Genesis 19:24

“Then YHWH rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from YHWH out of the heavens.”
Genesis 19:24 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

Then YHWHוַיהוָהrainedהִמְטִירonעַלSodomסְדֹםand onוְעַלGomorrahעֲמֹרָהsulfurגָּפְרִיתand fireוָאֵשׁfromמֵאֵתYHWHיְהוָהout ofמִןthe heavens.הַשָּׁמָיִם

Theme · Jude 1:7

Go to Jude 1:7

Jude sets forth Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of punishment by fire; Genesis 19:24 tells that YHWH rained sulfur and fire on them.

The same term appears in both passages.

סְדֹםsedomH5467ΣόδομαSodomaG4670“Sodom”
עֲמֹרָהamoraH6017ΓόμορραGomorraG1116“Gomorrah”

Theme · 2 Peter 2:6

Go to 2 Peter 2:6

2 Peter says that God reduced Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes; Genesis 19:24-25 tells of their destruction.

The same term appears in both passages.

סְדֹםsedomH5467ΣοδόμωνSodomōnG4670“Sodom”
עֲמֹרָהamoraH6017ΓομόρραςGomorrasG1116“Gomorrah”

Allusion · Luke 17:29

Go to Luke 17:29

Both texts say that fire and sulfur rained from heaven on the day Lot left Sodom.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

אֵשׁeshH784πῦρpyrG4442“fire”
גָּפְרִיתgafritH1614θεῖονtheionG2303“sulfur”
סְדֹםsedomH5467ΣοδόμωνSodomōnG4670“Sodom”

Genesis 19:24, word by word

Then YHWHיהוָהyhva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yhva” appears

rainedהִמְטִירhimtir

rain

Send rain, make it rain.

Where else “himtir” appears

Sodomסְדֹםsedom

Sodom

See it on the map Where else “sedom” appears

Gomorrahעֲמֹרָהamora

Gomorrah

See it on the map Where else “amora” appears

sulfurגָּפְרִיתgafrit

sulfur

Sulfur: a mineral that burns with a flame and a strong smell.

Where else “gafrit” appears

and fireאֵשׁesh

fire

Fire that burns or cooks.

Where else “esh” appears

the heavensשָּׁמָיִםshamayim

sky

The high space seen above the earth, where the birds, clouds, sun and stars are.

Where else “shamayim” appears

Places in this verse

Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.

1Sodom ?
Today: disputed; perhaps south or northeast of the Dead Sea
A city of the Jordan plain; its site is not known for certain, perhaps near the Dead Sea.
Its people were very wicked (Gen 13:13). God destroyed it with fire, and saved Lot (Gen 19:24-25).
Genesis 19:24 Genesis 13:13 Genesis 18:20 Matthew 10:15
2Gomorrah ?
Today: disputed; near the Dead Sea
A city of the Jordan plain, next to Sodom; its site is not known for certain.
God destroyed it together with Sodom for its great sin (Gen 18:20; 19:24).
Genesis 19:24 Genesis 18:20 Genesis 14:10

The context

23The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar.

24 · This verse (above)

25He overturned those cities, and the whole plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

Read all of Genesis 19

To study Genesis 19 in a group

1. What it says
How was Lot’s family brought out of Sodom, and what happened to Lot’s wife (vv. 15-26)?
2. What it means
What does the text show about Elohim’s mercy in bringing Lot out of the city (vv. 16, 29)?
3. How I live it
What from the past is hard for you to let go of, and what step could help you move forward?

How to use it