Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

Genesis 18

22 Then the men turned away from there a and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 And Abraham b came near and said, c "Would You also d destroy the e righteous with the wicked? 24 "Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so f that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! g Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26 So the LORD said, h "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes."

27 Then Abraham answered and said, "Indeed now, I who am i but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: 28 "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." 29 And he spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose there should be forty found there?" So He said, "I will not do it for the sake of forty." 30 Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?" So He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 And he said, "Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?" So He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty." 32 Then he said, j "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" k And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." 33 So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 18:16
    Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way.
    Genesis 19:1
    Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
  2. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:22
    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 23:7
    Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.
    Numbers 16:22
    Then they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?
    2 Samuel 24:17
    Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father's house.
    Psalms 11:4 - 7
    The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
  4. Cross References
    Job 9:22
    It is all one thing; Therefore I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the wicked.
  5. Cross References
    Genesis 20:4
    But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also?
  6. Cross References
    Job 8:20
    Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
    Isaiah 3:10
    Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
    Isaiah 3:11
    Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him.
  7. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:16
    Then I commanded your judges at that time, sayi...
    Deuteronomy 1:17
    'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you...
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all Hi...
    Job 8:3
    Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty...
    Job 8:20
    Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, N...
    Job 34:17
    Should one who hates justice govern? Will you c...
    Psalms 58:11
    So that men will say, "Surely there is a reward...
    Psalms 94:2
    Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishmen...
    Isaiah 3:10
    Say to the righteous that it shall be well with...
    Isaiah 3:11
    Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, Fo...
    Romans 3:5
    But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the rig...
    Romans 3:6
    Certainly not! For then how will God judge the ...
  8. Cross References
    Jeremiah 5:1
    Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places If you can find a man, If there is anyone who executes judgment, Who seeks the truth, And I will pardon her.
    Ezekiel 22:30
    So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 3:19
    In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread T...
    Job 4:19
    How much more those who dwell in houses of clay...
    Job 30:19
    He has cast me into the mire, And I have become...
    Job 42:6
    Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust an...
    1 Corinthians 15:47
    The first man was of the earth, made of dust; t...
    1 Corinthians 15:48
    As was the man of dust, so also are those who a...
  10. Cross References
    Judges 6:39
    Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.
  11. Cross References
    James 5:16
    Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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