Genesis 19:4

Genesis 19:4

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

a. NLT: But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house.

b. NIV: Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house.

c. Amplified Bible: But before they lay down, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, all the men from every quarter, surrounded the house.

d. Septuagint:  But before they went to sleep, the men of the city, the Sodomites, compassed the house, both young and old, all the people together.

e. They had not yet lain down when the townspeople, Sodomites, converged upon the house, from young to old, all the people from every quarter.

1. “Before they lay down…”

a. before they lay down [7901 * shakab] [Strong: a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose):--X at all, cast down, ((lover-))lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.]

b. This shows that probably a couple of hours or more went by before things turned ugly. They arrived at maybe 6PM, ate a large meal and were about to lay down.

2. “…the men of the city, even the men of Sodom…”

a. men [582 * ‘enowsh] [Strong:  from 605; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified 120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively):--another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ( X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word.]

b. of the city [5892 * ‘iyr] [Strong: from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.]

c. men [582 * ‘enowsh] See above.

d. Sodom [5467 * Cedom] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea:-- Sodom.]

3. “…compassed the house round, both old and young…”

a. compassed [5437 * cabab] [Strong: a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively (as follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).]

b. house [1004 * ] [Strong: probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet, temple, web, + within(-out).]

c. round [5437 * cabab] Same Hebrew word as “compassed”. See above.

d. old [2205 * zaqen] [Strong: from 2204; old:--aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator.]

e. [5288 * na’ar] [Strong: from 5287; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age):--babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).]

4. “…all the people from every quarter.”

a. all the people [5971 * ‘am] [Strong: from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation, people.]

b. every quarter [7097 * qatseh] [Strong:  from 7096; an extremity (used in a great variety of applications and idioms; Compare 7093):--X after, border, brim, brink, edge, end, (in-)finite, frontier, outmost coast, quarter, shore, (out-)side, X some, ut(-ter-)most (part).]

1). News of two male visitors to the city staying at Lot’s house drew all the queers to Lot’s house to have a party fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.