But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Parallel translations
- WEB But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
- BSB But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
- NKJV But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
- NASB But Lot’s wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
- NLT But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Lot's wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
Overview
Her backward look, defying the angels' command, reveals a heart still bound to Sodom and brings sudden judgment. She becomes a perpetual warning against half-hearted escape from sin. Jesus points to her as a caution to those tempted to turn back on the day of judgment (Luke 17:32).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Luke 17:31–32In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
- Gen 19:17And 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.
- Heb 10:38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
- Prov 14:14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
- Num 16:38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 19:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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