Verse

Genesis 19:14

ESV So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
NIV So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, 'Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!' But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
NASB So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, 'Up, get out of this place, for the Lord is destroying the city.' But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be joking.
CSB So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were going to marry his daughters. "Get up," he said. "Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city! " But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
NLT So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, 'Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.' But the young men thought he was only joking.
KJV And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

What does Genesis 19:14 mean?

Given the opportunity by the angels to warn any of those close to him to flee the city before God's judgment came, Lot steps outside again. Given how recently an angry mob had been trying to break down his door, Lot is taking another risk. He is willing to risk his own life if he might save others.

This verse tells us that Lot does indeed have two sons-in-law, men from Sodom who are engaged to marry his two virgin daughters. Awkwardly, prior verses suggest they were not morally upright men, since verse 4 indicated that every man in the city was in the mob surrounding Lot's house. This would suggest that Lot's own prospective sons-in-law were part of a crowd demanding he send the two strangers out for them to have sex with. Lot's choice to live as the only righteous man in Sodom meant the only men available to marry his daughters were themselves wicked.

Still, Lot considers these men family. He urgently warns them to leave this city God is about to destroy. They decide Lot must be joking. It's possible they assumed Lot's experience with the mob had given him a moment of insanity. Or, they had gotten into the habit of ignoring Lot's opinion on spiritual issues. They will soon learn he is neither crazy, nor being playful.
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