Genesis 18:31

29 Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”

30 Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

32 Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”
KJV
And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.
WEB
He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
ASV
And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty`s sake.
DARBY
And he said, Behold now, I have ventured to speak with the Lord. Perhaps there may be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for the twenty's sake.
BLB
And he said, “Behold, please, I have ventured to speak to the Lord. Suppose there should be found twenty.” And He said, “I will not destroy [it] on account of the twenty.”
ÅB
Da sa han: Se, jeg har dristet meg til å tale til Herren; kanskje det finnes tyve. Han svarte: Jeg skal ikke ødelegge den - for de tyves skyld.
OTB
Abraham sa, “Nå som jeg har vært så dristig å tale til Herren, anta at det finnes tjue der?” Han sa, “For de tjue skyld, vil jeg ikke ødelegge den.”
B1930
Da sa han: Se, jeg har dristet mig til å tale til Herren; kanskje det finnes tyve. Han svarte: Jeg skal ikke ødelegge den - for de tyves skyld.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Luke 11:8

    I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 7:7

    Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 10:20–22

    by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 4:16

    Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

    Read in context
  • Luke 18:1

    Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

    Read in context
  • Ephesians 6:18

    Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 18:27

    Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

    Read in context
  • Matthew 7:11

    So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

    Read in context