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    Genesis 19 (KJV)

    Read Genesis chapter 19 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Genesis 19

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    Bible Story

    The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

    Genesis 18:16–19:29 • Divine Judgment and Mercy

    Miracle

    The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

    The LORD rains fire and brimstone from heaven upon the cities of the plain, spar

    Commentary

    Genesis 6:7 Commentary

    In-depth study • Divine Judgment & Grief

    Miracle

    Lot's Wife Becomes a Pillar of Salt

    Lot's wife looks back at burning Sodom and is turned into a pillar of salt.

    Location

    Gomorrah in the Bible

    The twin city of Sodom destroyed by fire and brimstone as judgment for extreme w

    Commentary

    Genesis 24:27 Commentary

    In-depth study • Divine Guidance

    Genesis 19 Summary

    Genesis 19 narrates the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah — cities whose wickedness had reached the point of divine judgment. Two angels arrive in Sodom and are sheltered by Lot, but the men of the city surround Lot's house with violent intent. The angels strike the mob with blindness, urge Lot's family to flee, and God rains fire and brimstone on the cities.

    Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt, a sobering image of the danger of clinging to what God has condemned. The chapter closes with the troubling aftermath of Lot's escape, underscoring the corrosive effect of prolonged exposure to a corrupt environment.

    Key Themes

    Divine judgmentHospitality vs. hostilityConsequences of compromiseAngelic interventionLot's wife as warning

    Key Verses in Genesis 19

    "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."

    — Genesis 19:17

    Urgent command that illustrates the need for decisive obedience in moments of judgment.

    "Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities."

    — Genesis 19:24-25

    Describes the catastrophic judgment that became a byword throughout Scripture.

    "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."

    — Genesis 19:26

    Jesus Himself referenced this moment as a warning against divided loyalty (Luke 17:32).

    Life Application

    Lot's story shows the long-term cost of choosing comfort over conviction. His gradual drift toward Sodom — first pitching his tent nearby, then living inside the city — eroded his family's spiritual foundation. Genesis 19 challenges you to evaluate whether the environments you choose are shaping you or whether you are shaping them.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

    Ezekiel 16:49-50 lists pride, excess of food, idleness, neglect of the poor, and abominations as their sins. The cities had become so thoroughly corrupt that not even ten righteous people could be found there (Genesis 18:32).

    Why did Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt?

    Looking back violated the angel's explicit command and symbolized her attachment to the life she was leaving. It serves as a biblical symbol of the danger of longing for what God has judged.

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