The Meaning of Genesis 18:32 Explained

Genesis 18:32

KJV: And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

YLT: And he saith, 'Let it not be, I pray Thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak only this time: peradventure there are found there ten?' and He saith, 'I do not destroy it, because of the ten.'

Darby: And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, that I speak yet but this time! Perhaps there may be ten found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.

ASV: And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  Oh let not the Lord  be angry,  and I will speak  yet  but this once:  Peradventure ten  shall be found  there. And he said,  I will not destroy  [it] for ten's  sake. 

What does Genesis 18:32 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 18:32 mean?

And he said not please be angry the Lord and I will speak but once more Suppose should be found there ten And He said not I will destroy [it] for the sake of ten
וַ֠יֹּאמֶר אַל־ נָ֞א יִ֤חַר לַֽאדֹנָי֙ וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה אַךְ־ הַפַּ֔עַם אוּלַ֛י יִמָּצְא֥וּן שָׁ֖ם עֲשָׂרָ֑ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אַשְׁחִ֔ית בַּעֲב֖וּר הָעֲשָׂרָֽה

וַ֠יֹּאמֶר  And  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
נָ֞א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
יִ֤חַר  be  angry 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.
לַֽאדֹנָי֙  the  Lord 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה  and  I  will  speak 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
הַפַּ֔עַם  once  more 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: פַּעַם  
Sense: stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence.
אוּלַ֛י  Suppose 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אוּלַי  
Sense: perhaps, peradventure.
יִמָּצְא֥וּן  should  be  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
עֲשָׂרָ֑ה  ten 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  And  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אַשְׁחִ֔ית  I  will  destroy  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
בַּעֲב֖וּר  for  the  sake 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲבוּר  
Sense: for the sake of, on account of, because of, in order to conj.
הָעֲשָׂרָֽה  of  ten 
Parse: Article, Number, masculine singular
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.