And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about a "number of good people." God's willingness to spare the entire city for the sake of just fifty highlights that even a small group of the righteous holds immense value and influence in His eyes. Their presence can indeed hold back divine judgment for the sake of the whole community.
And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has just revealed His intention to judge Sodom and Gomorrah because of their great sin. Abraham, deeply concerned, boldly intercedes, first questioning if God would destroy the righteous with the wicked. This leads to a remarkable negotiation where Abraham, starting with fifty righteous people, progressively bargains down to ten, seeking any number of righteous individuals that might justify sparing the entire city.
Fifty righteous people could save an entire city from destruction. What does this tell us about how God sees His faithful ones?
This passage reveals God's incredible value for even a small number of righteous individuals. In a city teeming with wickedness like Sodom, the presence of just fifty righteous people would be enough to stay God's hand of judgment.
A City Spared for a Few
God isn't looking for a majority to be righteous; He's looking for any righteous individuals. The number fifty is significant because it's a small fraction of any sizable city, highlighting that even a remnant can carry immense weight in God's eyes. This isn't about a quota, but about the profound impact a few faithful lives can have.
The Power of Intercession
Abraham's persistent negotiation with God, lowering the number from fifty down to ten, demonstrates the incredible power and privilege of intercessory prayer. He understands that the righteous are a shield, not just for themselves, but for those around them. This teaches us that our faithfulness can have ripple effects far beyond our immediate circle.
Abraham challenges God, and God doesn't strike him down – He engages. What does this dialogue reveal about God's character?
The exchange between Abraham and God is a masterclass in divine mercy and an invitation to engage with God. God isn't a distant, unfeeling deity; He is willing to discuss His judgments and demonstrate His desire to show compassion.
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A Divine Conversation
God's willingness to engage with Abraham's escalating questions – from fifty down to ten – shows He doesn't operate rigidly. He reveals His intentions and listens to Abraham's concerns. This isn't a debate where Abraham 'wins,' but a demonstration of God's grace, showing that He truly desires to find reasons to spare.
Justice and Mercy in Balance
God's justice is undeniable; Sodom's sin was grievous. Yet, His mercy is equally profound, willing to reconsider judgment based on the presence of a righteous few. Abraham’s bold questioning, 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?' underscores his confidence in God's ultimate fairness, even while probing the extent of His mercy.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal covenant name of the one true God of Israel, emphasizing His self-existence, faithfulness, and His active role in the redemption of His people.
tsaddiyq · Hebrew Adjective
A moral and ethical state of being in right standing with God, defined by adherence to His law and character; in a biblical context, it often refers to those who trust in God's provision for justification.
nasa' · Hebrew Verb
To refrain from inflicting judgment, punishment, or destruction; it implies the granting of reprieve or mercy, especially in the context of divine justice.
This dramatic negotiation reveals God's deep concern for justice and His willingness to show mercy, even to a deeply wicked city, if even a small remnant of righteousness exists. It highlights Abraham's bold faith and compassion as he pleads for the lives of those destined for judgment.
c. 2100 BC
Abraham settles near Sodom
Abraham, a wealthy chieftain, moves his household and vast flocks to the plains of Mamre, near the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
c. 2100 BC
Divine promise of a son
The LORD appears to Abraham, reaffirming His promise that Abraham will have a son who will become a great nation through whom all nations will be blessed.
c. 2100 BC
Three visitors arrive
Three divine visitors appear to Abraham, one of whom is identified with the LORD Himself. Abraham shows them extraordinary hospitality.
c. 2100 BC
The LORD reveals His purpose
The LORD tells Abraham that He is going to investigate the "great outcry" from Sodom and Gomorrah due to their extreme sinfulness.
c. 2100 BC— this verse
Abraham intercedes for Sodom
Abraham begins a remarkable negotiation with the LORD, pleading for Sodom's destruction to be averted if even fifty righteous people can be found within its walls.
c. 2100 BC
Negotiations continue down to ten
Abraham's intercession continues, progressively lowering the number of righteous people required to spare the city, until he asks about ten.
c. 2100 BC
The LORD departs
After the final negotiation for ten righteous people, the LORD departs, and Abraham returns home, the fate of Sodom now sealed by its own wickedness.
This passage echoes the theme of divine justice and mercy by asking if God truly delights in the death of the wicked, emphasizing His desire for repentance rather than destruction, mirroring the negotiation in Genesis.
Jeremiah 5:1This verse highlights a similar search for the righteous in a corrupt city (Jerusalem) that ultimately proves fruitless, reinforcing the rarity of true righteousness and the dire consequences of widespread wickedness.
Matthew 13:24-30Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds illustrates the difficulty of separating the righteous from the wicked in this life, showing that judgment and separation are ultimately God's task, reflecting the tension Abraham grappled with.
Romans 3:5-6Abraham's question, 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?' is directly addressed here, as Paul confirms that God's justice is perfect and that He is righteous in His judgments, providing a theological foundation for Abraham's appeal.
2 Peter 2:6-7This passage explicitly recounts the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the rescue of righteous Lot, underscoring the judgment on wickedness and the preservation of the godly, directly referencing the event that stemmed from Abraham's intercession.
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 18:26: "And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes."
If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city,.... Sodom is particularly mentioned because Lot dwelt there, and being the metropolis, and the city of greatest note, as Jarchi observes, it is put for the rest; and the sense is, if fifty righteous persons could be found in all the five cities, mercy should be shown them: then will I spare all the place for…
This isn't just about a "number of good people." God's willingness to spare the entire city for the sake of just fifty highlights that even a small group of the righteous holds immense value and influence in His eyes. Their presence can indeed hold back divine judgment for the sake of the whole community.
God has just revealed His intention to judge Sodom and Gomorrah because of their great sin. Abraham, deeply concerned, boldly intercedes, first questioning if God would destroy the righteous with the wicked. This leads to a remarkable negotiation where Abraham, starting with fifty righteous people, progressively bargains down to ten, seeking any number of righteous individuals that might justify sparing the entire city.
God has just revealed His intention to judge Sodom and Gomorrah because of their great sin. Abraham, deeply concerned, boldly intercedes, first questioning if God would destroy the righteous with the wicked. This leads to a remarkable negotiation where Abraham, starting with fifty righteous people, progressively bargains down to ten, seeking any number of righteous individuals that might justify sparing the entire city.
"And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”" — This isn't just about a "number of good people." God's willingness to spare the entire city for the sake of just fifty highlights that even a small group of the righteous holds immense value and infl…
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Last reviewed October 2026