Genesis 18:20
New International Version
Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous

New Living Translation
So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.

English Standard Version
Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,

King James Bible
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

New King James Version
And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,

New American Standard Bible
And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

NASB 1995
And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

NASB 1977
And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Yahweh said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

Amplified Bible
And the LORD said, “The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said, "Abraham, I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are doing all kinds of evil things.

English Revised Version
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD also said, "Sodom and Gomorrah have many complaints against them, and their sin is very serious.

Good News Translation
Then the LORD said to Abraham, "There are terrible accusations against Sodom and Gomorrah, and their sin is very great.

International Standard Version
The LORD also said, "How great is the disapproval of Sodom and Gomorrah! Their sin is so very serious!

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said, ?The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,

NET Bible
So the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant

New Heart English Bible
God said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is so grievous,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

World English Bible
Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says, “The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah—because great; and their sin—because exceedingly grievous:

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith, 'The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah -- because great; and their sin -- because exceeding grievous:

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say, The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah became great, and because their sin was exceedingly heavy,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so the Lord said, “The outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah has been multiplied, and their sin has become exceedingly grievous.

New American Bible
So the LORD said: The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave,

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah has come before me and their sins are very grievous,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said: “The bellowing of Sadom and of Ammora has entered before me, and their sins are very grievous,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said, The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha has been increased towards me, and their sins are very great.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abraham Begs for Sodom
19For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.” 20Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous, 21I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”…

Cross References
Genesis 19:13
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.”

Ezekiel 16:49-50
Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. / Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen.

Isaiah 3:9
The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.

Jeremiah 23:14
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

Jude 1:7
In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

2 Peter 2:6-8
if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; / and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

Luke 17:28-30
It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. / But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. / It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

Romans 9:29
It is just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.”

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Lamentations 4:6
The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.

Deuteronomy 29:23
All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.

Amos 4:11
“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.

Matthew 10:15
Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Matthew 11:23-24
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. / But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Mark 6:11
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

the cry.

Genesis 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Genesis 19:13
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.

Isaiah 3:9
The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

sin.

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Jump to Previous
Cry Evil Exceeding Exceedingly Gomorrah Gomor'rah Grave Great Grievous Indeed Outcry Sin Sodom Verily
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Cry Evil Exceeding Exceedingly Gomorrah Gomor'rah Grave Great Grievous Indeed Outcry Sin Sodom Verily
Genesis 18
1. The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels.
9. Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son.
16. The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham.
23. Abraham makes intercession for its inhabitants.














Then the LORD said
This phrase introduces a direct communication from God, emphasizing His active involvement in human affairs. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, highlighting His covenant relationship with Abraham. This divine speech underscores God's omniscience and justice, as He is aware of the moral state of Sodom and Gomorrah. Historically, this reflects the theophany where God appears to Abraham, demonstrating His willingness to engage with humanity and His concern for righteousness.

The outcry
The term "outcry" in Hebrew is "za'akah," which often denotes a cry for help due to oppression or injustice. This suggests that the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were not only personal but had societal implications, affecting the innocent and vulnerable. The use of "outcry" indicates that the moral corruption of these cities had reached a level that demanded divine attention. It reflects the biblical theme that God hears the cries of the oppressed and acts in justice.

against Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah are historically and archaeologically significant as cities known for their wickedness. These cities, located in the region of the Dead Sea, have become synonymous with sin and divine judgment. The mention of these cities serves as a moral warning throughout Scripture, illustrating the consequences of turning away from God's laws. Their destruction is a testament to God's holiness and the seriousness with which He views sin.

is great
The Hebrew word "rabah" is used here, meaning "great" or "numerous." This indicates the extent and severity of the sin in Sodom and Gomorrah. The greatness of the outcry suggests that the sins were not isolated incidents but pervasive throughout the society. This serves as a reminder of the cumulative effect of sin and the importance of communal righteousness.

Because their sin
The word "sin" in Hebrew is "chatta'ah," which refers to an offense against God's law. The use of "their" personalizes the sin, attributing it directly to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. This highlights the biblical principle of personal responsibility and accountability before God. It also reflects the idea that sin is not just a violation of divine law but a breach in the relationship with God.

is so grievous
The Hebrew word "kabed" is translated as "grievous," meaning heavy or burdensome. This conveys the weight and seriousness of the sin, indicating that it was not only frequent but also morally repugnant. The grievous nature of the sin underscores the need for divine intervention and judgment. It serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of sin and the necessity of repentance and righteousness.

Verse 20. - And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Literally, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah (cf. Genesis 4:10), because it is (not, it is indeed, Baumgarten, Keil) multiplied; the place of emphasis being conceded to the subject of discourse, viz., the cry of Sodom s wickedness. And because their sin is very great. Literally, and their sin, because it is heavy, i.e. abundant and heinous.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“The outcry
זַעֲקַ֛ת (za·‘ă·qaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2201: A shriek, outcry

against Sodom
סְדֹ֥ם (sə·ḏōm)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5467: Sodom -- a Canaanite city near the Dead Sea

and Gomorrah
וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה (wa·‘ă·mō·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6017: Gomorrah -- a city in the Jordan Valley

is great.
רָ֑בָּה (rāb·bāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

Because
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

their sin
וְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔ם (wə·ḥaṭ·ṭā·ṯām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

is so
מְאֹֽד׃ (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

grievous,
כָבְדָ֖ה (ḵā·ḇə·ḏāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome


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OT Law: Genesis 18:20 Yahweh said Because the cry of Sodom (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 18:19
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