Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

GENESIS 19:19KJV
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Genesis 19:19 (KJV)

What does Genesis 19:19 mean?

Genesis 19:19 records Lot’s plea during his escape from Sodom. He recognizes that he has been treated with favor and that his life is being spared, but he fears that the mountain is too far away for him to reach safely.

Lot speaks to the one who has directed his escape. By calling himself “thy servant,” Lot uses a respectful way of addressing someone with authority. His fear of being overtaken by “some evil” leads into his request to flee to a nearby town instead.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 19:19

  • “grace” — חֵן (ḥen): This word carries the sense of favor or approval. Lot describes himself as someone who has received a favorable response.
  • “mercy” — חֶסֶד (ḥesed): This word often refers to kindness shown through action. Here Lot points to kindness he has experienced in the saving of his life.
  • “take” — דָּבַק (davaq): This word can mean to cling to or catch up with someone. Lot pictures danger overtaking him before he reaches safety.

Why Genesis 19:19 matters

  • Lot’s request grows out of fear, not a desire to stay in Sodom. He says he cannot escape to the mountain because he fears he will die on the way.
  • Lot asks for a different destination, not an end to his escape. In verse 20, he points to a nearby town and asks to flee there.
  • The exchange helps explain why Lot goes to Zoar. His request is granted, and the town receives that name in the following verses.

Where else these words appear

“me” Hebrew H5978 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
  • 1 Samuel 10:2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
  • Job 23:6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

“take” Hebrew H1692 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
  • Judges 20:45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.
  • Job 31:7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

“grace” Hebrew H2580 · used in 67 verses

  • Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
  • Numbers 11:15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
  • Esther 8:5 And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:

“escape” Hebrew H4422 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 19:17 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.
  • Esther 4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
  • Isaiah 46:2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.