Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.) New Living Translation But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”) English Standard Version Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Berean Standard Bible Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar. King James Bible Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. New King James Version Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. New American Standard Bible Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the town was named Zoar. NASB 1995 “Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar. NASB 1977 “Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar. Legacy Standard Bible Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Amplified Bible Hurry and take refuge there, for I cannot do anything [to punish Sodom] until you arrive there.” For this reason the town was named Zoar (few, small). Christian Standard Bible Hurry up! Run to it, for I cannot do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city is Zoar. Holman Christian Standard Bible Hurry up! Run there, for I cannot do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city is Zoar. American Standard Version Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Contemporary English Version Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you are safely there." The town was later called Zoar because Lot had said it was small. English Revised Version Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. GOD'S WORD® Translation Run there quickly, because I can't do anything until you get there." (The city is named Zoar [Small].) Good News Translation Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you get there." Because Lot called it small, the town was named Zoar. International Standard Version Hurry up and flee there, because I cannot do anything until you get to that town." Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar. NET Bible Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there." (This incident explains why the town was called Zoar.) New Heart English Bible Hurry, escape there, for I can't do anything until you get there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Webster's Bible Translation Haste thee, escape thither: for I cannot do any thing till thou hast come thither: therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar. World English Bible Hurry, escape there, for I can’t do anything until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionhurry, escape there, for I am not able to do anything until your entering there”; therefore he calls the name of the city Zoar. Young's Literal Translation haste, escape thither, for I am not able to do anything till thine entering thither;' therefore hath he calleth the name of the city Zoar. Smith's Literal Translation Hasten, to escape there, for I shall not be able to do the word till thy coming there: for this the name of the city was called Zoar. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleMake haste and be saved there, because I cannot do any thing till thou go in thither. Therefore the name of that city was called Segor. Catholic Public Domain Version Hurry and be saved there. For I cannot do anything until you enter there.” For this reason, the name of that city is called Zoar. New American Bible Hurry, escape there! I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” That is why the town is called Zoar. New Revised Standard Version Hurry, escape there, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” Therefore the city was called Zoar. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleMake haste and escape there; for I cannot do anything till you enter into it. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Escape there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you enter there”; because of this, he called the name of the city, Tsaar. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Hasten thou, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.'--Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.-- Brenton Septuagint Translation Hasten therefore to escape thither, for I shall not be able to do anything until thou art come thither; therefore he called the name of that city, Segor. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Lot Flees to Zoar…21“Very well,” he answered, “I will grant this request as well, and will not demolish the town you indicate. 22Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar. 23And by the time the sun had risen over the land, Lot had reached Zoar.… Cross References Genesis 18:32 Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.” Genesis 6:8 Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Exodus 32:14 So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people. Numbers 16:45-48 “Get away from this congregation so that I may consume them in an instant.” And Moses and Aaron fell facedown. / Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” / So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people. ... Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. 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. 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. Amos 7:3 So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said. 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. Matthew 24:22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. 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. Luke 18:7-8 Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them? / I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” John 17:15 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. Acts 27:24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 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.” Treasury of Scripture Haste you, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till you be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. for. Genesis 32:25-28 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him… Exodus 32:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. Deuteronomy 9:14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they. called. Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Genesis 14:2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. Isaiah 15:5 My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction. Zoar. Genesis 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. Jump to Previous Able Arrive City Escape Flee Haste Hasten Hurry Quickly Reach Reason Thither Zoar Zo'arJump to Next Able Arrive City Escape Flee Haste Hasten Hurry Quickly Reach Reason Thither Zoar Zo'arGenesis 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. Hurry! Run there quickly, This phrase reflects the urgency of the situation. The angels are instructing Lot to escape immediately to avoid the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The urgency underscores the severity of God's judgment and the necessity of swift obedience. This mirrors other biblical instances where immediate action is required, such as the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt during the Exodus (Exodus 12:11). for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar. Persons / Places / Events 1. LotNephew of Abraham, living in Sodom, who is being urged by angels to flee the impending destruction. 2. Angels Messengers of God sent to rescue Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. 3. Zoar A small town near Sodom where Lot and his family are instructed to flee for safety. 4. Sodom and Gomorrah Cities known for their wickedness, destined for destruction by God’s judgment. 5. God’s Judgment The divine decision to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah due to their sinfulness. Teaching Points Urgency of ObedienceThe angels’ command to "hurry" underscores the importance of immediate obedience to God’s instructions. Delayed obedience can lead to dire consequences. God’s Mercy in Judgment Even in judgment, God provides a way of escape for the righteous, as seen in His provision of Zoar for Lot. This reflects His character of mercy and grace. The Significance of Small Places Zoar, meaning "small" or "insignificant," becomes a place of refuge. God often uses what seems small or insignificant to accomplish His purposes. Divine Timing and Protection The statement "I cannot do anything until you reach it" highlights God’s control over events and His protection of His people until they are safe. The Consequences of Sin The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of persistent sin and the reality of divine judgment. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 19:22?2. How does Genesis 19:22 demonstrate God's mercy in delaying judgment for Lot? 3. What can we learn about God's timing from "I cannot do anything"? 4. How does Genesis 19:22 connect to God's protection in Psalm 91:11? 5. How should we respond when God provides a "safe place" in our lives? 6. In what ways can we trust God's instructions like Lot did in Genesis 19:22? 7. Why does Genesis 19:22 emphasize the urgency of Lot's departure from Sodom? 8. How does Genesis 19:22 reflect God's mercy and judgment? 9. What is the significance of the city of Zoar in Genesis 19:22? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 19? 11. Should we escape to the mountains for safety? 12. Should we escape to the mountains for safety? 13. What virtues and vices do the patriarchs advise on? 14. Who were the three men visiting Abraham in Genesis 18? What Does Genesis 19:22 Mean Hurry!“ ‘Hurry!’ ” speaks of holy urgency. The angels press Lot to act without delay, just as they had earlier: “When dawn came, the angels hurried Lot, saying, ‘Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters…’ ” (Genesis 19:15). Throughout Scripture, delay in the face of judgment is dangerous (Exodus 12:33; 2 Corinthians 6:2). God’s warnings are merciful, but they are not indefinite. Like Noah entering the ark before the flood (Genesis 7:1), Lot must move now because the time of safety is swiftly closing. Run there quickly, Flight, not negotiation, is the proper response to sin’s impending judgment. The angels had already said, “Escape for your life!” (Genesis 19:17). Similarly, believers are urged to “flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14) and to “pursue righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:22). Lot’s refuge is small but sufficient, echoing Hebrews 6:18 where we “flee for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.” God always provides a definite place of safety, and obedience means moving toward it without wavering. For I cannot do anything until you reach it This statement highlights both God’s justice and His covenant faithfulness. Judgment on Sodom is certain (Genesis 18:20–21), yet it is withheld until Lot, the righteous man God has pledged to rescue (2 Peter 2:7), is secure. The pattern appears again in Revelation 7:3 where destruction is delayed “until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” God’s wrath never falls on the righteous with the wicked (Genesis 18:23; 1 Thessalonians 1:10), underscoring His impeccable timing and His mercy toward those counted as His own. That is why the town was called Zoar. Lot had pleaded, “Is it not a small town? … let me flee there” (Genesis 19:20). Zoar’s name reminds readers that even “small” graces are large in God’s redemptive plan. What seems insignificant becomes a monument to divine deliverance, much like Gideon’s small army securing victory (Judges 7:7) or the “day of small things” that God does not despise (Zechariah 4:10). The naming records God’s faithfulness so future generations remember that rescue. summary Genesis 19:22 reveals the heart of God toward His own: urgent warning, clear direction, protective restraint, and memorable rescue. Judgment is real and imminent, yet God makes a secure way of escape and does nothing until His people are safe. (22) Zoar.--This town is identified by Dr. Tristram (Land of Moab, p. 330) with Zi'ara, at the northern end of the Dead Sea. It is described as lying upon the borders of the Moabite territory, in Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 48:34. Eusebius says that a Roman garrison was posted there, but he probably accepted the current tradition which placed the five cities at the southern extremity of the lake.Verse 22. - Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. I.e. "The Little;" obviously from Lot's remark concerning it (Ver. 20); Σηγώρ (LXX.). The original name of the city was Bela (Genesis 14:2, q.v.). It has been sought for in the Wady Zuweirah, a pass leading down from Hebron to the Dead Sea, on the west side of the lake (De Sancey); in the Ghor-el-Mezraa, i.e. upon the southern peninsula, Which projects a long way into the Dead Sea (Robinson); and in the Ghor-el-Szaphia, at the south-eastern end of the see, at the opening of the Wady-el-Raumer (Keil); but has now been identified with Zi'ara, at the northern extremity of the lake (Tristram, 'Land of Moab,' p. 330; vide infra, Ver. 28, on the site of cities of the plain).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Hurry!מַהֵר֙ (ma·hêr) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly Run הִמָּלֵ֣ט (him·mā·lêṭ) Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks there quickly, שָׁ֔מָּה (šām·māh) Adverb | third person feminine singular Strong's 8033: There, then, thither for כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I cannot לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no do לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 6213: To do, make anything דָּבָ֔ר (dā·ḇār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause until עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while you reach בֹּאֲךָ֖ (bō·’ă·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go it.” שָׁ֑מָּה (šām·māh) Adverb | third person feminine singular Strong's 8033: There, then, thither That is why עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the town הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement was called קָרָ֥א (qā·rā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read Zoar. צֽוֹעַר׃ (ṣō·w·‘ar) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 6820: Zoar -- 'insignificance', a city at the southeastern end of the Dead Sea Links Genesis 19:22 NIVGenesis 19:22 NLT Genesis 19:22 ESV Genesis 19:22 NASB Genesis 19:22 KJV Genesis 19:22 BibleApps.com Genesis 19:22 Biblia Paralela Genesis 19:22 Chinese Bible Genesis 19:22 French Bible Genesis 19:22 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 19:22 Hurry escape there for I can't do (Gen. 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