Patriarchs · around 2000 BC
Lot in the Bible
The nephew who chose Sodom. Name meaning: The Bible doesn’t explain his name; it first introduces him as “the son of Haran,” Abram’s nephew (Gen 11:27)
Abraham’s nephew, Lot leaves Haran with him, then parts ways with his uncle by choosing the well-watered plain of the Jordan, all the way to Sodom. Carried off by the kings of the East and rescued by Abram, he is finally seized by the hand by two angels and pulled out of the destruction of the city, but his wife looks back. His daughters bear him Moab and Ben-ammi. Peter calls him “righteous Lot” (2 Pet 2:7), and Jesus says, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).
Key moments
- He leaves Haran with Abram Genesis 12:4
- He chooses the whole plain of the Jordan Genesis 13:11
- The kings of the East carry him off with his goods Genesis 14:12
- He welcomes the two angels in Sodom Genesis 19:1–3
- The angels take him by the hand Genesis 19:16
- His wife becomes a pillar of salt Genesis 19:26
- Moab and Ben-ammi are born to his daughters Genesis 19:37–38
- Peter calls him “righteous Lot” 2 Peter 2:7
Strengths
- Hospitality
- Righteousness amid evil
- Choices driven by sight
- Hesitation
Weaknesses
Lot chooses the “well watered” plain instead of staying near Abram, and ends up pitching his tent as far as Sodom, a city of “sinners before the LORD exceedingly” (Gen 13:10-13). Faced with danger, he hesitates—“he lingered” (Gen 19:16)—and he offers his daughters to the crowd (Gen 19:8). His end, in a cave, is marked by fear and drunkenness (Gen 19:30-35).
Lessons for today
- Eyes alone aren’t enough to choose by: Lot picks what looks good, but the plain leads to Sodom (Gen 13:10-13).
- Small compromises take you a long way: Lot pitches his tent toward Sodom, then moves in (Gen 13:12; 14:12).
- God rescues his own: “the LORD being merciful unto him,” and God “remembered Abraham” (Gen 19:16, 29).
- “Remember Lot’s wife”: when God rescues you, don’t look back (Gen 19:26; Luke 17:31-32).
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
People around Lot
- Abraham — Uncle, with whom he left Haran and from whom he separated near Bethel
- Haran — Lot’s father, who died in Ur of the Chaldees
- Lot’s wife — Unnamed wife, turned into a pillar of salt
- Moab and Ben-ammi — Sons born to his two daughters, fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites
- The two angels — Sent to destroy Sodom, they take Lot by the hand
Stories with Lot
Quiz: how well do you know Lot?
How was Lot related to Abram?
Lot was “the son of Haran,” Abram’s brother: Abram took with him “Lot his brother’s son.” Abram calls him “brother” in the broad sense (Gen 13:8). Genesis 12:5
As far as which city did Lot pitch his tent after separating from Abram?
Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot “dwelt in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Genesis 13:12
What did Lot’s wife become when she looked back?
“His wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” The command had been, “look not behind thee.” Genesis 19:26
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