Genesis 18:23

Genesis 18:23, in plain English

Abraham approaches God and asks point-blank: Would You really destroy the righteous people living in Sodom along with the wicked ones?

Why it's here

Abraham has just witnessed the angels depart toward Sodom. He's troubled by what he's heard about God's plan. He knows Sodom is wicked, but he also knows that righteous people might be living there—maybe his own nephew Lot. So he speaks up, appealing to God's own character and sense of fairness.

Who's speaking

Abraham

Where it sits in the story

This is the beginning of one of the Bible's most remarkable prayers—not a request for himself, but an appeal on behalf of others. Abraham models what it means to care about justice and to trust that God Himself cares deeply about it too.

The scholarly reading

Abraham approaches God with a bold question about the justice of destroying innocent people along with the guilty in Sodom.

Language and setting

The verb 'stepped forward' (נִגַּשׁ, niggash) denotes deliberate approach—not hesitant or deferential, but purposeful movement into relationship. Abraham is leveraging his covenant status and righteousness to engage God on the question of divine ethics itself. This is remarkably audacious: a mortal creature questioning the moral framework of the Almighty.

Voice

Abraham, invoking his relationship with God to raise a fundamental question about justice

Significance

This initiates what scholars call the 'intercession for the wicked'—a theme that recurs in Jeremiah's laments and reaches its apex in Christ's intercession for sinners. Abraham becomes the prototype of the righteous remnant pleading on behalf of the corrupt city.

21I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”

22And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

23Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?

25Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

Read all of Genesis 18 — Strangers arrive at Abraham's tent. One of them is the Lord. And Abraham dares to argue with God about justice.