Genesis 18:21

NETBible

that I must go down 1  and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. 2  If not, 3  I want to know.”

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."

NASB ©

"I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know."

NLT ©

I am going down to see whether or not these reports are true. Then I will know."

MSG ©

I'm going down to see for myself, see if what they're doing is as bad as it sounds. Then I'll know."

BBE ©

I will go down now, and see if their acts are as bad as they seem from the outcry which has come to me; and if they are not, I will see.

NRSV ©

I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know."

NKJV ©

"I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."

KJV
I will go down
<03381> (8799)
now, and see
<07200> (8799)
whether they have done
<06213> (8804)
altogether
<03617>
according to the cry
<06818>
of it, which is come
<0935> (8802)
unto me; and if not, I will know
<03045> (8799)_.
NASB ©
"I will go
<3381>
down
<3381>
now
<4994>
, and see
<7200>
if they have done
<6213>
entirely
<3617>
according to its outcry
<6818>
, which has come
<935>
to Me; and if
<518>
not, I will know
<3045>
."
LXXM
katabav
<2597> 
V-AAPNS
oun
<3767> 
PRT
oqomai
<3708> 
V-FMI-1S
ei
<1487> 
CONJ
kata
<2596> 
PREP
thn
<3588> 
T-ASF
kraughn
<2906> 
N-ASF
autwn
<846> 
D-GPM
thn
<3588> 
T-ASF
ercomenhn
<2064> 
V-PMPAS
prov
<4314> 
PREP
me
<1473> 
P-AS
suntelountai
<4931> 
V-PMI-3P
ei
<1487> 
CONJ
de
<1161> 
PRT
mh
<3165> 
ADV
ina
<2443> 
CONJ
gnw
<1097> 
V-AAS-1S
NET [draft] ITL
that I must go down
<03381>
and see
<07200>
if they are as wicked as the outcry
<06818>
suggests
<0935>
. If
<0518>
not
<03808>
, I want to know
<03045>
.”
HEBREW
heda
<03045>
al
<03808>
Maw
<0518>
hlk
<03617>
wve
<06213>
yla
<0413>
habh
<0935>
htqeukh
<06818>
haraw
<07200>
an
<04994>
hdra (18:21)
<03381>
NETBible

that I must go down 1  and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. 2  If not, 3  I want to know.”

NET Notes

1 tn The cohortative indicates the Lord’s resolve.

1 sn I must go down. The descent to “see” Sodom is a bold anthropomorphism, stressing the careful judgment of God. The language is reminiscent of the Lord going down to see the Tower of Babel in Gen 11:1-9.

2 tn Heb “[if] according to the outcry that has come to me they have done completely.” Even the Lord, who is well aware of the human capacity to sin, finds it hard to believe that anyone could be as bad as the “outcry” against Sodom and Gomorrah suggests.

3 sn The short phrase if not provides a ray of hope and inspires Abraham’s intercession.