Genesis 18:31

29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

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.

32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

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 say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 7:7

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 10:20–22

    By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 4:16

    Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

    Read in context
  • Luke 18:1

    And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

    Read in context
  • Ephesians 6:18

    Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

    Read in context
  • Genesis 18:27

    And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

    Read in context
  • Matthew 7:11

    If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

    Read in context