Genesis 19:12-13
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The angels urgently ask Lot to gather everyone he has in the city, emphasizing their concern for all his connections. This reveals a divine grace that extends even to those closely tied to a righteous person, offering them a chance at salvation through association. However, the inclusion of "son-in-law" in the singular, when it's later revealed he had two sons-in-law who refused to leave, hints at the tragedy to come for those who reject God's offered protection.
Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After the attempted assault on the angels and Lot's desperate offer of his daughters, the divine messengers reveal the imminent destruction of Sodom. They urgently press Lot to gather everyone he holds dear—sons-in-law, sons, daughters, and any others in the city—to escape before the judgment falls. This instruction highlights the comprehensive nature of the impending doom and the angels' mandate to save all who are connected to Lot, emphasizing God's mercy extended even to those who may not fully deserve it.
When destruction is imminent, God's rescue isn't just for you. It extends to those connected to you, even if they don't fully grasp the danger.
The angels aren't just saving Lot; they're asking about his entire household. This includes his sons-in-law, sons, and daughters, and anyone else he has in the city. This shows that God’s mercy, when it comes to deliverance, isn't limited to just the righteous individual. It casts a wider net, offering a chance for salvation to those within their circle.
Think about it: even though Lot himself was a righteous man, his family (especially his sons-in-law) weren't fully convinced of the danger. Yet, God, through the angels, makes a way for them too. This is a powerful reminder that our faith and our obedience can create pathways for others to experience God's saving grace, even if they haven’t fully committed themselves.
When God offers rescue from destruction, hesitation and disbelief have deadly consequences. Not everyone Lot tried to save would listen.
The incredible offer of escape is extended, but not everyone Lot mentions will make it out. The text implies that Lot's sons-in-law, who were married to his daughters, refused to leave. They treated the angels' warning as a joke (Genesis 19:14). This is a stark illustration of how disbelief and attachment to the sinful world can blind people to impending judgment.
Lot himself lingers, caught between his duty to his guests and his own attachments, and perhaps also his deep-seated comfort in Sodom despite its sin. The angels have to physically pull him and his family out (Genesis 19:16). This isn't just about Lot's own slowness; it highlights how hard it is for people, even those partially connected to righteousness, to break free from a place of sin and danger when they don't fully believe the warnings.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
A term referring to the supreme, covenant-keeping God of Israel, the personal name revealed to Moses. It signifies His holiness, sovereignty, and faithfulness to His people.
tse'aqah · Hebrew Noun
A loud cry, wail, or complaint, often used in legal or moral contexts to describe cries for justice caused by severe oppression, wickedness, or sin that reaches God's ears.
shachath · Hebrew Verb
To ruin, bring to an end, or cause the extinction of something. In a biblical context, it often refers to God's divine judgment against sin or rebellious nations.
This verse highlights a critical moment of divine mercy amidst impending judgment. The angels' urgent inquiry reveals God's willingness to save not just Lot, but his entire household, underscoring the value placed on familial ties and the pervasive wickedness that necessitated the city's destruction.
c. 2000-1900 BC
Abrahamic Covenant Established
God establishes a foundational covenant with Abraham, promising descendants and a land, significantly shaping the future of Lot's lineage and the eventual inhabitants of Canaan.
c. 1900 BC
Lot Separates from Abraham
Lot chooses to settle in the fertile Jordan plain near Sodom, a decision that places him in proximity to a famously wicked city and its eventual destruction.
c. 1900 BC
Inhabitants of Sodom's Great Sin
The wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah reaches a point where their cry comes before the Lord, signaling an impending judgment.
c. 1900 BC
Angels Visit Lot in Sodom
Two angelic visitors arrive in Sodom, and Lot, despite the city's depravity, shows them extraordinary hospitality, a kindness that will save him and his household.
c. 1900 BC— this verse
Angels Warn Lot of Destruction
The angelic visitors reveal their purpose to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and urge Lot to gather his family and flee, offering a chance for his household's salvation.
c. 1900 BC
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
God rains down sulfur and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah, utterly destroying the cities and their inhabitants for their profound wickedness.
This passage directly references Lot as a 'righteous man' who was distressed by the 'sensual conduct' of the wicked around him, echoing the context of his rescue from Sodom.
Luke 17:28-30Jesus uses the example of Sodom's destruction and Lot's escape to warn against complacency and encourage readiness for His return, highlighting the suddenness of judgment and the importance of not looking back.
Genesis 19:14This verse immediately follows, showing Lot attempting to warn his sons-in-law, who dismiss his warning, illustrating the tragic rejection of divine mercy by those connected to the righteous.
Jeremiah 5:10This passage describes the widespread wickedness and apostasy within Jerusalem, using similar language of 'destroying' and 'taking away' branches, reflecting the utter corruption that called for divine judgment in Sodom.
Jude 1:7This epistle mentions Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of eternal fire, emphasizing the severe judgment that fell upon them for their sexual immorality and 'unnatural' desires, mirroring the sins the angels were sent to address.
gillGenesis 19:12: "And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:"
And the men said unto Lot,.... When they had got him into the house again, they began to make themselves known unto him, and to acquaint him with the business they came to do: hast thou here any besides? which they ask not as being ignorant, though angels know not everything relative to men, but to show their gre…
clarkeGenesis 19:12: "And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:"
Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law - Here there appears to be but one meant, as the word חתן chathan is in the singular number; but in Genesis 19:14 the word is plural, חתיו chathanaiv, his sons-in-law. There were only two in number; as we do not hear that Lot had more than two daughters: and these seem not…
The angels urgently ask Lot to gather everyone he has in the city, emphasizing their concern for all his connections. This reveals a divine grace that extends even to those closely tied to a righteous person, offering them a chance at salvation through association. However, the inclusion of "son-in-law" in the singular, when it's later revealed he had two sons-in-law who refused to leave, hints at the tragedy to come for those who reject God's offered protection.
After the attempted assault on the angels and Lot's desperate offer of his daughters, the divine messengers reveal the imminent destruction of Sodom. They urgently press Lot to gather everyone he holds dear—sons-in-law, sons, daughters, and any others in the city—to escape before the judgment falls. This instruction highlights the comprehensive nature of the impending doom and the angels' mandate to save all who are connected to Lot, emphasizing God's mercy extended even to those who may not fully deserve it.
After the attempted assault on the angels and Lot's desperate offer of his daughters, the divine messengers reveal the imminent destruction of Sodom. They urgently press Lot to gather everyone he holds dear—sons-in-law, sons, daughters, and any others in the city—to escape before the judgment falls. This instruction highlights the comprehensive nature of the impending doom and the angels' mandate to save all who are connected to Lot, emphasizing God's mercy extended even to those who may not fully deserve it.
"Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great…" — The angels urgently ask Lot to gather everyone he has in the city, emphasizing their concern for all his connections. This reveals a divine grace that extends even to those closely tied to a righte…
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Last reviewed October 2026
