Verse by Verse Commentary (Genesis 19:16 – 20:7)

Genesis 19:16

Verse: And while he lingered the men laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife and upon the hand of his two daughters the LORD being merciful unto him and they brought him forth and set him without the city

• English Explanation: Despite the imminent danger Lot hesitated. In an act of pure grace the angels physically pulled Lot and his family out of the city showing that salvation is often God’s mercy overcoming our hesitation.

• Urdu Explanation: جب لوط نے دیر کی تو فرشتوں نے ان کا ان کی بیوی اور بیٹیوں کا ہاتھ پکڑ کر زبردستی شہر سے باہر نکال دیا۔ یہ خدا کی رحمت تھی جس نے انہیں ہلاکت سے بچایا۔

Genesis 19:17

Verse: And it came to pass when they had brought them forth abroad that he said Escape for thy life look not behind thee neither stay thou in all the plain escape to the mountain lest thou be consumed

• English Explanation: The command was urgent. Safety required total separation from the sinful city—not even a backward glance was permitted to ensure their focus remained on their deliverance.

• Urdu Explanation: فرشتوں نے ہدایت دی کہ اپنی جان بچا کر بھاگو پیچھے مڑ کر نہ دیکھنا اور میدان میں نہ رکنا بلکہ پہاڑ کی طرف نکل جاؤ تاکہ تم بھی ہلاک نہ ہو جاؤ۔

Genesis 19:18 – 19:19

Verse: And Lot said unto them Oh not so my Lord Behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight… and I cannot escape to the mountain lest some evil take me and I die

• English Explanation: Lot acknowledges God’s mercy but displays a lack of full faith fearing that the wilderness or mountains would be too dangerous for him to survive.

• Urdu Explanation: لوط نے خدا کے فضل کا اقرار تو کیا لیکن خوفزدہ ہو کر کہا کہ میں پہاڑ تک نہیں پہنچ سکوں گا کہیں ایسا نہ ہو کہ کوئی آفت مجھے وہیں آ لے اور میں مر جاؤں۔

Genesis 19:20 – 19:22

Verse: Behold now this city is near to flee unto and it is a little one… Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar

• English Explanation: Lot requests to flee to a nearby small town instead of the mountains. God grants this request showing His patience. The town was named Zoar which means “small.”

• Urdu Explanation: لوط نے ایک قریبی بستی میں پناہ مانگی جسے “ضغر” کہا گیا۔ خدا نے ان کی یہ درخواست بھی قبول کر لی اور اسے تباہ نہ کرنے کا وعدہ کیا۔

Genesis 19:23 – 19:25

Verse: The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire…

• English Explanation: As soon as Lot was safe divine judgment fell. The total destruction of the cities and the vegetation serves as a permanent warning of the consequences of extreme wickedness.

• Urdu Explanation: جیسے ہی لوط ضغر پہنچے خدا نے سدوم اور عمورہ پر آسمان سے آگ اور گندھک برسائی اور ان شہروں کو ان کے باشندوں سمیت نیست و نابود کر دیا۔

Genesis 19:26

Verse: But his wife looked back from behind him and she became a pillar of salt

• English Explanation: Lot’s wife disobeyed the specific command not to look back likely indicating a heart still attached to the world she left behind. Her transformation into a pillar of salt remains a symbol of judgment.

• Urdu Explanation: لوط کی بیوی نے پیچھے مڑ کر دیکھا جس کی وجہ سے وہ نمک کا ستون بن گئی۔ یہ حکم عدولی اور پرانی زندگی سے لگاؤ کا نتیجہ تھا۔

Genesis 19:27 – 19:29

Verse: And Abraham gat up early in the morning… and lo the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace… God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow

• English Explanation: Abraham witnessed the aftermath from a distance. The text emphasizes that Lot was saved because “God remembered Abraham” highlighting the power of intercession.

• Urdu Explanation: ابرہام نے صبح سویرے دیکھا کہ شہر سے دھواں بھٹی کی طرح اٹھ رہا ہے۔ خدا نے ابرہام کی دعا کی خاطر لوط کو اس تباہی سے بچا لیا۔

Genesis 19:30 – 19:36

Verse: And Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountain… Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father

• English Explanation: Fearing Zoar Lot moved to a cave. His daughters believing the world had ended and they were the last survivors resorted to a desperate and sinful plan to preserve their lineage.

• Urdu Explanation: لوط خوف کے مارے غار میں رہنے لگے۔ ان کی بیٹیوں نے یہ سمجھ کر کہ دنیا میں کوئی مرد نہیں بچا اپنے باپ کو شراب پلا کر ان سے حاملہ ہونے کا غلط فیصلہ کیا۔

Genesis 19:37 – 19:38

Verse: And the firstborn bare a son and called his name Moab… And the younger she also bare a son and called his name Benammi

• English Explanation: These events gave rise to two nations: the Moabites and the Ammonites who would later become frequent adversaries of Israel.

• Urdu Explanation: بڑی بیٹی کے بیٹے کا نام موآب اور چھوٹی کے بیٹے کا نام بن عمی رکھا گیا۔ ان سے موآبیوں اور عمونیوں کی قومیں پیدا ہوئیں۔

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Genesis 20:1 – 20:2

Verse: And Abraham journeyed from thence… and Abraham said of Sarah his wife She is my sister and Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah

• English Explanation: Moving to Gerar Abraham repeated an earlier mistake by claiming Sarah was only his sister to protect himself leading King Abimelech to take her.

• Urdu Explanation: ابرہام جرار کے علاقے میں گئے اور اپنی جان بچانے کے لیے سارہ کو اپنی بہن بتایا جس پر وہاں کے بادشاہ ابی ملک نے سارہ کو اپنے محل میں بلا لیا۔

Genesis 20:3 – 20:6

Verse: But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night… for I also withheld thee from sinning against me

• English Explanation: God intervened directly through a dream to prevent Abimelech from touching Sarah. God acknowledged Abimelech’s integrity in the matter while correcting the situation.

• Urdu Explanation: خدا نے ابی ملک کو خواب میں خبردار کیا کہ سارہ ایک شادی شدہ عورت ہے۔ خدا نے ابی ملک کو گناہ سے بچائے رکھا کیونکہ اس کی نیت صاف تھی۔

Genesis 20:7

Verse: Now therefore restore the man his wife for he is a prophet and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live

• English Explanation: God commanded the return of Sarah and identified Abraham as a prophet whose prayer would bring healing to Abimelech’s household.

• Urdu Explanation: خدا نے حکم دیا کہ سارہ کو واپس کر دو کیونکہ ابرہام ایک نبی ہے اور وہ تمہارے لیے دعا کرے گا تو تم زندہ رہو گے ورنہ ہلاکت تمہارا مقدر ہوگی۔