Genesis 18:20-21
Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The "cry" of Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't just the sound of people weeping; it was the amplified, insistent plea of their sins reaching heaven. Their wickedness had become so overwhelmingly "heavy" or abundant that it demanded divine attention, not just as individual acts, but as a systemic corruption that had reached its breaking point.
God is about to bring judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah for their extreme wickedness. Before this happens, God reveals His plan to Abraham, explaining that the "cry" of their sins has reached heaven, indicating their sinfulness is beyond measure and calling for divine wrath. This revelation sets the stage for Abraham's significant intercession on behalf of the cities.
Why does God describe sin with the word 'cry'? What does that tell us about the nature of sin and its impact?
In Genesis 18:20, the Lord declares the 'cry' against Sodom and Gomorrah is 'great' and their sin 'very grave.' This language isn't accidental. A 'cry' implies distress, suffering, and a plea for help or justice. It suggests that the sin of Sodom wasn't just a private failing but had victims whose pain and anguish were so profound they cried out. This cry ascended to God, not as an abstract concept, but as a tangible disturbance in His creation.
The verse calls Sodom's sin 'very grave.' What makes a sin 'grave' in God's eyes, and what are the implications of this weightiness?
The word 'grave' (or 'heavy' in some translations) points to the immense weight and seriousness of sin. It's not a light matter to God. Sodom and Gomorrah's sin was so profound that it carried a significant, crushing burden.
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.
tse'aqah · Hebrew Noun
In Scripture, this refers to a loud, piercing cry, often denoting the extreme distress of the oppressed or victims of injustice, demanding divine attention and intervention.
The impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't a sudden divine whim, but the culmination of the cities' deep-seated corruption and a consequence of their persistent, public sin. God's conversation with Abraham reveals His adherence to justice, His willingness to judge wrongdoing, and His respect for the covenant He made with Abraham.
c. 2000-1800 BC
Abraham settles in Canaan
Abraham, following God's call, settles in the land of Canaan with his family and livestock. This period establishes his presence and covenant relationship with God in the region.
c. 1900 BC
Sodom and Gomorrah flourish
The cities of the plain, including Sodom and Gomorrah, are thriving centers of commerce and population, enjoying peace and prosperity. They are situated in a fertile region near the Dead Sea.
c. 1897 BC
Lot settles near Sodom
Abraham's nephew, Lot, chooses to settle in the vicinity of Sodom, drawn by its apparent prosperity. This decision places him in close proximity to the city's growing wickedness.
c. 1897 BC
Abraham rescues Lot
After a regional conflict, Abraham leads his trained servants to rescue Lot and other captives from the forces of Chedorlaomer. This act demonstrates Abraham's bravery and influence.
This passage speaks of God's anger ignited by sin, describing how His wrath is like a consuming fire, much like the destruction that befell Sodom and Gomorrah due to their grave sins.
Psalm 11:4This verse highlights God's sovereignty and His gaze upon humanity, emphasizing that His eyes observe the righteous and the wicked, aligning with God's statement that He would 'go down' to see the extent of Sodom's sin.
Ezekiel 16:49-50This prophetic passage directly addresses the sins of Sodom, detailing their pride, excess, and lack of compassion for the poor, which mirrors the 'great outcry' and 'very grave sin' mentioned in Genesis.
2 Peter 2:6-7Peter recounts the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example for future godless people, specifically mentioning Lot's righteous soul being tormented by the lawless deeds of the inhabitants, underscoring the depravity that led to their judgment.
Jude 1:7This verse describes the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah as giving themselves over to sexual immorality and unnatural lust, serving as a stark warning of the judgment they faced for their grievous sins.
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 "cry" of Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't just the sound of people weeping; it was the amplified, insistent plea of their sins reaching heaven. Their wickedness had become so overwhelmingly "heavy" or abundant that it demanded divine attention, not just as individual acts, but as a systemic corruption that had reached its breaking point.
God is about to bring judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah for their extreme wickedness. Before this happens, God reveals His plan to Abraham, explaining that the "cry" of their sins has reached heaven, indicating their sinfulness is beyond measure and calling for divine wrath. This revelation sets the stage for Abraham's significant intercession on behalf of the cities.
God is about to bring judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah for their extreme wickedness. Before this happens, God reveals His plan to Abraham, explaining that the "cry" of their sins has reached heaven, indicating their sinfulness is beyond measure and calling for divine wrath. This revelation sets the stage for Abraham's significant intercession on behalf of the cities.
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c. 1897 BC
Melchizedek blesses Abraham
Following the rescue, Melchizedek, King of Salem and priest of God Most High, blesses Abraham. This event highlights Abraham's unique status and covenant with God.
c. 1897 BC— this verse
Divine council considers Sodom's fate
The LORD, appearing to Abraham, discusses the great outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah due to their extreme sinfulness. This marks the formal divine consideration of judgment.
"Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”" — The "cry" of Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't just the sound of people weeping; it was the amplified, insistent plea of their sins reaching heaven. Their wickedness had become so overwhelmingly "heavy" or…
