But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Lot's eagerness to host the angels is underscored by his preparation of unleavened bread, which is noted as being quicker to bake, suggesting a desire to serve them efficiently before nightfall. This detail highlights Lot's hospitality but also subtly hints at the urgency of their stay, given the imminent danger Sodom faced.
But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As two angels arrive in Sodom, Lot, a righteous man living among the wicked, extends them hospitality and insists they stay with him, preparing a meal for them. This act of kindness happens just before the men of the city surround Lot's house with violent intentions, setting the stage for the city's impending destruction and Lot's urgent escape.
Lot's actions in Genesis 19 are a dramatic display of hospitality. But why the urgency? What does this tell us about his heart, and the context he's in?
Lot's persistent pressing of the angels to come into his home wasn't just politeness; it was a life-saving act born of deep understanding. He knew the reputation of Sodom.
A Calculated Risk
Lot, living in the midst of Sodom's wickedness, recognized the inherent danger for strangers. His strong insistence reveals a deep-seated, though perhaps flawed, commitment to protecting guests, even at personal risk. He wasn't just offering a meal; he was offering sanctuary.
The 'Feast' and Unleavened Bread
The preparation of a meal, including unleavened bread, highlights a few things:
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Lot’s hospitality is commendable, but the commentary reveals a more complex picture. What hidden flaws or motivations might have been at play even in this act of kindness?
While Lot's actions appear purely hospitable on the surface, deeper readings suggest a mixture of genuine care and a potentially flawed motivation, influenced by his environment.
The Draw of Sodom
Lot had moved from his more nomadic lifestyle to dwell in Sodom, suggesting a growing comfort with or attachment to the city’s ways and prosperity, despite its moral decay. His willingness to press the angels into his home could be seen not just as protection, but also as a desire to keep the potentially important visitors for himself, perhaps out of a sense of pride or a misguided attempt to control the situation.
A Shadow of Compromise
Commentators note that Lot's character, while possessing virtues like hospitality, was compromised by his proximity to Sodom. His actions, while outwardly good, might have been tinged with the self-interest and calculated approach that living in such a city fostered. The 'feast' and 'unleavened bread,' while practical, could also be interpreted as a desire for efficiency and control, rather than pure, self-sacrificing love.
The Angels' Hesitation
Notably, the angels initially declined Lot's offer, unlike their immediate acceptance of Abraham's hospitality in Genesis 18. This suggests that while Lot offered shelter, his character or the atmosphere of his home may not have been as immediately welcoming or spiritually resonant as Abraham's, even if his intentions were good.
c. 2000 BC
Abraham settles in Canaan
Abraham, Lot's uncle, is called by God to leave his homeland and settle in the land of Canaan, marking the beginning of the patriarchal period.
c. 1800 BC
Lot separates from Abraham
Due to disputes between their herdsmen, Lot chooses to separate from Abraham, moving his dwelling place toward the east and eventually settling near the wicked city of Sodom.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Angels visit Lot in Sodom
Two angels, disguised as men, arrive in Sodom at sunset. Lot, sitting at the city gate, invites them into his home, showing hospitality.
c. 1800 BC
Sodomites' wicked intentions revealed
The men of Sodom surround Lot's house, demanding that he bring out his guests so they can 'know' them, revealing the city's extreme wickedness and perversion.
c. 1800 BC
Divine judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah
God rains down sulfur and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying them and the surrounding cities for their great sin, fulfilling the judgment announced to Abraham.
This passage describes the command to eat unleavened bread for seven days, linking the immediate preparation of unleavened bread by Lot to a future significant Passover practice.
Leviticus 26:3-4This passage promises blessings for obedience, including the land yielding its produce and a sense of peace. The feast Lot prepared, while simple unleavened bread, was an act of hospitality, foreshadowing the blessings that accompany faithfulness.
1 Samuel 28:24The witch of Endor also prepares unleavened bread quickly for Samuel's apparition, highlighting the use of unleavened bread for rapid preparation, as seen with Lot's urgent hospitality.
Isaiah 58:7This verse calls for sharing one's bread with the hungry and bringing the homeless into one's house. Lot's hospitable act of pressing his guests to eat and providing for them directly reflects this prophetic call for generosity and care for strangers.
ellicottGenesis 19:3: "And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat."
(3) He pressed upon them greatly. —This he did as knowing the licentiousness of the people; but the angels do not readily accept his hospitality, as they had done that of Abraham, because his character had deteriorated. Unleavened bread.—Heb., thin cakes, like those now eaten by the Jews at the Passover. They took l…
pooleGenesis 19:3: "And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat."
He did bake unleavened bread, because that was sooner prepared, that so they might eat it, and after that go to bed in due time.
Lot's eagerness to host the angels is underscored by his preparation of unleavened bread, which is noted as being quicker to bake, suggesting a desire to serve them efficiently before nightfall. This detail highlights Lot's hospitality but also subtly hints at the urgency of their stay, given the imminent danger Sodom faced.
As two angels arrive in Sodom, Lot, a righteous man living among the wicked, extends them hospitality and insists they stay with him, preparing a meal for them. This act of kindness happens just before the men of the city surround Lot's house with violent intentions, setting the stage for the city's impending destruction and Lot's urgent escape.
As two angels arrive in Sodom, Lot, a righteous man living among the wicked, extends them hospitality and insists they stay with him, preparing a meal for them. This act of kindness happens just before the men of the city surround Lot's house with violent intentions, setting the stage for the city's impending destruction and Lot's urgent escape.
"But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate." — Lot's eagerness to host the angels is underscored by his preparation of unleavened bread, which is noted as being quicker to bake, suggesting a desire to serve them efficiently before nightfall. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026