Text -- Genesis 18:27-33 (NET)

18:27 Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord (although I am but dust and ashes), 18:28 what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are lacking?” He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 18:29 Abraham spoke to him again, “What if forty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.” 18:30 Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak! What if thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 18:31 Abraham said, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” 18:32 Finally Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” 18:33 The Lord went on his way when he had finished speaking to Abraham. Then Abraham returned home.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Gen 18:27

¹ tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in vv. 30, 31, 32 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).

² tn The disjunctive clause is a concessive clause here, drawing out the humility as a contrast to the Lord.

NET Notes: Gen 18:28

¹ tn The Hebrew verb שָׁחַת (shakhat, “to destroy”) was used earlier to describe the effect of the flood.

² tn Heb “because of five.”

NET Notes: Gen 18:29

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn The construction is a verbal hendiadys – the preterite (“he added”) is combined with an adverb “yet” and an infinitive “to speak.”

NET Notes: Gen 18:30

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “let it not be hot to the Lord.” This is an idiom which means “may the Lord not be angry.”

³ tn After the jussive, the cohortative indicates purpose/result.

NET Notes: Gen 18:31

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: Gen 18:32

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: Gen 18:33

¹ tn Heb “And the Lord went.”

² tn The infinitive construct (“speaking”) serves as the direct object of the verb “finished.”

³ tn Heb “to his place.”