Genesis Chapter 18 verse 21 Holy Bible
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.
read chapter 18 in ASV
I will go down now, and see if their acts are as bad as they seem from the outcry which has come to me; and if they are not, I will see.
read chapter 18 in BBE
I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come to me; and if not, I will know [it].
read chapter 18 in DARBY
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.
read chapter 18 in KJV
I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come to me; and if not, I will know.
read chapter 18 in WBT
I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come to me. If not, I will know."
read chapter 18 in WEB
I go down now, and see whether according to its cry which is coming unto Me they have done completely -- and if not -- I know;'
read chapter 18 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 21. - I will go down now (cf. Genesis 11:5), and see (judicial investigation ever precedes judicial infliction at the Divine tribunal) whether they have done altogether - literally, whether they have made cow, piousness, i.e. carried their iniquity to perfection, to the highest pitch of wickedness (Calvin, Delitzsch, Keil); or consummated their wickedness, by carrying it to that pitch of fullness which works death (Ainsworth, Kalisch, Rosenmüller). The received rendering, which regards כלה as an adverb, has the authority of Luther and Gesenius - according to the cry of it, which has come unto me; and if not, I will know. The LXX. render ἵνα γνῶ, meaning, "should it not be so, I will still go down, that I may ascertain the exact truth;" the Chaldee paraphrases, "and if they repent, I will not exact punishment." The entire verse is anthropomorphic, and designed to express the Divine solicitude that the strictest justice should characterize all his dealings both with men and nations.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) I will go down.--God examines before He punishes (see Note on Genesis 11:5) with the same care and personal inspection as the most conscientious earthly judge.Altogether.--Some take this word, not as an adverb, but as a noun (comp. Isaiah 10:23), and translate "I will see whether they have done according to the cry of it: (in which case there shall be for them) utter destruction." But the ellipse is harsh; and inquiry, the knowing and not the punishing, is the prominent thought in the words of Jehovah. Hence too the last clause, "I will know." The two angels go to Sodom to give the people a final trial. If they meet with upright treatment, then God will know that there are limits to the wickedness of its inhabitants, and it will be spared.
