11 Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.

Other Translations of Genesis 19:11

King James Version

11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

English Standard Version

11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

The Message

11 Then they struck blind the men who were trying to break down the door, both leaders and followers, leaving them groping in the dark.

New King James Version

11 And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

New Living Translation

11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 19:11

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.