but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that the destruction of Sodom didn't happen until after Lot left, highlighting that God's judgment is often delayed, giving people a chance to escape. This emphasizes the urgency of Lot's departure and serves as a stark warning that even after someone righteous is removed, divine reckoning will still fall on the unrepentant.
but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is explaining that the coming of His kingdom, and His final return, won't be something people can "see" coming like a political takeover; instead, it will arrive suddenly, much like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He uses the example of Lot's escape from Sodom and the cataclysm that followed to illustrate the abruptness and totality of judgment for those caught unaware. This contrasts sharply with the disciples' hope for a visible, earthly kingdom and underscores the need for constant vigilance.
Imagine an ordinary day, then BAM! Fire from the sky. This verse paints a terrifying picture, but also highlights a narrow escape.
Jesus uses the destruction of Sodom as a stark illustration of how abruptly God's judgment can fall. It wasn't a slow fade; it was a sudden, fiery end.
A World Unaware
Just like the people in Noah's day, the inhabitants of Sodom were caught completely off guard. They were going about their daily lives – eating, drinking, buying, selling – utterly oblivious to the impending doom. This wasn't just about being busy; it was about a deep-seated indifference to God's warnings.
Lot's Urgent Exit
In contrast, Lot and his family were being removed from the danger. The angels urged them to flee, emphasizing the need for haste. This contrast between those destroyed and those rescued highlights the critical importance of responding to God's call to step away from destruction.
Fire and sulfur raining down sounds like something out of a nightmare. What does this intense imagery tell us about God's judgment?
The description of 'fire and sulfur' raining from heaven isn't just dramatic storytelling; it's a powerful symbol of God's decisive, purifying judgment.
Divine Retribution
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The language used here echoes Old Testament accounts of God's judgment against sin and rebellion. It signifies a judgment that is both absolute and directly from God's hand. This wasn't a natural disaster; it was a divine sentence carried out with terrifying force.
An Enduring Warning
This event served as a potent warning for generations to come. It demonstrated that God takes sin seriously and that His judgment, while sometimes delayed, is certain. For Jesus' listeners, and for us today, it's a call to examine our own lives and not live in the same kind of careless indifference that led to Sodom's doom.
Understand the original words
Sedom · Hebrew Proper Noun
An ancient city known in the Bible as a symbol of extreme moral depravity and rebellion against God, resulting in catastrophic divine judgment.
pyr kai theion · Greek Noun Phrase
A frequent Old Testament motif representing divine judgment and the manifestation of God’s holiness and wrath against sin and impurity.
Jesus uses the destruction of Sodom as a stark warning. It wasn't just a past event but a powerful symbol of sudden, unexpected judgment for those caught in worldly pursuits, mirroring the coming judgment on Jerusalem and the final judgment.
c. 2000 BC— this verse
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Divine judgment falls upon the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, raining fire and sulfur from the sky. Lot and his family are rescued just before the destruction.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt after years of slavery, a pivotal event in their history and God's covenant relationship with them.
c. 13th Century BC
Conquest of Canaan
After wandering in the desert, the Israelites, led by Joshua, conquer the Promised Land, establishing their presence there.
c. 9th Century BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling the southern Kingdom of Judah.
This is the original account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, directly describing the 'fire and sulfur' rained from heaven.
2 Peter 2:6Peter explicitly uses the destruction of Sodom as an example of God's judgment on the ungodly, showing its relevance as a warning.
Deuteronomy 29:23This passage describes the land itself being ruined by sulfur, brimstone, and salt, echoing the fiery destruction of Sodom as a sign of divine judgment.
Matthew 11:23-24Jesus references the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, likening its fate to that of Capernaum, highlighting the severe consequences of rejecting God's messengers.
Luke 17:32Immediately following this verse, Jesus warns His followers to 'Remember Lot's wife,' connecting the destructive judgment on Sodom with the danger of looking back at a sinful life.
calvinLuke 17:26-37: "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."
- But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38. For as in the days that came before the deluge, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, till the day when Noah entered into the ark, 39. And knew not until the deluge came, [160] and took them all away: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40. Two men shall then be in the field…
clarkeLuke 17:29: "But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all."
It rained fire and brimstone - Instead of it rained, Genesis 19:24 justifies the insertion of the pronoun he, as implied in the verb εβρεξε; for it is there said that Jehovah rained fire and brimstone from Jehovah out of heaven.
What's easy to miss is that the destruction of Sodom didn't happen until after Lot left, highlighting that God's judgment is often delayed, giving people a chance to escape. This emphasizes the urgency of Lot's departure and serves as a stark warning that even after someone righteous is removed, divine reckoning will still fall on the unrepentant.
Jesus is explaining that the coming of His kingdom, and His final return, won't be something people can "see" coming like a political takeover; instead, it will arrive suddenly, much like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He uses the example of Lot's escape from Sodom and the cataclysm that followed to illustrate the abruptness and totality of judgment for those caught unaware. This contrasts sharply with the disciples' hope for a visible, earthly kingdom and underscores the need for constant vigilance.
Jesus is explaining that the coming of His kingdom, and His final return, won't be something people can "see" coming like a political takeover; instead, it will arrive suddenly, much like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He uses the example of Lot's escape from Sodom and the cataclysm that followed to illustrate the abruptness and totality of judgment for those caught unaware. This contrasts sharply with the disciples' hope for a visible, earthly kingdom and underscores the need for constant vigilance.
"but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—" — What's easy to miss is that the destruction of Sodom didn't happen until after Lot left, highlighting that God's judgment is often delayed, giving people a chance to escape. This emphasizes the urg…
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Last reviewed October 2026