Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights that the "cry" against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, implying that their sins were so loud and public they demanded divine attention. This isn't just about the quantity of sin, but the fact that their wickedness was so egregious it cried out for justice, like an unheard victim demanding a hearing.
Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has appeared to Abraham, and after a miraculous meal, the Lord reveals He is going to inspect the notorious cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their extreme wickedness. Abraham, hearing this, immediately begins to intercede, pleading with God not to destroy the righteous along with the wicked.
What makes a sin 'great' in God's eyes? It's not just the act, but the deafening impact it has.
The "Cry" of Sodom
The verse states, 'Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great...' This isn't just a metaphor; it signifies that their sin had reached a point where it was not hidden or ignored by God.
Sins aren't just actions; they carry a 'weight' that bears down on God's justice.
The "Grievous" Nature of Sin
Beyond the 'cry,' the verse adds that their sin is 'very grievous.' This points to the profound impact and severity of their actions.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
tse'aqah · Hebrew Noun
A specific term referring to a loud cry for help or a plea for justice, particularly in response to wickedness, oppression, or suffering that demands God’s attention.
chatt'ah · Hebrew Noun
A transgression of God's law or a failure to reach the moral standard set by Him. It denotes rebellion against His will and a corruption of His intended order for humanity.
This verse is part of a pivotal moment where God's impending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah is revealed. It highlights the deep corruption of these cities and God's justice, while also showcasing Abraham's role as an intercessor and the father of a nation chosen for blessing.
c. 2000-1800 BC
Abraham settles in Canaan
Abraham, called by God, leaves his homeland to settle in the land of Canaan, where he will become the father of a great nation.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham rescues Lot and Sodomites
Abraham, with his trained men, rescues his nephew Lot and the people of Sodom from captivity by invading kings. This event places Abraham in close proximity and a position of influence over the region.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Divine judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah
God reveals to Abraham His intention to destroy the exceptionally wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their grave sins.
c. 1800 BC
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Following Abraham's intercession and God's investigation, Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed by fire and brimstone, serving as a stark warning against sin.
This passage echoes the severity of Sodom's sin, stating that pride, overindulgence, and lack of care for the poor were their chief offenses, directly aligning with the 'great outcry' and 'very grievous sin' mentioned in Genesis.
Romans 1:18-32This New Testament passage describes the consequences of ungodliness and human depravity, outlining sins that led to divine wrath, providing a theological framework for understanding why a society's sin becomes 'very grievous' in God's eyes.
2 Peter 2:6-7This passage explicitly mentions the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of God's judgment on wickedness, highlighting Lot's righteous anguish over the 'lawless deeds' he witnessed, which fuels the 'cry' in Genesis.
Jude 1:7This verse describes the same fate for Sodom and Gomorrah, calling their sins 'sexual immorality and unnatural lust,' and serves as a stark warning about the judgment that befalls those who pursue such paths.
calvinGenesis 18:1-33: "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;"
Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Et negavit Sarah, dicendo, Non risi: quia timuit. Et dixit, Nequaquam, quia risisti.
And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
Et surrexerunt inde viri, et respexerunt contra faciem S…
gillGenesis 18:20: "And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;"
And the Lord said,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds, to the ministering angels, the two angels that were with him in the likeness of men; or to Abraham, at least in his hearing, by which he understood that Sodom and other cities were about to be destroyed for their sins: because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great; either of Lot in it, whose righteous soul was vexed with…
The text highlights that the "cry" against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, implying that their sins were so loud and public they demanded divine attention. This isn't just about the quantity of sin, but the fact that their wickedness was so egregious it cried out for justice, like an unheard victim demanding a hearing.
God has appeared to Abraham, and after a miraculous meal, the Lord reveals He is going to inspect the notorious cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their extreme wickedness. Abraham, hearing this, immediately begins to intercede, pleading with God not to destroy the righteous along with the wicked.
God has appeared to Abraham, and after a miraculous meal, the Lord reveals He is going to inspect the notorious cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their extreme wickedness. Abraham, hearing this, immediately begins to intercede, pleading with God not to destroy the righteous along with the wicked.
"Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave," — The text highlights that the "cry" against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, implying that their sins were so loud and public they demanded divine attention. This isn't just about the quantity of sin, but…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026