- Home
- Bible
- Genesis
- Chapter 19
- Verse 19
Genesis 19:17
Verse
Context
Lot Flees to Zoar
16But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them.17As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
When they had brought them forth, etc. - Every word here is emphatic, Escape for thy Life; thou art in the most imminent danger of perishing; thy life and thy soul are both at stake. Look not behind thee - thou hast but barely time enough to escape from the judgment that is now descending; no lingering, or thou art lost! one look back may prove fatal to thee, and God commands thee to avoid it. Neither stay thou in all the plain, because God will destroy that as well as the city. Escape to the mountain, on which these judgments shall not light, and which God has appointed thee for a place of refuge; lest thou be Consumed. It is not an ordinary judgment that is coming; a fire from heaven shall burn up the cities, the plain, and all that remain in the cities and in the plain. Both the beginning and end of this exhortation are addressed to his personal feelings. "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life;" and self-preservation is the first law of nature, to which every other consideration is minor and unimportant.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
When they left him here (הנּיח, to let loose, and leave, to leave to one's self), the Lord commanded him, for the sake of his life, not to look behind him, and not to stand still in all the plain (כּכּר, Gen 13:10), but to flee to the mountains (afterwards called the mountains of Moab). In Gen 19:17 we are struck by the change from the plural to the singular: "when they brought them forth, he said." To think of one of the two angels - the one, for example, who led the conversation - seems out of place, not only because Lot addressed him by the name of God, "Adonai" (Gen 19:18), but also because the speaker attributed to himself the judgment upon the cities (Gen 19:21, Gen 19:22), which is described in Gen 19:24 as executed by Jehovah. Yet there is nothing to indicate that Jehovah suddenly joined the angels. The only supposition that remains, therefore, is that Lot recognised in the two angels a manifestation of God, and so addressed them (Gen 19:18) as Adonai (my Lord), and that the angel who spoke addressed him as the messenger of Jehovah in the name of God, without its following from this, that Jehovah was present in the two angels. Lot, instead of cheerfully obeying the commandment of the Lord, appealed to the great mercy shown to him in the preservation of his life, and to the impossibility of his escaping to the mountains, without the evil overtaking him, and entreated therefore that he might be allowed to take refuge in the small and neighbouring city, i.e., in Bela, which received the name of Zoar (Gen 14:2) on account of Lot's calling it little. Zoar, the Σηγώρ of the lxx, and Segor of the crusaders, is hardly to be sought for on the peninsula which projects a long way into the southern half of the Dead Sea, in the Ghor of el Mezraa, as Irby and Robinson (Pal. iii. p. 481) suppose; it is much more probably to be found on the south-eastern point of the Dead Sea, in the Ghor of el Szaphia, at the opening of the Wady el Ahsa (vid., v. Raumer, Pal. p. 273, Anm. 14).
John Gill Bible Commentary
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad,.... Into the fields of Sodom, or the suburbs of it: that he said, escape for thy life; not one of the two men or angels that had been with him all the night past, for they had now left him, and were gone back to the city: but Jehovah the Son of God, who had been communing with Abraham, and now came to Sodom, and appeared to Lot, just at the time the two angels left him, and bid him escape with all haste, if he had any regard for his life, and that of those with him: look not behind thee; as showing any concern for his goods and substance he had left behind him, or for his sons-in-law, who refused to come with him, and much less for the wicked inhabitants of the city; and this command was not given to Lot only, but to his wife and daughters, as appears by the sequel: neither stay thou in all the plain: in the plain of Jordan, for the whole plain, and the cities in it, were to be destroyed: escape to the mountain, lest thou be destroyed, lest thou be consumed; the same mountain the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, and they that were with them after the battle of the kings, fled to, Gen 14:10; here only he and his could be safe from the conflagration of the plain.
Genesis 19:17
Lot Flees to Zoar
16But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them.17As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (Alternate)
By Jonathan Edwards5.9K51:46Audio BooksGEN 19:17DEU 32:34ISA 47:10MAT 3:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the incomprehensible power of God's anger and the eternal misery that awaits those who have not been born again. The preacher warns that even those who appear moral, strict, sober, and religious may still be subject to this great wrath. The congregation is urged to consider their own state and not to be deceived by their current ease or self-assurance. The preacher also addresses young people and children, urging them not to neglect the opportunity to turn to Christ and avoid the wrath of God. The sermon draws on biblical references, such as Isaiah 33, to emphasize the magnitude of God's power and the urgency of repentance.
Enter Into His Rest
By David Wilkerson4.3K1:06:37RestGEN 14:23GEN 19:17GEN 19:24PSA 29:10EPH 2:6HEB 3:17In this sermon, the preacher begins by leading the congregation in praise and worship, emphasizing the importance of praising and magnifying the name of Jesus. He encourages the believers to thank God for what He is doing and to enter into His rest by faith. The preacher then reads from Hebrews 3:17-4:1, highlighting the consequences of unbelief and the need to fear falling short of God's promise of entering into His rest. He concludes by expressing gratitude for the growth and unity of the church and the hunger for a deeper walk with God, and prays for the Holy Spirit to continue leading and sanctifying the body of believers.
Don't Look Back
By Arlen L. Chitwood2.4K44:54WorldlinessGEN 19:17MAT 6:33MAT 12:30LUK 17:32LUK 21:34HEB 11:102PE 3:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not dwelling in the plain, using the story of Lot's wife as an example. He contrasts Lot, who didn't make it far in his journey, with Abraham, who dwelled in the high country. The preacher warns against tying our hopes and visions to the present world system, as it will ultimately be destroyed. He urges listeners to keep their focus on that which will endure and gain an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ.
The Lord's Knowledge, Our Safeguard
By C.H. Spurgeon2.2K41:12GEN 19:17ACT 12:6ACT 12:212PE 2:9In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of relying on faith rather than relying on what we can see with our physical eyes. He shares personal experiences of feeling overwhelmed by tasks that seemed impossible, but realizing that he could not accomplish them in his own strength. The preacher encourages the audience to search their hearts and examine their relationship with God, reminding them that even the strongest believers have faced doubts and fears. He concludes with the story of Peter's miraculous escape from prison, highlighting God's ability to deliver His people from temptation and urging the listeners to remain faithful even in the face of adversity.
Lest Thou Be Consumed
By Arlen L. Chitwood2.0K57:08DamnationGEN 2:21GEN 19:17MAT 6:33In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the book of Genesis, specifically chapters 1 through 4. They emphasize that the work of Christ at Calvary can be seen in each of these chapters. The speaker discusses the significance of the Spirit of God moving based on Christ's finished work at Calvary and the symbolism of Christ on the cross with His side opened. They also mention the restoration of man and the importance of escaping the worldly plane and seeking the mountain, as illustrated in Genesis 19-17. The sermon concludes with a reminder that as believers, we should fix our attention on the things typified by the mountain rather than the world.
Run for Your Life
By Arlen L. Chitwood1.9K45:49OvercomingGEN 19:15GEN 19:17ROM 8:281CO 11:32GAL 5:22EPH 2:82TI 3:16In this sermon, the speaker begins by praying for God's blessings and guidance as they open the Word of God. They mention that they will be delivering five messages based on five parts of a specific scripture. The main theme of the sermon is about running the race of faith and following God's direction. The speaker emphasizes the importance of pacing oneself and not being influenced by others, but rather listening to the Lord and following His Word. The sermon specifically focuses on the story of Abraham and Lot, leading up to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and highlights the message of escaping for one's life and not looking back.
(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5
By Chuck Smith1.8K1:23:21ExpositionalGEN 50:26EXO 2:15EXO 4:1EXO 4:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God is not just a passive observer of our struggles and suffering. He takes action to deliver His people from their hardships. The preacher also highlights the importance of not getting too attached to material possessions, as they can easily be taken away. Instead, our focus should be on the things of the Spirit and God's eternal kingdom. The sermon references the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, where they faced oppression and hardship, but ultimately God delivered them.
Escape to the Mountain
By Arlen L. Chitwood1.8K1:01:14WorldlinessGEN 19:171CO 10:6In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that believers have been saved for a purpose and that purpose extends to all of mankind. He speaks about the present kingdom of God and the future rule of man. The preacher mentions that he will tie together the chapters of Genesis in a future message, using types, metaphors, and numbers to reveal God's plan. He concludes by inviting the congregation to stay for a meal and briefly mentions the depth of the flood in Genesis.
Don't Stay in the Plain
By Arlen L. Chitwood1.7K1:01:25WorldlinessGEN 19:17ISA 2:2MAT 6:33ACT 2:38ROM 12:1In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Genesis 19:17 and its relevance to the destruction of the nations. The speaker mentions that there have been five messages on this verse, with two already covered at the Lazy Dog Ranch. The sermon includes a digression about the speaker's sleepless night and his thoughts on the book of Daniel. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not conforming to the world and highlights a practice of putting fake smiles on corpses at funerals. The sermon concludes with a discussion of Daniel 4:23 and its connection to the destruction of the Gentiles.
Escape for Thy Life
By Roy Hession1.3K56:42WarningGEN 19:171KI 18:21MAT 16:26JHN 3:161TI 6:102PE 2:6REV 3:16In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that the Gospel is both bad news and good news. He explains that the world we live in is under the judgment of God because it opposes His will and rejects Jesus Christ. The preacher warns that those who are identified with this world will be involved in its ultimate judgment. However, he also highlights the hope and security found in the cross of Christ, where God pardons and gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe. He concludes by sharing a story of people fleeing from a raging fire, illustrating the urgency of escaping the judgment of God.
God's Great Heart of Love Toward His Own
By Mike Bullmore1.3K49:07Love Of GodGEN 19:17GEN 19:26JER 46:1ZEP 2:1MAT 6:33MAT 7:13EPH 2:12In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the book of Zephaniah in the Old Testament. He highlights the sober assessment of mankind's sinful condition and God's righteous judgment on them. However, amidst the darkness and gloom of judgment, there is a glimmer of hope. The preacher refers to the encounter between Christian and Evangelist in Pilgrim's Progress, where Christian sees a shining light. This light represents the good news of salvation from God, offering hope to sinful mankind. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing this glimmer of hope and keeping it in our sight.
The Two Touches
By Bud Robinson1.1K34:03GEN 19:17MAT 17:19JHN 3:3ACT 9:3In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal experience of encountering Jesus and finding victory in Him. He describes feeling lost and burdened, but then meeting Jesus and experiencing a transformation. The speaker references the story of Jesus healing a blind man in Mark 8:22-25, highlighting the three conditions the blind man went through before being fully restored. The speaker relates these conditions to the different spiritual states that every person is in. He concludes by sharing how God touched his heart and changed him, and encourages others to seek a similar transformation through Jesus.
Midnight! What Then?
By Ian Paisley83627:25GEN 19:17GEN 22:1EXO 12:23MAT 24:42MAT 25:6LUK 13:25ACT 20:7In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the parable of the ten virgins from the Bible. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared and ready for the return of Christ. The five foolish virgins, who did not have enough oil for their lamps, represent those who are unprepared and lacking in faith. The preacher warns against the consequences of not being ready and urges the audience to watch and be prepared for the coming of the Son of Man.
Studies in Hebrews - Part 3
By Ken Baird44853:56GEN 19:17MAT 6:33LUK 1:20ACT 7:51GAL 3:19HEB 2:1In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the superiority of Jesus Christ over the angels. He highlights four areas in which Jesus surpasses the angels: name, ministry, word, and dominion. The preacher emphasizes that Jesus has a more excellent name, ministry, and word than the angels. He also mentions that Jesus has a more excellent dominion, although it is not yet fully realized. The sermon encourages listeners to pay close attention to the words of Jesus and not neglect the salvation that he offers.
The Folly of Looking Back in Fleeing Out of Sodom
By Jonathan Edwards0GEN 19:17NUM 14:22PSA 11:6PSA 73:19MAT 10:15LUK 17:322PE 2:3REV 18:4REV 20:15Jonathan Edwards preaches about the folly of looking back when fleeing out of Sodom, drawing parallels between the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world to the judgments on the days of Noah and Lot. He emphasizes the urgency of fleeing sin and the importance of not looking back, using Lot's wife as a cautionary example. Edwards warns against the filthiness and abominations of Sodom, its appointed destruction, and the eternal, dreadful, and universal nature of its fate.
A Woman to Be Remembered
By J.C. Ryle0True FaithWorldlinessGEN 19:17PSA 9:17MAT 5:28MRK 16:16LUK 17:32HEB 11:6JAS 4:42PE 2:81JN 2:15REV 3:17J.C. Ryle emphasizes the dire warning of Jesus to 'Remember Lot’s wife,' illustrating the peril of worldliness and the futility of relying solely on religious privileges without true faith. Lot's wife, despite her religious background and the privileges she enjoyed, looked back at Sodom and faced immediate judgment, serving as a cautionary tale for believers today. Ryle urges Christians to examine their hearts and ensure they are not merely going through the motions of faith while being attached to worldly desires. He warns that many who seem to be on the path to salvation may ultimately be lost if they do not genuinely embrace the grace of the Holy Spirit. The sermon serves as a call to vigilance and sincerity in one's faith, reminding listeners of the reality of judgment and the importance of true conversion.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
When they had brought them forth, etc. - Every word here is emphatic, Escape for thy Life; thou art in the most imminent danger of perishing; thy life and thy soul are both at stake. Look not behind thee - thou hast but barely time enough to escape from the judgment that is now descending; no lingering, or thou art lost! one look back may prove fatal to thee, and God commands thee to avoid it. Neither stay thou in all the plain, because God will destroy that as well as the city. Escape to the mountain, on which these judgments shall not light, and which God has appointed thee for a place of refuge; lest thou be Consumed. It is not an ordinary judgment that is coming; a fire from heaven shall burn up the cities, the plain, and all that remain in the cities and in the plain. Both the beginning and end of this exhortation are addressed to his personal feelings. "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life;" and self-preservation is the first law of nature, to which every other consideration is minor and unimportant.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
When they left him here (הנּיח, to let loose, and leave, to leave to one's self), the Lord commanded him, for the sake of his life, not to look behind him, and not to stand still in all the plain (כּכּר, Gen 13:10), but to flee to the mountains (afterwards called the mountains of Moab). In Gen 19:17 we are struck by the change from the plural to the singular: "when they brought them forth, he said." To think of one of the two angels - the one, for example, who led the conversation - seems out of place, not only because Lot addressed him by the name of God, "Adonai" (Gen 19:18), but also because the speaker attributed to himself the judgment upon the cities (Gen 19:21, Gen 19:22), which is described in Gen 19:24 as executed by Jehovah. Yet there is nothing to indicate that Jehovah suddenly joined the angels. The only supposition that remains, therefore, is that Lot recognised in the two angels a manifestation of God, and so addressed them (Gen 19:18) as Adonai (my Lord), and that the angel who spoke addressed him as the messenger of Jehovah in the name of God, without its following from this, that Jehovah was present in the two angels. Lot, instead of cheerfully obeying the commandment of the Lord, appealed to the great mercy shown to him in the preservation of his life, and to the impossibility of his escaping to the mountains, without the evil overtaking him, and entreated therefore that he might be allowed to take refuge in the small and neighbouring city, i.e., in Bela, which received the name of Zoar (Gen 14:2) on account of Lot's calling it little. Zoar, the Σηγώρ of the lxx, and Segor of the crusaders, is hardly to be sought for on the peninsula which projects a long way into the southern half of the Dead Sea, in the Ghor of el Mezraa, as Irby and Robinson (Pal. iii. p. 481) suppose; it is much more probably to be found on the south-eastern point of the Dead Sea, in the Ghor of el Szaphia, at the opening of the Wady el Ahsa (vid., v. Raumer, Pal. p. 273, Anm. 14).
John Gill Bible Commentary
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad,.... Into the fields of Sodom, or the suburbs of it: that he said, escape for thy life; not one of the two men or angels that had been with him all the night past, for they had now left him, and were gone back to the city: but Jehovah the Son of God, who had been communing with Abraham, and now came to Sodom, and appeared to Lot, just at the time the two angels left him, and bid him escape with all haste, if he had any regard for his life, and that of those with him: look not behind thee; as showing any concern for his goods and substance he had left behind him, or for his sons-in-law, who refused to come with him, and much less for the wicked inhabitants of the city; and this command was not given to Lot only, but to his wife and daughters, as appears by the sequel: neither stay thou in all the plain: in the plain of Jordan, for the whole plain, and the cities in it, were to be destroyed: escape to the mountain, lest thou be destroyed, lest thou be consumed; the same mountain the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, and they that were with them after the battle of the kings, fled to, Gen 14:10; here only he and his could be safe from the conflagration of the plain.