The Meaning of Genesis 18:25 Explained

Genesis 18:25

KJV: That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

YLT: Far be it from Thee to do according to this thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked; that it hath been -- as the righteous so the wicked -- far be it from Thee; doth the Judge of all the earth not do justice?'

Darby: Far be it from thee to do so, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that the righteous should be as the wicked far be it from thee! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

ASV: That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That be far  from thee to do  after this manner,  to slay  the righteous  with the wicked:  and that the righteous  should be as the wicked,  that be far  from thee: Shall not the Judge  of all the earth  do  right? 

What does Genesis 18:25 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 18:16-33 - Abraham Pleads For Sodom
Christ had visited Abraham's tent, but He did more. He trusted him with His secrets, and led him almost unconsciously to a degree of faith and prayer that was far beyond what he had hitherto attained. Abraham seemed to be driving the Blessed One from point to point, but as a matter of fact, he was being drawn forward. It was so with the woman of Syrophenicia. God's love and willingness to bless far exceeded Abraham's faith, and when he had gone as far as he dared the divine love went farther and saved Lot from the overthrow. We can never go into the realms of love and compassion, without finding the footsteps of the Redeemer. See Hebrews 10:22. Amid all the mysteries of God's moral government we must always believe that He is just and righteous. His throne is encircled by the rainbow, but it is founded in unimpeachable integrity. How low Abraham lay in his self-estimate! They who know most of God do not presume on their knowledge, but esteem themselves the least of saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 18:25 mean?

Far be it from You to do such a thing as this to slay the righteous with the wicked so that should be the righteous as the wicked from You Shall the Judge of all the earth not do right
חָלִ֨לָה לְּךָ֜ מֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת ׀ כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה לְהָמִ֤ית צַדִּיק֙ עִם־ רָשָׁ֔ע וְהָיָ֥ה כַצַּדִּ֖יק כָּרָשָׁ֑ע לָּ֔ךְ הֲשֹׁפֵט֙ כָּל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה ؟ מִשְׁפָּֽט

חָלִ֨לָה  Far  be  it 
Parse: Interjection, third person feminine singular
Root: חָלִיל  
Sense: far be it (from me), God forbid that, let it not be.
לְּךָ֜  from  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
מֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת ׀  to  do 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
כַּדָּבָ֣ר  such  a  thing 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּ֗ה  as  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
לְהָמִ֤ית  to  slay 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
צַדִּיק֙  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
רָשָׁ֔ע  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
וְהָיָ֥ה  so  that  should  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כַצַּדִּ֖יק  the  righteous 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
כָּרָשָׁ֑ע  as  the  wicked 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
לָּ֔ךְ  from  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
הֲשֹׁפֵט֙  Shall  the  Judge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָאָ֔רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
؟ מִשְׁפָּֽט  right 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.