The Meaning of Genesis 19:21 Explained

Genesis 19:21

KJV: And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

YLT: And he saith unto him, 'Lo, I have accepted thy face also for this thing, without overthrowing the city for which thou hast spoken;

Darby: And he said to him, Behold, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken.

ASV: And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said  unto him, See,  I have accepted  thee  concerning this thing  also, that I will not overthrow  this city,  for the which  thou hast spoken. 

What does Genesis 19:21 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 19:21 mean?

And he said to him See I have sustained you also concerning thing this in that not I will overthrow - the city about which you have spoken
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּה֙ נָשָׂ֣אתִי פָנֶ֔יךָ גַּ֖ם לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֛י הָפְכִּ֥י אֶת־ הָעִ֖יר אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלָ֔יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הִנֵּה֙  See 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
נָשָׂ֣אתִי  I  have  sustained 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
גַּ֖ם  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
לַדָּבָ֣ר  concerning  thing 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
לְבִלְתִּ֛י  in  that  not 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
הָפְכִּ֥י  I  will  overthrow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: הָפַךְ  
Sense: to turn, overthrow, overturn.
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.
הָעִ֖יר  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  about  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
דִּבַּֽרְתָּ  you  have  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.