Genesis 18:21

Genesis 18:21

I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

a. NLT: I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”

b. NIV: that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

c. YLT: I go down now, and see whether according to its cry which is coming unto Me they have done completely -- and if not -- I know;'

d. Amplified Bible: I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether [as vilely and wickedly] as is the cry of it which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.

e. Septuagint: I will therefore go down and see, if they completely correspond with the cry which comes to me, and if not, that I may know.

f. Stone Edition Chumash: I will descend and see: If they act in accordance with its outcry which has come to me – then destruction! And if not, I will know.

1. “I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it…”

a. I will go down now [3381 * yarad] [Strong: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.]

b. and see [7200 * ra’ah] [Strong: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

c. whether they have done [6213 * ‘asah] [Strong: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, + finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be (warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.]

d. altogether [3617 * kalah] [Strong: from 3615; a completion; adverb, completely; also destruction:--altogether, (be, utterly) consume(-d), consummation(-ption), was determined, (full, utter) end, riddance.]

e. according to the cry [6818 * tsaaqah] [Strongs: a shriek or cry (ing). [AMG: It describes a call for help, a cry of wailing and despair.]

1). When the LORD sent these angels on their fact finding mission it was to determine if the they were worthy of destruction. It is obvious the homosexual behavior of the city that the angels witnessed confirmed “the cry”. Granted, homosexuality was not the only sin that Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain were guilty of, but there is enough Scripture in the Bible to come to the doctrinally sound conclusion that the homosexual behavior of these cities was the main reason God decided to destroy them.

a). Genesis 18:20, 21 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

2). According to Blue Letter Bible this Hebrew word is used 21 times in the Old Testament. In most of those instances it is used as “a cry” or “an outcry”. There is also an example of crying out against something and that is found in Nehemiah.

a). Nehemiah 5:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

3). This has to be the meaning of the word here. The cry of Sodom was an outcry of rebellion against the Lord. In the book of Isaiah we get a closer look at the cry.

a). Isaiah 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

b).  The Hebrew word translated “declare” is “nagad”, the Strong’s number is 5046 and it means,  to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter. Remember that the context is sin so the various definitions fit right in with the NIV use of the word “parade”. To boldly stand out (in their sin) of homosexuality, to announce (their sin) of homosexuality by word of mouth, to proclaim (their sin) of homosexuality, to celebrate (their sin) of homosexuality with praise”, are all very revealing. This was the outcry of Sodom against God.

2. “…which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”

a. which is come [935 * bow’] [Strong: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, + besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken (in age), X surely, take (in), way.]

b. I will know [3045 * yada] [Strong: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), X will be, wist, wit, wot.]