Genesis 18:21

Authorized King James Version

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I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

Original Language Analysis

אֵֽרֲדָה I will go down H3381
אֵֽרֲדָה I will go down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 1 of 11
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
נָּ֣א H4994
נָּ֣א
Strong's: H4994
Word #: 2 of 11
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה now and see H7200
וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה now and see
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 3 of 11
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
הַכְּצַֽעֲקָתָ֛הּ according to the cry H6818
הַכְּצַֽעֲקָתָ֛הּ according to the cry
Strong's: H6818
Word #: 4 of 11
a shriek
הַבָּ֥אָה of it which is come H935
הַבָּ֥אָה of it which is come
Strong's: H935
Word #: 5 of 11
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֵלַ֖י H413
אֵלַ֖י
Strong's: H413
Word #: 6 of 11
near, with or among; often in general, to
עָשׂ֣וּ׀ whether they have done H6213
עָשׂ֣וּ׀ whether they have done
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 7 of 11
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כָּלָ֑ה altogether H3617
כָּלָ֑ה altogether
Strong's: H3617
Word #: 8 of 11
a completion; adverb, completely; also destruction
וְאִם H518
וְאִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 9 of 11
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
לֹ֖א H3808
לֹ֖א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 10 of 11
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֵדָֽעָה׃ unto me and if not I will know H3045
אֵדָֽעָה׃ unto me and if not I will know
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 11 of 11
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

Cross References

Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.Genesis 11:5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.Jeremiah 17:10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.Exodus 33:5For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.Genesis 11:7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.Deuteronomy 8:2And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.Joshua 22:22The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)Micah 1:3For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.Zephaniah 1:12And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Analysis & Commentary

I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is c... This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment.

Central themes include God's unconditional covenant promises (land, descendants, blessing to nations), the call to faith and obedience, the testing of faith through delays and impossibilities, the contrast between divine promises and human schemes, and God's gracious persistence despite human failures. Abraham emerges as the father of faith whose trust in God's promises becomes the model for all believers (Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 11).

Theologically, these narratives establish:

  1. salvation by grace through faith rather than works
  2. covenant as God's gracious initiative binding Himself to His people
  3. the necessity of patient trust when promises seem impossible
  4. the consequences of attempting to fulfill God's promises through human effort
  5. the pattern of divine testing producing mature faith.

The Abraham cycle foreshadows Christ as the ultimate seed through whom blessing extends to all nations (Galatians 3:16).

Historical Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

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