And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The daughters' immediate fear isn't just about the lack of men, but about the "manner of all the earth"—they're not only worried about repopulating, but about doing it "properly," according to societal norms, revealing a deep-seated desire for normalcy despite their horrifying circumstances. This highlights how ingrained their understanding of the world's customs was, even when the world itself seemed to have ended.
And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Freshly escaped from the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters have taken refuge in a cave. Believing themselves to be the only survivors of a world-ending catastrophe, the daughters hatch a desperate plan to repopulate the earth. This verse marks the beginning of that plan, as the older sister broaches the subject to the younger.
When the world as you know it collapses, what assumptions do you cling to, and what dangerous paths might they lead you down?
Lot's daughters, finding themselves in a desolate cave after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, made a drastic assumption: that they were utterly alone. The firstborn declared, "there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth." This wasn't just a statement of fact; it was a declaration of their perceived complete isolation.
Misinterpreting Their Reality
This highlights how fear and isolation can warp our perception, leading us to conclusions that aren't grounded in reality but in our immediate, overwhelming circumstances.
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How can a single sin, like drunkenness, open the door to a cascade of others, blurring moral lines and leading to unthinkable actions?
The narrative reveals that Lot, a man who had demonstrated remarkable hospitality and resisted the sin of Sodom, fell victim to excessive drinking. This wasn't just a minor lapse; it created the opening for his daughters' desperate plan and his own unwitting participation.
The Downward Spiral
This episode serves as a stark warning: even those who seem strong in their faith can be vulnerable. Drunkenness is not merely a social ill; it is a spiritual danger that can erode character and lead to profound moral compromise.
When desperate circumstances arise, how does the pursuit of a seemingly good outcome (preserving a family line) become twisted into a sinful act?
The daughters of Lot were driven by a profound desire to preserve their family line, a desire understandable in the context of their perceived annihilation. However, their solution – to impregnate their father through deceit – was a horrific perversion of God's created order.
The Conflation of Good Intentions and Sinful Means
This story is a somber reminder that even a desire for something seemingly good can become a pathway to sin when pursued through means that disregard God's commands and moral order.
Understand the original words
bow · Hebrew Verb
A term used in ancient Near Eastern contexts to describe sexual intercourse, often implying marital or familial intimacy, but here used to describe the illicit act of incest. It signifies a profound, albeit sinful, physical union between individuals.
This passage highlights the desperate measures taken by Lot's daughters in a world they perceived as utterly destroyed. Their actions, born from fear and a desire to preserve their family line, reveal the profound impact of the cataclysmic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah on their understanding of the world and their place in it.
c. 2000 BC
Lot Separates from Abraham
Lot chooses to settle in the plain of the Jordan, near the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, while Abraham remains in the land of Canaan.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
God destroys the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their extreme sinfulness. Lot and his two daughters are rescued, but his wife looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt.
Following Destruction of Sodom
Lot's Daughters' Plan
Fearing they will not be able to have children due to the lack of men, Lot's daughters devise a plan to impregnate their father by getting him drunk.
Following Daughters' Plan
Birth of Moab and Ben-Ammi
Lot's daughters successfully conceive and bear sons, Moab and Ben-Ammi, who become the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites respectively.
Following Births
Moabite and Ammonite Nations
The descendants of Moab and Ben-Ammi grow into distinct nations, the Moabites and Ammonites, who would later have complex relationships with the Israelites.
This passage describes the lineage of Moab, directly linking to the origin story presented in Genesis 19, highlighting the continuity of these nations from Lot's daughters. It underscores the fulfillment of the statement about 'not a man on earth' in a regional sense for them at that time.
Ruth 1:4This verse mentions the Moabite sons taking wives from Canaan, illustrating the eventual integration of these lineages into the broader society, which contrasts with the isolation and perceived lack of men faced by Lot's daughters in Genesis 19:31.
1 Corinthians 10:13This verse speaks to God providing a way out of temptation, which can be contrasted with the desperate and sinful 'way out' Lot's daughters devised, highlighting the importance of seeking God's provision in times of perceived scarcity or crisis.
Romans 1:26-27These verses describe 'unnatural relations' as a consequence of abandoning God, providing a theological context for the actions of Lot's daughters and the corrupt state of Sodom, even if their immediate motivation was different.
clarkeGenesis 19:31: "And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:"
Our father is old - And consequently not likely to re-marry; and there is not a man in the earth - none left, according to their opinion in all the land of Canaan, of their own family and kindred; and they might think it unlawful to match with others, such as the inhabitants of Zoar, who they knew had been devoted to destruction a…
gillGenesis 19:31: "And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:"
And the firstborn said unto the younger,.... That is, the firstborn of those two, or the elder of them; for, if Lot had other daughters that were married in Sodom, it is probable they were elder than either of these: Aben Ezra intimates, that Lot had another wife, who died first, and these were by his second; the following motion…
The daughters' immediate fear isn't just about the lack of men, but about the "manner of all the earth"—they're not only worried about repopulating, but about doing it "properly," according to societal norms, revealing a deep-seated desire for normalcy despite their horrifying circumstances. This highlights how ingrained their understanding of the world's customs was, even when the world itself seemed to have ended.
Freshly escaped from the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters have taken refuge in a cave. Believing themselves to be the only survivors of a world-ending catastrophe, the daughters hatch a desperate plan to repopulate the earth. This verse marks the beginning of that plan, as the older sister broaches the subject to the younger.
Freshly escaped from the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters have taken refuge in a cave. Believing themselves to be the only survivors of a world-ending catastrophe, the daughters hatch a desperate plan to repopulate the earth. This verse marks the beginning of that plan, as the older sister broaches the subject to the younger.
"And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth." — The daughters' immediate fear isn't just about the lack of men, but about the "manner of all the earth"—they're not only worried about repopulating, but about doing it "properly," according to societ…
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Last reviewed October 2026