And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

GENESIS 19:28KJV
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Genesis 19:28 (KJV)

What does Genesis 19:28 mean?

Genesis 19:28 describes Abraham looking out over the area where Sodom and Gomorrah once stood and seeing thick smoke rising from the land, like the smoke from a furnace. The verse shows Abraham witnessing the aftermath of God's judgment on these cities.

Abraham is the one looking, and he is standing at a distance after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The scene follows the dramatic events where God destroyed these cities because of their great wickedness. The description of smoke rising "like the smoke of a furnace" emphasizes the total devastation and serves as a visible sign of what happened to the land.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 19:28

  • "looked" (שָׁקַף, shaqaf): This word often means to look out or down from a height, suggesting Abraham is observing from a vantage point, not just glancing but carefully watching the scene.
  • "smoke" (קִיטוֹר, qitor): This word refers to thick, rising smoke, not just a faint wisp. The use of this word paints a picture of overwhelming destruction, like what would come from a large furnace.
  • "furnace" (כִּבְשָׁן, kivshan): This word means a kiln or a smelting furnace, a place of intense heat. Comparing the smoke to that of a furnace highlights the severity and completeness of the destruction.

Why Genesis 19:28 matters

  • Genesis 19:28 shows Abraham as a witness to God's actions, connecting him emotionally and visually to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, which he had previously pleaded for.
  • The verse uses vivid imagery to underline the seriousness of the judgment, making it clear that the destruction was total and unmistakable.
  • By describing the smoke rising from the land, Genesis 19:28 ties the event to earlier warnings and prayers, showing the fulfillment of what God said would happen.

Where else these words appear

“smoke” Hebrew H7008 · used in 3 verses

  • Psalms 119:83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
  • Psalms 148:8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

“furnace” Hebrew H3536 · used in 4 verses

  • Exodus 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
  • Exodus 9:10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
  • Exodus 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

“Gomorrah” Hebrew H6017 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 10:19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
  • Genesis 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
  • Isaiah 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

“looked” Hebrew H8259 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 18:16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
  • 1 Samuel 13:18 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
  • Psalms 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.