Lot
Pronounced LAHT
- Meaning
- "Covering; Veil; Hidden"
- Origin
- Hebrew
Lot means "covering" or "veil" in Hebrew. He was Abraham's nephew who chose the well-watered plains of Sodom over the hills of Canaan — a decision that would prove fateful. Despite living in a wicked city, the New Testament calls Lot "righteous" (2 Peter 2:7-8). Lot's story is a cautionary tale about compromising proximity to evil. Though he was personally grieved by the wickedness around him, his gradual move toward Sodom — from nearby, to at the gate, to inside the city — illustrates how compromise happens incrementally. When God destroyed Sodom, angels physically dragged Lot and his family out. His wife, looking back in longing, became a pillar of salt. Jesus later warned, "Remember Lot's wife" — a solemn reminder not to cling to what God has called us to leave behind.
Spiritual meaning
Lot's story warns that proximity to evil, even for a righteous person, leads to devastating compromise. His rescue by grace reminds us that God delivers those who call upon Him, even from situations of their own making.
Related verses (KJV)
"Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom."
Genesis 13:12 (KJV) →"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day."
2 Peter 2:7-8 (KJV) →