The men of Sodom are furious that Lot, a "sojourner" and foreigner, dares to act as a judge by protecting his guests. Their outrage reveals a deep-seated resentment of any authority that challenges their own self-appointed rule and decadent lifestyle. This hostility toward Lot's moral stance, rather than his legal status, highlights the underlying corruption and resistance to righteousness within the city.
But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The men of Sodom are furious that Lot is protecting the two visitors (who are angels in disguise) and are attempting to break down his door to get to them. They are particularly angry with Lot because, as a foreigner who has recently settled there, he is acting as if he has the authority to judge and correct their behavior. This moment marks the climax of the city's depravity and Lot's desperate attempt to maintain his hospitality and protect his guests, setting the stage for divine judgment.
Lot, a foreigner in Sodom, had the audacity to challenge the city's behavior. The men of Sodom saw this as an outrageous overstep, not from a fellow citizen, but from someone who was merely 'sojourning' among them.
The men of Sodom felt deeply insulted by Lot's intervention. They viewed him as an outsider, a mere 'sojourner,' who had no right to question their actions or, as they perceived it, 'judge' them. This highlights a key tension: Lot, by divine calling, was in Sodom but not of Sodom. His actions stemmed from a higher allegiance, a moral compass that clashed with the city's ingrained depravity. His willingness to speak out, even as a foreigner, reveals a conscience that couldn't be silenced by social status or the threat of violence. Their fury wasn't just about Lot's actions, but about a perceived 'foreigner' presuming to dictate morality to 'citizens.'
The men of Sodom didn't stop at threats. Their response to Lot's gentle rebuke escalated from verbal abuse to outright physical aggression, aiming to break down his door and seize the guests.
This verse shows a terrifying progression from moral disapproval to physical menace. The Sodomites, enraged by Lot's stand, moved from words to action. The phrase 'pressed hard' and 'drew near to break the door down' paints a vivid picture of mob violence. It's a stark reminder of how quickly depravity can escalate when unchecked. Lot's courage in facing them, even after his failed attempt to offer his daughters, is met not with reason, but with brute force. This highlights the desperate and violent nature of sin when it feels threatened or challenged. Their intent was not just to assault the guests, but to assert their own dominance and extinguish any voice of dissent, no matter how peacefully expressed.
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Understand the original words
gur · Hebrew Verb
To reside temporarily in a place that is not one's homeland. Biblically, it often characterizes the life of the righteous or the people of God as 'sojourners' or 'aliens' in a fallen world, emphasizing their status as citizens of a different Kingdom.
shaphat · Hebrew Noun
One who exercises the authority to adjudicate, decide, or pass sentence on matters of conduct. In Scripture, true judgment belongs to God, and when humans act as judges, it often carries the weight of authority and accountability.
This passage occurs during the final moments before the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The men of Sodom, consumed by their wicked desires, violently reject Lot's attempts to intervene, viewing him as an intrusive foreigner presuming to judge them. Their hostility highlights the deep-seated depravity and societal breakdown that warranted divine judgment.
~2000 BC
Settlement of Abraham and Lot
Abraham and his nephew Lot settle in the land of Canaan, a region inhabited by various peoples, including the inhabitants of the cities of the plain.
c. 1800 BC
Lot Separates from Abraham
Due to disputes between their herdsmen, Lot chooses to separate from Abraham and settles in the fertile region near Sodom, an infamous city.
c. 1800 BC
The War of the Kings
Sodom and other cities of the plain are conquered and their inhabitants taken captive, including Lot, but Abraham rescues him.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Divine Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah
God reveals to Abraham that He will judge Sodom and Gomorrah due to their extreme wickedness. Angels visit Lot, who lives in Sodom.
c. 1800 BC
The Mob's Rage
The men of Sodom surround Lot's house, demanding to have sexual relations with his angelic visitors, threatening Lot when he refuses.
This passage directly references Lot, calling him 'righteous' and noting that he was 'greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the immoral.' It highlights the oppressive environment Lot lived in, mirroring the hostility he faced in Genesis 19.
Jude 1:7This verse describes Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of eternal fire, linking their destruction to sexual immorality and unnatural desires. It reinforces the extreme wickedness of the city that Lot was living in and facing hostility from.
Genesis 19:4-5This immediate context shows the depravity of the men of Sodom who demanded Lot hand over the visitors. It explains the violent intent and the utter lack of respect for hospitality or law that fueled the mob's aggression against Lot.
Proverbs 1:10-16This proverb warns against being enticed by sinners to join in their violent schemes. It illustrates the mindset of the Sodomites who were eager to shed blood and pursue wickedness, mirroring their aggressive stance toward Lot.
clarkeGenesis 19:9: "And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door."
And he will needs be a judge - So his sitting in the gate is perhaps a farther proof of his being there in a magisterial capacity, as some have supposed.
ellicottGenesis 19:9: "And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door."
(9) This one fellow came in to sojourn. —Heb. the one came to sojourn, as if an extraordinary concession had been made in Lot’s favour in allowing him to dwell within their walls. In ancient times the rights of citizenship were most jealous…
The men of Sodom are furious that Lot, a "sojourner" and foreigner, dares to act as a judge by protecting his guests. Their outrage reveals a deep-seated resentment of any authority that challenges their own self-appointed rule and decadent lifestyle. This hostility toward Lot's moral stance, rather than his legal status, highlights the underlying corruption and resistance to righteousness within the city.
The men of Sodom are furious that Lot is protecting the two visitors (who are angels in disguise) and are attempting to break down his door to get to them. They are particularly angry with Lot because, as a foreigner who has recently settled there, he is acting as if he has the authority to judge and correct their behavior. This moment marks the climax of the city's depravity and Lot's desperate attempt to maintain his hospitality and protect his guests, setting the stage for divine judgment.
The men of Sodom are furious that Lot is protecting the two visitors (who are angels in disguise) and are attempting to break down his door to get to them. They are particularly angry with Lot because, as a foreigner who has recently settled there, he is acting as if he has the authority to judge and correct their behavior. This moment marks the climax of the city's depravity and Lot's desperate attempt to maintain his hospitality and protect his guests, setting the stage for divine judgment.
"But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down." — The men of Sodom are furious that Lot, a "sojourner" and foreigner, dares to act as a judge by protecting his guests. Their outrage reveals a deep-seated resentment of any authority that challenges t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
