22 But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it." (That is why the town was called Zoar.[1] )

Other Translations of Genesis 19:22

King James Version

22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. Zoar: that is, Little

English Standard Version

22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.Zoar means little

The Message

22 But hurry up. Run for it! I can't do anything until you get there." That's why the town was called Zoar, that is, Smalltown.

New King James Version

22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

New Living Translation

22 But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there." (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means "little place.")

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 19:22

Commentary on Genesis 19:1-29

(Read Genesis 19:1-29)

Lot was good, but there was not one more of the same character in the city. All the people of Sodom were very wicked and vile. Care was therefore taken for saving Lot and his family. Lot lingered; he trifled. Thus many who are under convictions about their spiritual state, and the necessity of a change, defer that needful work. The salvation of the most righteous men is of God's mercy, not by their own merit. We are saved by grace. God's power also must be acknowledged in bringing souls out of a sinful state If God had not been merciful to us, our lingering had been our ruin. Lot must flee for his life. He must not hanker after Sodom. Such commands as these are given to those who, through grace, are delivered out of a sinful state and condition. Return not to sin and Satan. Rest not in self and the world. Reach toward Christ and heaven, for that is escaping to the mountain, short of which we must not stop. Concerning this destruction, observe that it is a revelation of the wrath of God against sin and sinners of all ages. Let us learn from hence the evil of sin, and its hurtful nature; it leads to ruin.