Genesis 18:28
New International Version
what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”

New Living Translation
Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the LORD said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”

English Standard Version
Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Berean Standard Bible
suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.

New American Standard Bible
Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the entire city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

NASB 1995
“Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

NASB 1977
“Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, wilt Thou destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Amplified Bible
If five of the fifty righteous are lacking, will You destroy the entire city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find [at least] forty-five [righteous people] there, I will not destroy it.”

Christian Standard Bible
suppose the fifty righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five? ” He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
suppose the 50 righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.”

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

Contemporary English Version
But suppose there are only 45 good people in Sodom. Would you still wipe out the whole city?" "If I find 45 good people," the LORD replied, "I won't destroy the city."

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
what if there are 45 innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of 5 fewer people?" The LORD answered, "I will not destroy it if I find 45 there."

Good News Translation
But perhaps there will be only forty-five innocent people instead of fifty. Will you destroy the whole city because there are five too few?" The LORD answered, "I will not destroy the city if I find forty-five innocent people."

International Standard Version
What if there are five less than 50 righteous ones? Will you bring destruction upon the city because of those five?" The LORD said, "I won't destroy it if I find 45 there."

Majority Standard Bible
suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?? He replied, ?If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.?

NET Bible
what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are lacking?" He replied, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."

New Heart English Bible
What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?" He said, "I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there."

Webster's Bible Translation
Peradventure there will 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.

World English Bible
What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
perhaps there are lacking five of the fifty righteous—do You destroy for five the whole of the city?” And He says, “I do not destroy [it], if I find there forty-five.”

Young's Literal Translation
peradventure there are lacking five of the fifty righteous -- dost Thou destroy for five the whole of the city?' and He saith, 'I destroy it not, if I find there forty and five.'

Smith's Literal Translation
If the fifty just shall lack five: wilt thou destroy for sake of five all the city? And he will say, I will not destroy, if I shall find there forty and five.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
What if there be Ave less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty.

Catholic Public Domain Version
What if there were five less than fifty of the just? Would you, despite the forty-five, eliminate the entire city?” And he said, “I will not eliminate it, if I find forty-five there.”

New American Bible
What if there are five less than fifty righteous people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?” I will not destroy it, he answered, if I find forty-five there.

New Revised Standard Version
Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Suppose there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt thou destroy the whole city for the lack of five men? And he said, If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if five are lacking from fifty righteous, will you destroy the entire city because of five?” And he said, “I shall not destroy if I find there forty and five.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?' And He said: 'I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if the fifty righteous should be diminished to forty-five, wilt thou destroy the whole city because of the five wanting? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I should find there forty-five.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abraham Begs for Sodom
27Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes— 28suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.” 29Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”…

Cross References
Exodus 32:14
So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people.

Numbers 14:19-20
Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of Your loving devotion, just as You have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.” / “I have pardoned them as you requested,” the LORD replied.

Jeremiah 5:1
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.

Amos 7:2-3
And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?” / So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.

Amos 7:5-6
Then I said, “Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?” / So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.

Jonah 3:10
When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.

Isaiah 1:9
Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.

Ezekiel 22:30
I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.

2 Chronicles 7:14
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Psalm 106:23
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.

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.”

Luke 10:13-14
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. / But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

Matthew 18:19-20
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. / For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.


Treasury of Scripture

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

wilt.

Numbers 14:17-19
And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, …

1 Kings 20:32,33
So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother…

Job 23:3,4
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! …

If I.

Genesis 18:26,29
And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes…

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Account Chance City Destroy Destruction Fifty Find Five Forty Forty-Five Lack Peradventure Perhaps Righteous Suppose Upright Want Whole Wilt
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Account Chance City Destroy Destruction Fifty Find Five Forty Forty-Five Lack Peradventure Perhaps Righteous Suppose Upright Want Whole Wilt
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.














Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five
This phrase reflects Abraham's boldness and humility in interceding for Sodom. The Hebrew root for "suppose" (אוּלַי, 'ulay) conveys a sense of uncertainty and hope. Abraham approaches God with reverence, acknowledging His justice while appealing to His mercy. The number "fifty" symbolizes completeness or a significant community, suggesting that a small group of righteous individuals can have a profound impact on the fate of many. The idea of "lacking five" introduces the concept of grace, where even a small deficiency in righteousness can be covered by God's mercy.

Will You destroy the whole city for lack of five?
Here, Abraham questions the justice of God, not out of doubt, but to understand the extent of His mercy. The Hebrew word for "destroy" (שָׁחַת, shachat) implies a complete ruin or corruption. Abraham's plea highlights the tension between divine justice and mercy. The phrase "for lack of five" emphasizes the value of each righteous person and suggests that God's judgment considers the collective righteousness of a community. This dialogue invites believers to consider the power of intercession and the importance of righteousness in society.

And He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”
God's response reveals His willingness to relent from judgment for the sake of the righteous. The phrase "If I find" indicates God's omniscience and His active search for righteousness. The number "forty-five" signifies a reduction, yet God's mercy remains abundant. The assurance "I will not destroy it" underscores God's desire to save rather than punish. This exchange between God and Abraham serves as a testament to the power of prayer and the profound impact of a few righteous individuals. It encourages believers to trust in God's justice and mercy, knowing that He values righteousness and is willing to spare many for the sake of a few.

Verse 28. - Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? Literally, on account of five, i.e. because they are wanting. A rare example of holy ingenuity in prayer. Abraham, instead of pleading for the city's safety on account of forty-five, deprecates its destruction on account of five. And its said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
suppose
א֠וּלַי (’ū·lay)
Adverb
Strong's 194: Perhaps

the fifty
חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים (ḥă·miš·šîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 2572: Fifty

righteous ones
הַצַּדִּיקִם֙ (haṣ·ṣad·dî·qim)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

lack
יַחְסְר֞וּן (yaḥ·sə·rūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 2637: To lack, need, be lacking, decrease

five.
חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה (ḥă·miš·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

Will you destroy
הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית (hă·ṯaš·ḥîṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

the whole
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

city
הָעִ֑יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

for the lack of five?”
בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה (ba·ḥă·miš·šāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

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

“If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I find
אֶמְצָ֣א (’em·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

forty-five
אַרְבָּעִ֖ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

there,
שָׁ֔ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

I will not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

destroy [it].”
אַשְׁחִ֔ית (’aš·ḥîṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin


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