In brief
Lot is Abraham's nephew, who travels with him from Haran to Canaan, in the age of the patriarchs. When their herds grow too large, Lot chooses the Jordan plain and settles near Sodom. He is captured in a war, then rescued by Abram. When God destroys Sodom, he comes out saved, because the Lord wanted to spare him. We remember the consequences of our choices and the mercy of God.
What does the name Lot mean?
The meaning of Lot's name is uncertain: it is sometimes linked to a word suggesting a veil or a covering, though this is not certain. The Bible does not explain his name. It mainly states that he is Abraham's nephew and that he travels with him.
The story of Lot
Parting from Abram
Genesis 13:1-13Abram and Lot have so many possessions that the land can no longer hold them, and their herdsmen quarrel. Abram proposes that they part, and gives Lot the first choice. Lot lifts up his eyes, sees the whole Jordan plain, well watered, chooses that region and pitches his tents as far as Sodom.
Captured, then rescued
Genesis 14:1-16A coalition of kings makes war on the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot, who was living in Sodom, is carried off as a prisoner with his goods. Abram hears of it, arms three hundred and eighteen servants, pursues the kings and defeats them by night. He brings back Lot with his goods, together with the women and the people.
The visitors in Sodom
Genesis 19:1-11Two angels arrive in Sodom. Lot welcomes them into his home and gives them a meal. The men of the city surround the house, young and old, and demand the visitors. Lot goes out and asks them not to do evil. The crowd presses violently against him, but the visitors pull him back inside and secure the door.
Saved from the destruction
Genesis 19:12-29The angels announce that the Lord is about to destroy the city. Lot warns his sons-in-law, who think he is joking. As he lingers, the men seize him by the hand, along with his wife and his two daughters, because the Lord wanted to spare him. He asks to take refuge in Zoar. When God destroys the cities of the plain, he remembers Abraham.
In the mountains
Genesis 19:30-38Lot leaves Zoar, afraid to stay there, and settles in the mountains with his two daughters, in a cave. They fear having no descendants, and the text tells of a painful episode that follows. This account shows a man who was saved but marked by the years spent in Sodom.
What Lot teaches us
- Choosing by what looks good to our eyes, without consulting God, can lead us further than we planned.
- The places and company we choose end up marking our family.
- God saves by grace: he spared Lot by remembering Abraham, not because of Lot's merits.
- When God warns, we must hurry to obey, without delaying or looking back.
- A believer can be saved and yet bear the painful consequences of their choices.
Key verses
Lot lifts up his eyes and sees the whole Jordan plain, well watered everywhere, like a garden of the Lord. His choice follows what his eyes see, before Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed.
As Lot lingered, the men seize him by the hand, along with his wife and his two daughters, because the Lord wanted to spare him. Lot's rescue comes from God's compassion, not from his own haste.
When God destroys the cities of the plain, he remembers Abraham and brings Lot out of the disaster. God acts because of his covenant and Abraham's intercession.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Lot in the Bible?
Lot is Abraham's nephew, who travels with him to Canaan. He chooses the Jordan plain, settles in Sodom, then is rescued by the angels before the city is destroyed. Through his daughters, he is also the father of the ancestors of Moab and Ammon.
What does the name Lot mean?
The meaning of Lot's name is uncertain. It is sometimes linked to a word suggesting a veil or a covering, which remains a guess. The Bible does not explain this name. It presents Lot above all as Abraham's nephew, who set out with him.
Where can I find Lot's story in the Bible?
Lot's story is found in the book of Genesis: his parting from Abram in chapter 13, his capture and rescue in chapter 14, then the destruction of Sodom and his escape in chapter 19.