The Meaning of Genesis 19:13 Explained

Genesis 19:13

KJV: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

YLT: for we are destroying this place, for their cry hath been great before the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth send us to destroy it.'

Darby: For we are going to destroy this place, because the cry of them is great before Jehovah, and Jehovah has sent us to destroy it.

ASV: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before Jehovah: and Jehovah hath sent us to destroy it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For we  will destroy  this place,  because the cry of them  is waxen great  before  the face  of the LORD;  and the LORD  hath sent  us to destroy  it. 

What does Genesis 19:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 19:12-23 - Sodom And Gomorrah Destroyed
It was a very weak nature that heaven was so eager to rescue. Though described as a righteous man, Lot was a very weak one. He had pitched his tent toward Sodom, but apparently had been unable to resist its attractions, and had gone to live within its precincts. It would almost appear that he had become one of its leading citizens. Therefore, his testimony for God was invalidated and worthless. He seemed as one that mocked, even to his own family. How the angels must have loved this work. There were four people to be saved, and between them, in the human forms they had assumed, there were four hands-one for each. Is not this work in which we all should share? Let us hasten the lingerers! It is fatal to look behind. All our past is strewn with the memories of our sins and failures. There is but one hope. Escape to the Cross of the Divine Redeemer! Shelter in the cleft Rock of Ages! Hasten to the open arms of the Father! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 19:13 mean?

For will destroy we - place this because has grown great the outcry against them before the face of Yahweh and has sent us Yahweh to destroy it
כִּֽי־ מַשְׁחִתִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ אֶת־ הַמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־ גָֽדְלָ֤ה צַעֲקָתָם֙ אֶת־ פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֥נוּ יְהוָ֖ה לְשַׁחֲתָֽהּ

מַשְׁחִתִ֣ים  will  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמָּק֖וֹם  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
גָֽדְלָ֤ה  has  grown  great 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: גָּדַל  
Sense: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.
צַעֲקָתָם֙  the  outcry  against  them 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: צְעָקָה  
Sense: cry, outcry.
אֶת־  before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
פְּנֵ֣י  the  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֥נוּ  and  has  sent  us 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְשַׁחֲתָֽהּ  to  destroy  it 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.