Genesis 19:16 But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD's compassion for them.

◄ Genesis 19:16 ►

New International Version
When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.

New Living Translation
When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.

English Standard Version
But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

Berean Standard Bible
But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them.

King James Bible
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

New King James Version
And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

New American Standard Bible
But he hesitated. So the men grasped his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, because the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out and put him outside the city.

NASB 1995
But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.

NASB 1977
But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.

Legacy Standard Bible
But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of Yahweh was upon him; and they brought him out and put him outside the city.

Amplified Bible
But Lot hesitated and lingered. The men took hold of his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, because the LORD was merciful to him [for Abraham’s sake]; and they brought him out, and left him outside the city [with his family].

Christian Standard Bible
But he hesitated. Because of the LORD’s compassion for him, the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters. They brought him out and left him outside the city.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But he hesitated. Because of the LORD’s compassion for him, the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters. Then they brought him out and left him outside the city.

American Standard Version
But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Contemporary English Version
At first, Lot just stood there. But the LORD wanted to save him. So the angels took Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand and led them out of the city.

English Revised Version
But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When he hesitated, the men grabbed him, his wife, and his two daughters by their hands, because the LORD wanted to spare Lot. They brought them safely outside the city.

Good News Translation
Lot hesitated. The LORD, however, had pity on him; so the men took him, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand and led them out of the city.

International Standard Version
But Lot kept lingering in the city, so the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters (because of the LORD's compassion for him!), brought them out of the city, and left them outside.

Majority Standard Bible
But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD?s compassion for them.

NET Bible
When Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters because the LORD had compassion on them. They led them away and placed them outside the city.

New Heart English Bible
But he hesitated, so the men grabbed his hand, his wife's hand, and his two daughters' hands, God being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.

Webster's Bible Translation
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters: the LORD being merciful to him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

World English Bible
But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he lingers, and the men lay hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, through the mercy of YHWH to him, and they bring him out, and cause him to rest outside the city.

Young's Literal Translation
And he lingereth, and the men lay hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, through the mercy of Jehovah unto him, and they bring him out, and cause him to rest without the city.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he shall linger, and the men will hold fast upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; in Jehovah's having compassion upon him; and they shall bring him forth, and lead him without the city.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And as he lingered, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, and of his two daughters, because the Lord spared him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And, since he ignored them, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, as well as that of his two daughters, because the Lord was sparing him.

New American Bible
When he hesitated, the men, because of the LORD’s compassion for him, seized his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters and led them to safety outside the city.

New Revised Standard Version
But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and left him outside the city.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But Lot lingered; then the angels held his hand, the hand of his wife, and the hands of his two daughters, because the LORD pitied him; and they took him out and set him outside the city.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Lot delayed, and the Messengers seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hand of his two daughters, because LORD JEHOVAH showed pity upon him, and they brought him out and they set him outside of the city.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him. And they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they were troubled, and the angels laid hold on his hand, and the hand of his wife, and the hands of his two daughters, in that the Lord spared him.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Lot Flees to Zoar
…15At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them. 17As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Peter 2:7-8
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 17:28-29
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.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

2 Peter 2:9
if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

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.

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 17:32
Remember Lot’s wife!

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

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.

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.

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.

Jeremiah 50:40
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.

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.

Zephaniah 2:9
Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”

Treasury of Scripture

And while he lingered, the men laid hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful to him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

lingered.

Psalm 119:60
I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

the Lord.

Exodus 34:6
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Numbers 14:18
The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Deuteronomy 4:31
(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

brought.

Joshua 6:22
But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.

2 Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

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Genesis 19

1. Lot entertains two angels.
4. The vicious Sodomites are smitten with blindness.
12. Lot is warned, and in vain warns his sons-in-law.
15. He is directed to flee to the mountains, but obtains leave to go into Zoar.
24. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed.
26. Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
29. Lot dwells in a cave.
31. The incestuous origin of Moab and Ammon.

Berean Study Bible

But when Lot hesitated
The phrase "But when Lot hesitated" reveals a moment of human frailty and indecision. The Hebrew root for "hesitated" is "mahah," which can imply lingering or delaying. This hesitation is significant as it reflects Lot's attachment to Sodom despite its impending destruction. Historically, this moment underscores the tension between divine urgency and human reluctance, a theme prevalent throughout Scripture. Lot's hesitation serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of becoming too comfortable in a sinful environment.

the men grasped his hand
The "men" here refer to the angels sent by God. The Hebrew word for "grasped" is "chazaq," meaning to take hold of firmly. This action signifies divine intervention and the strength of God's deliverance. In a broader scriptural context, it illustrates how God often takes the initiative to save His people, even when they are hesitant or unable to act on their own. This grasping of the hand is a powerful image of God's grace and mercy, pulling Lot from destruction.

and the hands of his wife and two daughters
The inclusion of Lot's "wife and two daughters" highlights the familial aspect of God's salvation. The angels' actions demonstrate God's concern for the family unit, a recurring theme in the Bible. The Hebrew culture placed great importance on family, and this act of deliverance underscores the idea that God's compassion extends to households, not just individuals. It also foreshadows the importance of family in the unfolding narrative of God's people.

and led them safely out of the city
The phrase "led them safely out of the city" indicates a guided deliverance. The Hebrew word for "led" is "yatsa," which means to bring out or deliver. This action is reminiscent of the Exodus, where God leads His people out of bondage. The safety provided by the angels is a testament to God's protective nature. Historically, this reflects God's pattern of rescuing His people from judgment, emphasizing His role as a deliverer.

because of the LORD’s compassion for them
The phrase "because of the LORD’s compassion for them" is central to understanding the motivation behind the divine intervention. The Hebrew word for "compassion" is "racham," which conveys a deep, tender love and mercy. This compassion is not earned by Lot or his family but is a gift of God's grace. In the broader biblical narrative, this compassion is a recurring theme, illustrating God's loving-kindness and mercy towards humanity despite their shortcomings. It serves as a reminder of the depth of God's love and His desire to save.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) And while he lingered.--Heb., and he lingered. Lot still clung to his wealth, and could not make up his mind to leave it, and so at length the angels took him by the hand and compelled him to quit the doomed city.

The Lord being merciful unto him.--Heb., in Jehovah's pity for him. (Comp. Isaiah 63:9.)

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But when [Lot] hesitated,
וַֽיִּתְמַהְמָ֓הּ ׀ (way·yiṯ·mah·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4102: To question, hesitate, to be reluctant

the men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

grabbed
וַיַּחֲזִ֨קוּ (way·ya·ḥă·zi·qū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

his hand
בְּיָד֣וֹ (bə·yā·ḏōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

and the hands
וּבְיַד־ (ū·ḇə·yaḏ-)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of his wife
אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ (’iš·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

and
וּבְיַד֙ (ū·ḇə·yaḏ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

his two
שְׁתֵּ֣י (šə·tê)
Number - fdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

daughters.
בְנֹתָ֔יו (ḇə·nō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

And they led them
וַיֹּצִאֻ֥הוּ (way·yō·ṣi·’u·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

safely
וַיַּנִּחֻ֖הוּ (way·yan·ni·ḥu·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3240: Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place,

out of
מִח֥וּץ (mi·ḥūṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2351: Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors

the city,
לָעִֽיר׃ (lā·‘îr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

because of the LORD’s
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

compassion
בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת (bə·ḥem·laṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2551: Compassion, mercy

for them.
עָלָ֑יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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OT Law: Genesis 19:16 But he lingered (Gen. Ge Gn)