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Genesis 19:17
ESV And as they brought them out, one said, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away."
NIV As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"
NASB When they had brought them outside, one said, 'Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the surrounding area; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.'
CSB As soon as the angels got them outside, one of them said, "Run for your lives! Don’t look back and don’t stop anywhere on the plain! Run to the mountains, or you will be swept away!"
NLT When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, 'Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!'
KJV 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.
NKJV So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

What does Genesis 19:17 mean?

God had predicted His judgment on Sodom, which is so morally corrupt that there are not even ten people in the city who do not participate in horrific depravity (Genesis 18:32; Genesis 19:4–5). In an act of mercy, God sends two angels disguised as men to rescue Abraham's nephew, Lot, along with his wife and two daughters. Despite all Lot's family has seen and heard, the angels still have to physically drag the family outside the blast zone that Sodom will become.

The angels' instructions here are for Lot and his family to run to the nearby hills, to not look back, and to not stop anywhere in the valley. Lot and his family are to keep going until they reach the hills so they won't be caught up in the catastrophe which is coming. These orders are direct, yet motivated by God's mercy and compassion. As we'll see in the following verses, however, Lot still looks for ways to avoid accepting what He is told.
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