Genesis 19:14

19:14 Then Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law who were going to marry his daughters. ¹  He said, “Quick, get out of this place because the Lord is about to destroy ²  the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was ridiculing them. ³ 

Genesis 19:12

19:12 Then the two visitors ⁴  said to Lot, “Who else do you have here? ⁵  Do you have ⁶  any sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or other relatives in the city? ⁷  Get them out of this ⁸  place

[19:14]  ¹ sn The language has to be interpreted in the light of the context and the social customs. The men are called “sons-in-law” (literally “the takers of his daughters”), but the daughters had not yet had sex with a man. It is better to translate the phrase “who were going to marry his daughters.” Since formal marriage contracts were binding, the husbands-to-be could already be called sons-in-law.

[19:14]  ² tn The Hebrew active participle expresses an imminent action.

[19:14]  ³ tn Heb “and he was like one taunting in the eyes of his sons-in-law.” These men mistakenly thought Lot was ridiculing them and their lifestyle. Their response illustrates how morally insensitive they had become.

[19:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “the men,” referring to the angels inside Lot’s house. The word “visitors” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[19:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “Yet who [is there] to you here?”

[19:12]  ⁶ tn The words “Do you have” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[19:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “a son-in-law and your sons and your daughters and anyone who (is) to you in the city.”

[19:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “the place.” The Hebrew article serves here as a demonstrative.