Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. New Living Translation Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon. English Standard Version The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Berean Standard Bible And by the time the sun had risen over the land, Lot had reached Zoar. King James Bible The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. New King James Version The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. New American Standard Bible The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. NASB 1995 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. NASB 1977 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Legacy Standard Bible The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Amplified Bible The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Christian Standard Bible The sun had risen over the land when Lot reached Zoar. Holman Christian Standard Bible The sun had risen over the land when Lot reached Zoar. American Standard Version The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar. Contemporary English Version The sun was coming up as Lot reached the town of Zoar, English Revised Version The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar. GOD'S WORD® Translation The sun had just risen over the land as Lot came to Zoar. Good News Translation The sun was rising when Lot reached Zoar. International Standard Version The sun had risen over the land about the time Lot reached Zoar. NET Bible The sun had just risen over the land as Lot reached Zoar. New Heart English Bible The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Webster's Bible Translation The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd by the time the sun had risen over the land, Lot had reached Zoar. World English Bible The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThe sun has gone out on the earth, and Lot has entered into Zoar, Young's Literal Translation The sun hath gone out on the earth, and Lot hath entered into Zoar, Smith's Literal Translation The sun came forth upon the earth, and Lot came to Zoar. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe sun was risen upon the earth, and Lot entered into Segor. Catholic Public Domain Version The sun had risen over the land, and Lot had entered into Zoar. New American Bible The sun had risen over the earth when Lot arrived in Zoar, New Revised Standard Version The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated The sun came out over the land and Lot entered Tsaar. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar. Brenton Septuagint Translation The sun was risen upon the earth, when Lot entered into Segor. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Lot Flees to Zoar…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 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. Matthew 24:37-39 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. / For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 2 Peter 2:6-9 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)— ... 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. 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.” Revelation 11:8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified. Revelation 18:8-10 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” / Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. / In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, 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 1:9 Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah. Treasury of Scripture The sun was risen on the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. risen. Genesis 19:23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Jump to Previous Earth Entered Lot Reached Risen Rose Sun Time Zoar Zo'arJump to Next Earth Entered Lot Reached Risen Rose Sun Time 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. And by the time the sun had risen over the land This phrase marks a significant moment in the narrative, indicating the transition from night to day. In biblical symbolism, the rising sun often represents new beginnings or divine intervention. The timing here is crucial, as it signifies the completion of God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, which occurs as the sun rises. The sun rising can also be seen as a metaphor for God's righteousness and justice being revealed. In the broader biblical context, light often symbolizes God's presence and truth (John 8:12). Lot had reached Zoar Persons / Places / Events 1. LotNephew of Abraham, Lot is a central figure in this passage. He is fleeing from Sodom as God prepares to destroy the city due to its wickedness. Lot's journey to Zoar represents a physical and spiritual escape from sin and judgment. 2. Zoar A small town near the Dead Sea, Zoar becomes Lot's refuge. Its name means "small" or "insignificant," highlighting the humility and safety found in God's provision, even in seemingly insignificant places. 3. Sodom A city known for its sinfulness, Sodom is about to face divine judgment. Its destruction serves as a warning against immorality and disobedience to God. 4. Sunrise The rising sun symbolizes a new beginning and the light of God's mercy, as Lot escapes the impending doom of Sodom. 5. Divine Judgment The event of Sodom's destruction underscores God's righteousness and justice, as well as His mercy in sparing Lot and his family. Teaching Points God's Mercy and JudgmentGod's mercy is evident in Lot's escape, yet His judgment on Sodom is a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin. The Importance of Obedience Lot's journey to Zoar highlights the importance of obeying God's instructions, even when they lead to unexpected or humble places. New Beginnings The sunrise as Lot reaches Zoar symbolizes hope and new beginnings, encouraging believers to seek God's light in times of darkness. The Role of Intercession Abraham's intercession for Sodom reminds us of the power and importance of praying for others, especially those in spiritual danger. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 19:23?2. How does Genesis 19:23 illustrate God's timing in delivering Lot from danger? 3. What lessons can we learn from Lot's obedience in Genesis 19:23? 4. How does Genesis 19:23 connect with God's judgment elsewhere in Scripture? 5. How can we apply the urgency of Genesis 19:23 to our spiritual lives? 6. What does "the sun had risen over the land" symbolize in this context? 7. What historical evidence supports the events described in Genesis 19:23? 8. How does Genesis 19:23 align with archaeological findings in the region? 9. What is the theological significance of the timing mentioned in Genesis 19:23? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 19? 11. What is Zoar's significance in the Bible? 12. What is Zoar's significance in the Bible? 13. Numbers 23:19: How do we reconcile 'God is not a man...that he should repent' with passages elsewhere depicting God changing His mind (e.g., Genesis 6:6)? 14. If Genesis 19:8 is taken at face value, why would Lot offer his daughters to the mob instead of protecting them? What Does Genesis 19:23 Mean And by the time• The wording signals urgency. Lot’s escape begins before dawn (Genesis 19:15), and the phrasing reminds us that God’s timetable for judgment and rescue is precise (Exodus 12:41). • Scripture often pairs “time” with divine appointments—God never delays nor rushes (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Galatians 4:4). • The note of exact timing underscores that the angels’ warning “Hurry!” (Genesis 19:22) was no exaggeration; lives literally hinged on minutes (Hebrews 2:3). the sun had risen over the land • Dawn marks a turning point: judgment on Sodom is imminent, yet Lot experiences new light and life (Psalm 30:5). • Sunrise frequently pictures both mercy and wrath. Malachi 4:1-2 describes the same sunrise bringing blazing judgment for the wicked and healing rays for the righteous. • At daybreak Jericho’s walls fell while Israel marched in victory (Joshua 6:15-20); here, daybreak will witness Sodom’s downfall while Lot stands delivered. • Luke 1:78-79 celebrates Messiah as the “sunrise from on high” guiding us out of darkness—another echo that dawn can herald salvation. Lot had reached Zoar • Zoar, once slated for destruction, is spared because Lot pleaded for it (Genesis 19:20-22). God honors the request, showing His readiness to extend mercy when asked (Psalm 34:15; James 4:2b). • The name “Zoar” means “small,” highlighting that even a modest refuge is enough when God provides it (Proverbs 18:10). • By arriving inside the city limits, Lot steps under divine protection; the angels could now unleash judgment without harming him (2 Peter 2:7-9). • Zoar sits in the Jordan Valley (Deuteronomy 34:3). Though geographically close to Sodom, its fate contrasts sharply, illustrating that salvation and destruction can stand side by side depending on one’s response to God (Luke 17:28-32). summary Genesis 19:23 captures a moment packed with meaning: every second counts, dawn divides judgment from deliverance, and a “small” place becomes a great refuge because God ordained it. The verse assures us that when we act on God’s warnings and trust His provision, we arrive safely even as the world around us faces His righteous judgment. (23) The sun was risen.--As Lot started at dawn, he had thus had about an hour for his flight.Verse 23. - The sun was risen upon the earth - literally, the sun went forth, i.e. it was now above the horizon. Lot had left Sodom with the first streak of dawn; but, having lingered, it was clear morning - when Lot entered into Zoar - or "went towards Zoar," i.e. when the angel left him (Keil).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew When the sunהַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ (haš·še·meš) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement had risen יָצָ֣א (yā·ṣā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim over עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the land, הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land Lot וְל֖וֹט (wə·lō·wṭ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3876: Lot -- Abraham's nephew had reached בָּ֥א (bā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go Zoar. צֹֽעֲרָה׃ (ṣō·‘ă·rāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 6820: Zoar -- 'insignificance', a city at the southeastern end of the Dead Sea Links Genesis 19:23 NIVGenesis 19:23 NLT Genesis 19:23 ESV Genesis 19:23 NASB Genesis 19:23 KJV Genesis 19:23 BibleApps.com Genesis 19:23 Biblia Paralela Genesis 19:23 Chinese Bible Genesis 19:23 French Bible Genesis 19:23 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 19:23 The sun had risen on the earth (Gen. Ge Gn) |