Study it in the app“Perhaps the fifty righteous will lack five; will you destroy for the five the whole city?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find there forty-five.””
Perhapsאוּלַיthe fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםrighteousהַצַּדִּיקִםwill lackיַחְסְרוּןfive;חֲמִשָּׁהwill you destroyהֲתַשְׁחִיתfor the fiveבַּחֲמִשָּׁהthe wholeאֶת כָּלcity?”הָעִירHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“I will notלֹאdestroy itאַשְׁחִיתifאִםI findאֶמְצָאthereשָׁםforty-five.”אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה
perhaps
Perhaps, maybe.
Where else “ulay” appearsfifty
Fifty.
Where else “chamishim” appearsrighteous
Someone who lives uprightly; also YHWH.
Where else “tsadikim” appearslack, be lacking
Lack, be short of; decrease.
Where else “yachsru” appearsfive
Five.
Where else “chamisha” appearsdestroy
To ruin something completely, until it no longer exists or no longer serves.
Where else “tashchit” appearscity
A settled place protected by a wall, with a gate and houses.
Where else “ir” appearssay
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appearsfind
To come upon what one seeks, or something not expected.
Where else “emtsa” appearsforty
Forty.
Where else “arbaim” appears27Abraham answered and said, “Look, I have ventured to speak to Adonai, though I am dust and ashes.
28 · This verse (above)
29He spoke to him yet again and said, “Perhaps forty will be found there.” He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”
1. What it says
What did Abraham do when he saw the three men, and what did they announce about Sarah (vv. 2-10)?
2. What it means
What does the question “Is anything too difficult for YHWH?” teach (v. 14)?
3. How I live it
Whom can you welcome this week to your home or table with Abraham’s generosity?
