Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Abraham appeals directly to God's very nature, asking, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" This isn't just a rhetorical question; it's an assertion of Abraham's deep conviction that God's justice is absolute and that God cannot act contrary to His own righteous character. He’s essentially saying, "You are justice itself; therefore, you must act justly."
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Abraham is in the midst of a profound negotiation with God concerning the imminent destruction of Sodom. Having just learned of the city's grievous sin, Abraham, though a guest of God, boldly appeals to divine justice. He questions whether God, as the ultimate Judge, would truly condemn the innocent alongside the guilty, thus setting the stage for his persistent intercession.
Abraham’s bold question challenges the very nature of God’s judgment. Is it ever fair for the good to suffer with the bad?
Abraham, faced with the imminent destruction of Sodom, confronts God with a profound ethical dilemma. He asks, 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?' This isn't a challenge to God's authority, but an appeal based on His revealed character. The text suggests that while God's judgments are always righteous, human perception might not grasp the full picture.
Why would God reveal His plans to Abraham? What’s the connection between Abraham’s faith and God’s dealings with Sodom?
Ask a follow-up
This passage reveals a God who not only judges justly but also acts within the context of relationship and covenant. God doesn’t destroy Sodom without explanation to Abraham, His chosen friend.
Understand the original words
shaphat · Hebrew Noun
God acting as the ultimate arbiter of human affairs. This title emphasizes God’s moral supremacy and His responsibility to uphold divine law and truth throughout the world.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The quality of being morally right, fair, and in accordance with God’s holy standard. It encompasses both the internal state of righteousness and external conduct that aligns with God's character.
This verse is Abraham's passionate plea to God, interceding for the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. His argument is rooted in the character of God as a just Judge who would not equate the righteous with the wicked.
~2000 BC
Abraham's Covenant Confirmed
God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants and a land, setting the stage for Abraham's unique relationship with God.
c. 1898 BC— this verse
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
God, after investigating the great outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah, destroys the cities due to their extreme wickedness. This event is central to Abraham's plea.
This passage directly addresses the concept that a righteous person will not die for the sins of the wicked, and a wicked person will not live for the righteousness of the righteous, echoing Abraham's plea for justice and the separation of fates.
Romans 3:5-6Paul directly quotes Abraham's question, 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?' to defend God's righteousness in saving sinners through Christ, showing how this principle underpins Paul's theological argument.
This passage reflects on God's merciful dealings, even with the wicked, by showing He 'spares them all, because they are yours,' and 'punishes offenders little by little,' aligning with Abraham's negotiation for mercy based on the presence of the righteous.
This psalm describes God as 'gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,' reflecting the character Abraham appeals to when questioning if God would destroy the innocent along with the guilty.
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 18:25: "That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
That be far from thee to do after this manner,.... He represents it as a thing unbecoming the divine Majesty, and contrary to the nature and perfections of God: to slay the righteous with the wicked; which is true of eternal punishment, but not of temporal calamities, in which…
Abraham appeals directly to God's very nature, asking, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" This isn't just a rhetorical question; it's an assertion of Abraham's deep conviction that God's justice is absolute and that God cannot act contrary to His own righteous character. He’s essentially saying, "You are justice itself; therefore, you must act justly."
Abraham is in the midst of a profound negotiation with God concerning the imminent destruction of Sodom. Having just learned of the city's grievous sin, Abraham, though a guest of God, boldly appeals to divine justice. He questions whether God, as the ultimate Judge, would truly condemn the innocent alongside the guilty, thus setting the stage for his persistent intercession.
Abraham is in the midst of a profound negotiation with God concerning the imminent destruction of Sodom. Having just learned of the city's grievous sin, Abraham, though a guest of God, boldly appeals to divine justice. He questions whether God, as the ultimate Judge, would truly condemn the innocent alongside the guilty, thus setting the stage for his persistent intercession.
"Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”" — Abraham appeals directly to God's very nature, asking, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" This isn't just a rhetorical question; it's an assertion of Abraham's deep conviction th…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026