theological theme: The danger of unbelief and the mercy of God in saving even a hesitant Lot.
- Best use: A warning passage, illustrates how comfortable sinners dismiss judgment, and how God rescues those who take Him seriously.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking.
KJV King James Version 1769
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for Jehovah will destroy the city. But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that mocked.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Lot goeth out, and speaketh unto his sons-in-law, those taking his daughters, and saith, `Rise, go out from this place, for Jehovah is destroying the city;' and he is as one mocking in the eyes of his sons-in-law.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, Up, go out of this place, for Jehovah will destroy the city. But he was as if he jested, in the sight of his sons-in-law.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
So Lot went out, and spoke to his sons in law that were to have his daughters, and said: Arise: get you out of this place, because the Lord will destroy this city. And he seemed to them to speak as it were in jest.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces salió Lot, y habló á sus yernos, los que habían de tomar sus hijas, y les dijo: Levantaos, salid de este lugar; porque Jehová va á destruir esta ciudad. Mas pareció á sus yernos como que se burlaba.
Então saiu Ló, e falou a seus genros, os que haviam de se casar com suas filhas, e lhes disse: Levantai-vos, saí deste lugar; porque o SENHOR vai destruir esta cidade. Mas pareceu a seus genros como que se ridicularizava.
Lot sortit, et parla à ses gendres qui avaient pris ses filles: Levez-vous, dit-il, sortez de ce lieu; car l’ Éternel va détruire la ville. Mais, aux yeux de ses gendres, il parut plaisanter.
Da ging Lot hinaus und redete mit seinen Eidamen, die seine Töchter nehmen sollten: Macht euch auf und geht aus diesem Ort; denn der HERR wird diese Stadt verderben. Aber es war ihnen lächerlich.
Toen ging Lot uit, en sprak tot zijn schoonzonen, die zijn dochteren nemen zouden, en zeide: Maakt u op, gaat uit deze plaats; want de HEERE gaat deze stad verderven. Maar hij was in de ogen zijner schoonzonen als jokkende.
Allora Lot usci, parlò ai suoi generi che avevano preso le sue figliuole, e disse: “Levatevi, uscite da questo luogo, perché l’Eterno sta per distruggere la città”. Ma ai i generi parve che volesse scherzare.
Tedy wyszedłszy Lot mówił do zięciów swoich, którzy mieli pojąć córki jego, i rzekł: Wstańcie, wynijdźcie z miejsca tego, bo skazi Pan to miasto; ale się zdało w oczach zięciów jego, jakoby żartował.
И вышел Лот, и говорил с зятьями своими, которые брали за себя дочерей его, и сказал: встаньте, выйдите из сего места, ибо Господь истребит сей город. Но зятьям его показалось, что он шутит.
羅得 就出去，告訴 娶了（或譯：將要娶）他女兒 的女婿 們說：「你們起來 離開 這 地方，因為 耶和華 要毀滅 這城。」他女婿 們卻以為 他說的是 戲言。
And Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were married to his daughters, Come, let us go out of this place, for the Lord is about to send destruction on the town. But his sons-in-law did not take him seriously.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 19:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Lot faithfully warned his sons-in-law of imminent judgment, but the men dismissed his words as a joke. Calvin observes that where there is no fear of God, warnings of punishment vanish like a fable. The Cambridge Bible notes the Hebrew verb used for Lot “seeming to mock” (צחק, tsachaq) is the same word for Sarah’s laughter in Genesis 18:12, marking the sons-in-law’s reaction as outright disbelief. Gill explains they thought Lot was jesting, trying to scare them for amusement. Keil and Delitzsch add that the men were spiritually secure, and their refusal to believe mirrors the attitude of those who mock God’s messengers. All point to a core truth: rejection of divine warning often comes not from lack of evidence but from hardness of heart.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Betrothed interpretation: Context: Lot’s daughters were at home (v. 15), so the “sons-in-law” were not yet married to them; they were only betrothed (so Cambridge Bible, Keil, Josephus).
- Married interpretation: The Hebrew participle can be read as past tense “who had taken,” implying married daughters who lived elsewhere in the city (so Gill, some Jewish commentators).
What is clear: Lot warned men connected to his daughters of imminent destruction, and they dismissed his words as a joke.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the sons-in-law | They were men connected to Lot’s daughters, viewed as family. | Some read the Hebrew participle as “who had taken” (married); others as “who were about to take” (betrothed). The context favors betrothal because the daughters were still in Lot’s house (v. 15). |
| Reason for their mockery | They did not believe the warning. | Calvin emphasizes total spiritual blindness and lack of fear of God. Other commentators note that Lot’s own hesitancy (v. 16) may have undercut his urgency, though the text does not say so. |
| Lot’s character in this scene | Lot obeyed the angels and warned his family. | Some (Calvin, Matthew Henry) see Lot as a man of faith acting diligently. Others (Lange, Keil) point to his lingering spirit as evidence of a half-hearted attachment to Sodom. |
| Significance of the verb ‘mocked’ | It implies jesting, treating the warning as absurd. | Does the specific root (צחק) carry overtones of scorn (as in Genesis 21:9, Hagar’s mocking) or is it simply disbelief? Most commentators see it as dismissive laughter. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Lot’s sons-in-law are described with the Hebrew participle לֹקְחֵי (lo·ke·Chei, from לָקַח, “take”), which is ambiguous: it may mean “who had taken” or “who were about to take” Lot’s daughters. The context of the chapter supports the betrothal interpretation. Lot’s daughters were still living with him (Genesis 19:15), and the angels later urge Lot to take only his wife and two daughters out of the city. This suggests the “sons-in-law” were betrothed men living elsewhere in Sodom. Betrothal in the ancient Near East was a binding legal contract, so Lot could call them sons-in-law even before the wedding.
The urgency of the scene fits the timeline. Angels had announced destruction; Lot went out that night (probably after the Sodomites’ assault on his house) to find the men. The verb מַשְׁחִית (mash·Chit, “about to destroy”) is a Hiphil participle, emphasizing immediate, impending action. The city was corrupt beyond measure; the men of Sodom had just surrounded Lot’s house. The sons-in-law, however, were part of that culture. They likely viewed Lot as a foreign resident who was overly religious or easily frightened. To them, talk of divine judgment was a fairy tale.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant manuscript variants for Genesis 19:14. The main textual question is interpretive: the Hebrew participle לֹקְחֵי (from לָקַח) is ambiguous between past and future action. The KJV and ASV adopt the past sense (“which married”), while the Cambridge Bible and many modern versions prefer “were to marry.” This affects our understanding of the daughters’ marital status, but does not change the core meaning of the verse.
Reception History
Early Jewish interpreters, including Josephus, understood the sons-in-law as betrothed men. In Christian tradition, the Reformers used this verse to warn against the spiritual sleep of the wicked. Calvin saw in it a mirror of the scorn that God’s messengers often face. Matthew Henry applied it as a lesson for believers to warn their relatives, even when the warning is mocked. Wesley noted the tragedy of those who jest about judgment and perish. The verse has been a sobering text in revival preaching, illustrating how near judgment can be while people scoff.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The urgency of the warning. Lot’s command “Get up! Get out!” echoes God’s call for immediate separation from sin (cf. Numbers 16:26, Exodus 12:31). The time for deliberation had passed.
- The tragedy of unbelief. The sons-in-law considered Lot a jester. Their mockery shows how spiritual security blinds people to danger, as Calvin said: they “stupidly sleep in sin.”
- God’s mercy despite rejection. While the sons-in-law perished, God rescued Lot and his family. The warning was genuine, even if some mocked it (see Genesis 19:22 for the patient delay).
Five-point outline
- Lot’s obedience: he conveyed the angel’s message faithfully.
- The risk: warning others often invites ridicule.
- The blindness of a culture at ease: Sodom’s prosperity deceived its inhabitants.
- God’s patience: the angels did not destroy the city until Lot was safe.
- A dividing line: some hear and are saved; others mock and are lost.
Illustration hooks
- A doctor diagnoses a disease and urges treatment, but the patient laughs it off, convinced they feel fine. The delay is costly.
- A fire alarm sounds in a crowded building; people assume it’s a drill and stay put. When the flames come, it is too late.
- Everyday warnings, a financial adviser forecasting a crash, a friend pleading about a dangerous habit, are often met with “you’re overreacting.”
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would anyone reject a clear warning from God?
- How can I know whether my own faith is genuine or just comfortable routine?
- Does God still send warnings today, and how do I recognize them?
Leading a Discussion
This verse confronts us with a painful reality: a direct warning from God through His messenger can be dismissed as a joke. The sons-in-law represent those who are so immersed in the world that the thought of judgment seems absurd. Use this passage to examine what we are tempted to treat lightly.
Discussion questions
- What exactly did Lot tell his sons-in-law? Quote his words and note the urgency.
- Why do you think they thought he was joking? What does their reaction reveal about their spiritual condition?
- How does Lot’s later hesitation (verse 16) affect your reading of this scene? Was he half-hearted or fully convinced?
- Compare this mockery with the response of the Egyptians in Exodus 9:21. What patterns of unbelief do you see?
- When have you witnessed someone dismissing a serious Christian warning as naïve or extreme?
- What warnings from Scripture do you find hardest to take seriously? Why?
- How can we cultivate a heart that listens to warnings, rather than mocking them?
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 19:17 | It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!” |
| Genesis 19:22 | Hurry, escape there, for I can’t do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. |
| Exodus 9:21 | Whoever didn’t respect Yahweh’s word left his servants and his livestock in the field. |
| Exodus 12:31 | He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have said! |
| Numbers 16:21 | “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” |
| Numbers 16:26 | He spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins!” |
| Numbers 16:45 | “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces. |
| II Chronicles 30:10 | So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun, but people ridiculed them and mocked them. |
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 highlights Lot's faith in both fearing God's judgment and still grasping the promised salvation. His sons-in-law mocked him because, lacking any fear of God, they dismissed his warnings as delirium. This shows how security intoxicates the wicked, making them scorn warnings until sudden ruin overtakes them.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator argues that the sons-in-law were only betrothed, not yet married, since Lot's daughters still lived with him; "married his daughters" should read "were to marry." It also notes the Hebrew word for "mocked" is the same one used for Sarah's laughter and Ishmael's sporting, suggesting playful disbelief.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible notes that Lot’s sons-in-law dismissed his urgent warning as a joke, treating him as if he were mocking them. They saw no real danger, so they rejected the truth. This reveals how unbelief turns God’s solemn messages into empty words.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that Lot’s sons-in-law were only betrothed to his daughters, not yet married. Because the marriage had not been completed, they dismissed his urgent warning as a joke, not believing the destruction was imminent.
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 highlights the distinction between Jehovah manifested on earth and Jehovah hidden in heaven, seeing in the "fire from the Lord from the Lord" a support for the Son raining judgment from the Father. He also stresses that Lot, though free from Sodom's abominations, was not free from its worldly mind, which explains his lingering.
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 Lot's sons-in-law dismissed his urgent warning because they were habitually given to jesting, treating everything as a joke. Their refusal to take the warning seriously cost them their lives. This illustrates how those who make light of sin's danger perish with their own blood on their heads.