Luke Chapter 2:1-24 in AWPR and KJV Translations

Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) will appear in yellow below the King James Version (KJV), and my comments in green.

Luke 2

King James Version (KJV)

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  (KJV)

1)    And it came into being then in those days,

 (there) went forth out a dogma – decree – command

 from near and with the force of Caesar Augustus,

 (that) all the (ones) dwelling in permanent dwellings

 (were) to be written down – enrolled – registered in writing.

  (AWPR)

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 

(KJV)

         2)    That was the first writing down – enrolling – registration

                 in writing that came into being.

                 Acting as ruler – governor – procurator of Syria: Kureniou/Cyrenius.

                (AWPR)

The 5th century Codex Bezae (D) moved the words of Luke 2:2 after this translation, so as to read:

 “This coming into existence writing down – enrolling – registration.  First governing (the) Syria:  Kureniou / Cyrenius.”

The First Greek version of the Codex Siniaticus has a differing word order than what we are now accustomed to in our modern Greek translations.   That word order reads:

Haute  apographo  egeneto  prote hegemoneuontos tas surias kureniou.-- Earliest Codex Siniaticus

"This writing down – enrolling - registration BEGAN TO COME INTO EXISTENCE  first  - (that is,) before  the governing of Syria by Kureniou/ Cyrenius."  (translation mine)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  (KJV)

    3)  And running and passing through / traveling together

         went all / everyone to be written down – enrolled – registered in writing.

         Each one into (his) own (private) individual city/protected settlement

         having ascended up – went up.   (AWPR)

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)      (KJV)

      4)  Then also Joseph from Galilee --

           out of the city - inhabited /protected settlement of Nazaerth,

          (went) into Judea, into the city - inhabited /protected settlement

          of David, which is called (by name) Bethlehem through it being

          of the House and Family of David –   (AWPR)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. (KJV)

        5)    To be written down - enrolled - registered in writing

                with Miriam / Mary: 

          the one recollecting, being betrothed to him (as) a betrothed / engaged

          maid –damsel – wife to be [by means of a contractual promise],

          existing as one being inswelled – heavily pregnant – heavily with child.

           (AWPR)          

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  (KJV)

       6) Then it came into being – it happened

             in their being – existing there / in that place,

             the days (for) the bearing and bringing forth (of) her

             were fully past – completed – fulfilled.

           (AWPR)

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  (KJV)   

 7)   And she bore and brought forth the first-born son of her,

         and she enwrapped Him in clothes as in a band about Him,

         and reclined – laid Him in the stall – pen – manger,

        for that on account of [this reason] – because (there)

        certainly not was for them a (dwelling) place (or room)

        in the Katalumati / The Inn – the place of loosening

        [of belts, sandals, burdens].

        (AWPR)

 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  (KJV)

8) And Shepherds were in the range – grazing lands –

    fields of the province / region/ country.    The same (persons)

    remaining and living in the range – grazing lands – fields of the

    province / region/ country,

    also observing and keeping a watchful preserving guard /custody

    of the night over / upon the flock of them.

   (AWPR)

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  (KJV)   

9)  And behold, look and see!  An angel of the LORD

     Stood near upon and over them,

     And the glory – dazzling brightness and radiant splendor 

     of (the) LORD / of YHVeH

     shone – lightened up with brilliant light like a lamp about them;

[Acts 26:13 describes brilliance above the brightness of the sun,

 Isaiah 30:26 puts such light as 7 times the brilliance of the noon-day sun.

The text here says that brilliance lit up and focused in and around the shepherds,

not that the whole world was lit up]. 

And they feared and trembled with a great terror.

[They feared and shook nervously, greatly frightened, and were seized with a sudden instinctual fright that inclined them greatly to run away.] 

 (AWPR)

  

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  (KJV)

    10)   But spoke to them the Angel:

                   'Do not fear and tremble / do not fear (and run away).

                    Behold, look and see;

                    for because I bring and proclaim good news to you;

                    a great and growing joy  [cf. Hebrew 'gadol']

                    which will be to all the people [of Israel] /

                    which will be to all the nations [both of the Gentiles

                    as well as Israel].'

                    (AWPR) 

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (KJV)

      11) Because was born - brought forth to you, today,

            a Savior, who is Christ (the) LORD,

            in the city  - protected settlement  of David.

            (AWPR)

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  (KJV)

       12)  And this to you, 

              a sign - an event - a mark - a token of confirmation:

              you will search inquire - find / discover a babe

            [brephas - before birth and after birth, a baby; one who 

                is directly dependent upon the mother for nourishment or 

                breastfeeding for survival.  see also v. 11 "born this day" ]  

               having been enwrapped about (as) in a band of swaddling clothes,

               placed laying down - set down reclining 

               in the stall - pen / manger.

               (AWPR)

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  (KJV)

       13)   And unexpectingly suddenly (there) came into being

               together with the Angel

               a great throng - multitude (a fullness of people all around)

               of a Heavenly Angelic Army

               praising [giving exhortations of blessing and well speaking]

               GOD, and speaking - uttering definite words - saying:

               (AWPR) 

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  (KJV)

       14)  'Glory - Praise with thoughtful recognition and honor duly rendered

              in highest places / (the) highest

              to GOD,

              and upon Earth: 

                       Peace (with Tranquility)  - 

                       Peace of mind, body, and spirit with kindness and happiness;

              [cf. Hebrew 'Shalom']  

                       in men, pleasing favor / good will

                       in - among - before men.'

                      (AWPR)

  

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  (KJV)

   15)   And it came into being (just) as the angels
           withdrew - departed from them into the Heaven,
           and (then) - and (after that) the men, the shepherds
          said - spoke up alongside with one another,
 [suggests to us that they were at differing points of distances from one 
  another surrounding the flock/herd they were keeping, and it follows that the 
  dazzling brilliant light of the Angel of the LORD lit up the flock also]

                'Let us indeed - Let us by all means go through
                 unto Bethlehem,
                 and let us experience the seeing of this spoken word
                 having occurred,
                 the which the LORD made known - declared - revealed to us.'
                 (AWPR)

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  (KJV)

     16)  And they came hastily - hurrying quickly,
            and diligently sought out and found out
            both Miriam / Mary and Yosef / Joseph
            and the (newborn) baby 
            lying down - reclining in the stall - pen / manger.
           (AWPR)

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  (KJV)

      17)  Then experiencing the seeing,
              they made known and distinguished - 
              they publicly spread and made distinctly known
             around concerning - about in respect to
              the spoken word to them concerning / about / in respect to

              this child.    (AWPR)

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  (KJV)

     18)    And all those attentatively hearing - listening 
              were struck with marvel - astonishment / wondered
              concerning - in respect to - about
              the random things spoken 
              by - through - (otherwise having occurred) without notice by
              the Shepherds up alongside with them.      (AWPR)


      [Why did the hearers marvel?  Because the hearers were Jews, and the Shepherds were of the Gentiles, who in verse 20 'epestrephan' / 'converted' to Judaism  because of this Angelic Proclamation.  Luke uses the same word for conversion in the previous chapter in Luke 1:16,17.  True Heaven sent proclamations will always uphold and proclaim Yeshua / Jesus as mankind's only means of true Peace with GOD the Father and amongst ourselves. ]

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  (KJV)

      19) Then Miriam / Mary intensely kept and guarded all the 
             spoken words / sayings cast together / pondered and considered
             in the heart of her.   (AWPR)

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.  (KJV)

     20)   And the Shepherds converted  [Greek 'epestrephan']

              glorifying - giving esteem and honor with recognition
              and singing praises to GOD upon / over all things 
              which they had (intently) listened to / (carefully) heard
              and beheld (with the eyes)
              even as - inasmuch as was spoken up alongside with them.
              (AWPR)

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  (KJV)

     21)  And when were accomplished - completed - fulfilled 
            8 Days to circumcise the recently born / little child,
            also was called forth the name of Him, Jesus / Yeshua;
            that called  through / under the Angel
            before He was grasped and taken together / conceived
            in the womb.   (AWPR)

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;  (KJV)

     22)  And when were accomplished - completed - fulfilled 
            the days of the cleansing - purification of her,
            according to the Law - Statute of Moses,
            they took up - brought - carried Him 
            to Jerusalem
            to present - to place near the LORD.
            (AWPR)

23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)  (KJV)

     23) As according to (what) has been written - inscribed - carved

           in the Law - Statute of the LORD.

                     'Every male opening a womb shall be Holy to the LORD.

               (AWPR)

24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.  (KJV)

      24) Also to give - bestow - present -offer a sacrificial offering

           [of obedience] according to - in respect to 

           that said - declared   in the Law - Statute of (the) LORD:

           'A yoke - a joining of two - a pair of turtledoves,

            or two young - nestling doves.' "     (AWPR)

Disclaimer:  The Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) translation should be used as a Bible Study Aid only, and it is recommended that a direct literal translation or the King James Bible be used for regular and ecclesiastical purposes, and that the AWPR be used in association only as a Bible study aid so as to help the reader / user in their Bible Studying to clarify context and Scriptural Intent.     Thanks.  -- Brianroy

Commentary regarding the Census:

The full implementation of a Census only came more than two decades after the Roman Empire survived a civil war that lasted some 13 years from 44-31 B.C.  The Government was being reconstructed...the bureaucracy was being put into order...and tax adjustments were needed to balance the Imperial Government’s budget and ensure all expenditures could be covered.  When the Roman Census was first brought into being, the Romans primarily taxed though land and poll (end-destination) taxes.

The first census was at first attempted to control the over-bloated size of the post-civil war Roman Senate in circa 27 B.C. from a membership of 1000 down to 600.  However, the province of Gaul (ancient France) reacted badly by going into riot and revolts that diverted much needed energies of reorganization, and highlighted a need to perform a centralized census before a final overhaul.

In fact, the first census of 27 B.C. led into an on-going process which Augustus almost immediately instituted as a means of evolving the Roman Government in successive orders, especially between 23 and 15 B.C.   In these years, you basically had an extension of the First Census of Augustus working and reworking in stages.  Augustus was reforming and administrating the system of Government toward greater efficiency from top to bottom.   It would have gradually had the kinks worked out over a number of years.

 When Augustus was reordering the Eastern half of the Empire in 21 B.C., he did so from Samos in the Aegean, while in recuperation from a combination of not being able to be in the sun, and allergies. This may have been a reaction to a massive plague that devastated central Italy in 23 B.C. (the next came in 65, then 79 A.D.); but we don't know. Having contracted and survived the plague is a likely scenario, and there are medical arguments over whether Syphilis came at this time or a few decades later in the First Century A.D.

      The first widespread Roman Census took place in Italy, Greece, Egypt, and the Turkish provinces in or about 20 B.C.  If I am not mistaken, this was in the wake of a successful subjugation and polling of Spain and the province of Galatia in 23 B.C.  After the 20 B.C. successful implementation, the Census took root Empire wide thereafter in 14 year cycles; and based on these figures, adjustments were made to poll and land tax rates, based on the last Census figures accumulated.

A few years later, in 17-16 B.C., Augustus chose to reorder the Western half of the Empire from Tarroco, Spain.  

Therefore, by 5 B.C., Caesar was organized in what he wanted, and what parts of his map of the Roman World needed to be organized, and colored in, and how.  He did this super-administration through the super census, which actual made Rome profitable, and reduced tax rates on the Imperial level (not necessarily the provincial).

When Augustus had the Great Census of Rome in 5 B.C., the one Luke mentions, the superstar or golden boy, the whiz of administration  was "Cyrenius", who appears to have acted almost as if a co-Caesar for the purposes ONLY of the Census in the East.  Cyrenius is actually the proper Latin name by which our Census Czar or Inspector General of the Census would have been known by.  The Qui in the Greek is a transliteration of the Roman / Latin "Cy", so when we see "Quirinius" referred to, it is a name sourced in Greek writings or in reference for those who are a Greek speaking or Greek reading audience, rather than an audience speaking and communicating primarily in Roman / Latin.

Was the census an inconvenience?  You bet.  But the promise of it also, was fairer taxation and representation.  Even if  the taxation was reduced just a little bit…for a reduction of 30% to the old standard of 20%, or a THIRD of what taxes you annually pay...even in our day…there would be a rush of people to carry it out to save what money they could.  Times have changed…people haven’t really that much. 

   In 5 B.C., the time of the First Great Census of the Roman Empire, the Roman Senate under Augustus had the decree go forth when or  "hegemoneuontos tes Syrias Kyreniou"  -- while Cyrenius was in charge of the Presidency of Syria.   The expression allows for a Presidency pro-tem while the Census was being tallied. perhaps being executed from June 1, 5 B.C. until May 31, 4 B.C., when the official dates of Governance began and ended in the Territorial High Administrative Offices of the Roman Empire, especially for offices such as Procurators – Governors.  Roman Legions were also dispatched generally on this same rotation in 5 year assignments, with relieving of the previous legionnaires on June 1  at the end of the 5^th year served. 

I have calculated the birth of Jesus to be on or about October 27, 5 B.C.

 The First Great Census of 5 B.C. is distinct from the writings of Luke in the Book of Acts.  Acts notes the next Census Luke notes for us, and is recorded in Acts 5:37, which happened in the next cycle.  At that second Census for the Jews of Israel, 13 years after this one in which Jesus/ Yeshua was born in, Judas the Galilean raised an insurrection and burned down the still being newly built city of Sepphoris within walking distance of Nazareth, from where Joseph took Jesus with him to work as a Carpenter (though some say stone masonry was also part of the skill set as well).  Jesus probably would have started learning his trade under Joseph’s watchful eye between the ages of 8 and 10 years old; and by 13, he was required to be self-sufficient in his trade or craft if need be, to fully do his trade without the watchful eye or training of an overseer.   That incident with Judas burning down Sepphoris and creating the Sicarii robber-bands out of Jewish Gladiators (much like the much previous Spartacus of the Italian peninsula) would have taken place in circa A.D. 6,  about a year before  Jesus went up to the Temple with Joseph and Mary and talked to and amazed the great Hillel and Shammai and the renown masters of the Torah in A.D. 5.

[This post has been edited in the Comment section last on July 22, 2012, for calculation corrections at 2:55 p.m. Pacific Time]

The Sodom Texts of Genesis 19:1-30a in the King James (KJV) and Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) translations

Genesis 19

King James Version (KJV)

Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR)   -- my translation

1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;   (KJV)

             

1) And entered – went – came in  the two angels / messengers

     into Sodom at the setting – going down of the sun / at evening.

     And Lot was sitting and remaining in his dwelling seat at the

     breaking / splitting open [of the Wall or Entrance] – at the gate

     (as a gate-keeper or porter).

     And Lot looked at and saw (their appearance with the eyes)

     and rose up (from his sitting down),

     (Rushing out) to meet / encounter them,

     and bowed / descended into prostration,

     his face into the Land – into the Earth.     (AWPR)

  

       

² And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.    (KJV)

        

      2)     And he called and said,

      ‘Behold, and look on now, lord*;

       withdraw from and turn aside, I pray / beseech now,

       into your bond-slave’s / servant’s home and

       lodge – stay/spend the night

       and wash to overflowing / bathe    your feet;

       and rise and get up early

       and make motion- travel / journey / go / walk

       to your ways / roads / highways (of journey).’

And they spoke and said,

       ‘No.  For / Because certainly in the broad and wide way / in the

        open and wide public area of the street**

        we will stop and stay (all night).      (AWPR)

³ And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.     (KJV)

         3) And he attempted to press and prescribe them,

       urging them exceedingly in mind and strength [of words].

       And they turned aside into him,

       for they came – arrived – entered into his house / his home.

       And he made – fashioned – accomplished – did / had

       a drinking feast / a drinking celebration,

       and did bake – cook Matzot / Unleavened Breads,

       and they consumed – ate – devoured.   (AWPR)

⁴ But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:    (KJV)

       4)   When that they had not yet and before (they could)

         have laid down,***

         the men of the (protected) settlement, the men of Sodom

         encircled and turned their minds – gave attention to

         the house, from the youthful boys to the eldest (of old age),

         all the people – paternal kinsmen – troops from the

         extremities – limits [of Sodom’s district or territory].     (AWPR)

⁵ And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.    (KJV)

           5)     And they called out aloud – summoning to Lot,

           and said / spoke to him

          [mockingly as though not expecting an answer]:

                 ‘Where are the men who came – arrived –entered

                   into you this night?

                  Bring them forth out and produce them to us,

                  that we may know them (through sexual intercourse).’

                   (AWPR)

⁶ And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,    (KJV)

                         

                   6)    And Lot came forth out from the opening of the door

            unto them, and the door [of the house]

            he shut – closed – dammed up behind the back / after him.

              (AWPR)


⁷ And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.     (KJV)

            7)    And he said – and he spoke saying,

                 ‘No, please - I pray.

                  My brothers do wickedly – very badly (without understanding).

                     (AWPR)

      8   Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; 

           let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, 

           and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing;

           for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.     (KJV) 

              8)  Behold, look and see now:

       to me (are) two daughters who have not known

       (in sexual intercourse) a man.   

       Let me bring forth out them (to be) together with you,

       and do and squeeze to them

       as you see fit – as you see as (being) best in your eyes.

       Only to these men, do not do –fashion – accomplish

       be behind / command;

       for this (reason) / for this firmly – rightly –truly

       they entered – went – came in under the shadow – shade

      (temporary shelter – protection) of my rafter beam / roof.’

        (AWPR)



⁹ And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.    (KJV)

      9) And they commanded,

       ‘Remove from coming near – Get back and away!’

     And they said,

       ‘This one entered – went – came in, turning aside

         to temporarily lodge as a stranger and sojourner;

         and must he put – place – appoint himself

         as the appointed (one) [ as a judge over us]?

         Henceforth – now at this time

         we will do evil – harm –injury – wickedness to

         you and to them.’

    And they pressed, pushing upon the man,

    wholly – exceedingly – greatly upon Lot and approached

    and drew near to break in pieces – smash down and

    destroy the (swinging) door.    (AWPR) 

¹⁰ But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. (KJV)

10)  And the men stretched out their hands

               and brought / pulled Lot toward / into the house,

               and shut – closed – dammed up the door.   (AWPR)

¹¹ And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.    (KJV)
           

11)  And the men (that were) at the door of the house,

                         they smote – struck with sudden blindness****,

                        (from the) small – young and insignificant – youngest

                         to the great in size – importance – height;

                         and they were very grieved and offended,

                         wearying (themselves) as they toiled and struggled

                         to find – to reach and attain (to arrive at) the door.   (AWPR)

¹² And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:    (KJV)

12)   And said – commanded the men to Lot,

                            ‘Whoso (is) still here with – to you,

                              sons-in-law and sons and daughters,

                              and whosoever (are / belong) to you

                              in the (protected) settlement, bring them

                              forth out of this place / this place of nothing.     (AWPR)

¹³ For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.    (KJV)

13)  For we are about to sink it down [as a pit] and destroy*****

                        [and send to the after-life]

                        this place / this place of nothing,

                        for great (is) the outcry of them

                       [as though a sound of thunder]  before YHVeH,

                       and YHVeH has sent us

                       to sink it down [as a pit] and destroy it.    (AWPR)

¹⁴ 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.     (KJV)

14)      And came forth – went out Lot to

                             speak – converse (a legal matter)^{[cf. Akkadian “dababu”]}

                             to – with  his sons-in-law,

                             those taking – receiving – espoused by marriage [contract]

                             to taking  his daughters, and said commandingly,

                          ‘Arise up (from your sitting or lying down),

                            and go forth out from this place – from such a place as this,

                            for YHVeH is about to sink down [as a pit] –

                            bow down and destroy the (protected) settlement.’

                            And he [Lot] became as if – seemed as if

                            as one laughing – joking – jesting in the eyes of his sons-in-law. 

                            (AWPR) 

¹⁵ And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.     (KJV)

15)  And when the breaking of the day before dawn arose,

                         then the two angels / messengers

                         urged, hurrying and pressing Lot,

                         saying – commanding,

                            ‘Rise up – Get up! 

                              Lay hold of – take and bring

                              your wife and your two daughters who are found,

                              lest you be heaped together and swept away

                              (and lifted, being carried away as the [incinerated] dust)

                              in the bending – twisting – ruination punishment

                              for the guilt / for the iniquity of the (protected) settlement.’

                              (AWPR)

¹⁶ 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.    (KJV)

       16)     And he delayed – began waiting – lingered,

                 and with strength – (brute) force the men laid hold of – seized of

                 his hand and his wife’s hand,

                 and upon the hand of his two daughters,

                 YHVeH having sorrowful love / mercy on him;

                 and they brought him forth out with care – guiding

                 [them as Shepherds taking up into their bosom young lambs

                 carrying and leading them to a pasture]

                 and let go [of the hands / wrists] / left him

                 outside – at the outer parts just beyond [the district of]

                 the (protected) settlement / city (limits).  

                        (AWPR)

 
¹⁷ And 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.

           17)  And it was as the led them forth out

                  outside – at the outer parts just beyond [the district of Sodom],

                  he said commandingly,

                       ‘Be saved – Flee – Escape – Slip Away above 

                         for your soul – for your life!

                         Do not look with the eye to regard what is behind – after you,

                         nor stand – remain –stay

      in all the Kikkar – in all the encircling plain.

      To the hill (country) – to the mountain

      be saved – flee – escape – slip away above to,

                         lest you be heaped together and swept away

     (and lifted, being carried away as the [incinerated] dust).

     (AWPR)

18  And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:     (KJV)

           

               18) And said - spoke Lot to them,

                         ‘No, please / I pray, Lord – Master!’  (AWPR)

19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:    (KJV)

                19)    Behold, look and see, I pray / please.

                    Your servant – slave has found – reached –caught – attained – held

                    Grace and favor in the eyes of you,

                    And you have made with ever growing greatness –

                    And you have magnified your holy loving-kindness

                    Which you have done – accomplished – shown to me

                    Saving – sustaining – preserving my soul – my life.

                     And I am not able to prevail – overcome

                     (so as to) escape and be delivered

                      to the hill (country) – to the mountain,

                      lest the distressing evil – misery

                      follow closely – overtake – join (to) – catch me and I die.

                     (AWPR)

20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.    (KJV)

          20)  Behold, look and see, I pray / please.

                 This (neighboring) settlement is near

                  To give flight to – to flee to there;

                  And it (is) a small thing – a little insignificant (place).

                  Please / I pray, let me escape and be delivered there.

                Is it not a small thing – a little insignificant (place)

                That my soul may live?

                  (AWPR)

21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.     (KJV)

          21)  And He said – commanded to him,

                   ‘Behold and see, I have raised – lifted up

                    Your face – your countenance.

                    Also, as to this thing, making*the*exception* / without

                    Turning over – overturning / churning

 [as when plowed, the soil of – the land of]

 The settlement which you have spoken – declared.

                       (AWPR)

22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.     (KJV)

          22)  Hasten quickly – hurry speedily, escape and be delivered there,

                 Escape and be delivered there,

                 For I am not able to prevail and overcome

                 To do and accomplish the word of command

                 As far as – until

                 You have come – arrived at – entered in there.

                So was called – read and recited

                The name of the settlement: Zoar.

                 (AWPR)

23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.     (KJV)

          23)  The sun had gone forth out upon the land / upon the Earth,

                  [sometime after 9 am, but NOT within an hour of noon]

                  And Lot entered into Zoar.  (AWPR)  

24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;    (KJV)

          24)   And YHVeH rained down upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah

                  Goprit – lightning charged Brimstone – fired chalky

        [and gaseous] Sulphur

                  and Fire  from YHVeH out of the heavens.   (AWPR) 

25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.     (KJV)

          25)  And he overturned  - turned over / churned (the land – the Earth and)

                 those settlements – cities and all the Kikkar – the encircling plain,

                 and all those living in the settlements

                 and that which sprouted and grew forth out of the ground.

                 (AWPR) 

26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.    (KJV)

          26)   And his wife with regard looked back to see from behind / after him,

                  and she became an upright standing pillar of Salt.

                  (AWPR)   

27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:     (KJV)

          27)  And Abraham (also) arose early [in the morning]

                  to the place where he stood there

                  [by the oak of Mamre: Genesis 18:1-2 supporting Genesis 18:8b]

                  before YHVeH.      (AWPR)

28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.     (KJV)

          28)    And he looked out and down facing toward Sodom and

                    Gomorrah, and facing toward all the land of the

                    Kikkar – the encircling plain.

                  And he saw – beheld – inspected – looked carefully,

                  and behold, look and see:  

                  went up- climbed up and ascended

                  [like a burnt offering – like a burning sacrifice]

                  the thick smoke of the land the country,

                 as the thick smoke of a (billowing) furnace.

                 (AWPR)

29 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.

       (KJV)

          29)   And when GOD sunk down [as a pit] and destroyed

                   the settlements – cities of the plain,

                   GOD thought about – remembered – recollected Abraham;

                   and He sent Lot away out from the midst – out from the

                   middle of the crooked churning – overturning – turning over

                    in the overthrowing –throwing over (of) the

                    settlements – cities, which lived in them, Lot.   (AWPR) 

30 (a)   And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him;    (KJV)

          30a)  And went – climbed up and ascended

                    Lot out of Zoar,

                    and lived in the hill country – mountain.  (AWPR)

 Disclaimer:  The Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) translation should be used as a Bible Study Aid only, and it is recommended that a direct literal translation or the King James Bible be used for regular and ecclesiastical purposes, and that the AWPR be used in association only as a Bible study aid so as to help the reader / user in their Bible Studying to clarify context and Scriptural Intent.     Thanks.  -- Brianroy

END-Notes

*  Verse 2.  The Notes left us on the Massoretic Texts lists the use of Adonai in this chapter as originally being the Tetragrammaton (4 letter) Name of YHVeH, and changed post 500 A.D. by the Massoretes to ADNY, a four letter substitute meaning the same thing when used in prayers of the Jews.  Our oldest Hebrew Copy of the texts in question is the circa 900 A.D. Leningrad Codex.  We must accept the historical veracity to the claim of the Massorete notes in the absence of a pre-Massorete copy in regard to this claim.

**  Verse 2   Some translators offer the wide street as a public square or wide place to this effect.  I believe the context simply means a very wide street in which vendors could set up their camels or tents and sell from the side to any who passed by to go out or come in the opening or gate of the wall.  It is uncertain as to whether or not this was a natural enclosure or man-made fortifications.   The Babylonian Talmud in Shabbos 11a claims Sodom was only 52 years old as a settlement when it was destroyed.

***   Verse 4  This statement is to remove all claim that there was any misconduct  whatsoever on the part of these Angels /Messengers or YHVeH in theophany.

****  Verse 11  You will notice that GOD alone in the Bible smites men with blindness in 2 Kings 6:18.  GOD in the person and form of Jesus Christ, did on at least two occasions, do the same to his enemies, smiting them with blindness in Luke 4:28-31 and John 8:59, and in so doing, was able to walk right past and through the midst of those seeking his death. 

***** The Hebrew word here for “sink down (as a pit) and destroy” is also used in the same context and translated the same way in Psalm 7:15 [Psalm 7:16 in the Hebrew] , and in Psalm 35:7. 

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Based on the Biblical and extra-biblical texts, I believe there was a combination effect of natural gases – oil/asphalt ignition – and volcanic pressures and resultant gases which combined to explode beneath the surface of the plain on which the Sodomic Alliance sat, collapsing it, and turning it into magma flows.  That is, an extremely rare and very violent lava eruption and series of sharp intense earthquakes at the volcanic fault-line that runs through the Dead Sea region blew up a chasm below the plain which collapsed the plain and made it into a depression we now know as the Dead Sea.  Because of the very high content of salt and salt caves and strata in the mountains / hills of the Dead Sea,

http://geography.huji.ac.il/.upload/Frumkin1/Hol.pdf

 hot globs of salt (as well as lava) weighing many hundreds of pounds were very conceivably and also cast through the air many miles, just as magma was, and that is what landed on Lot’s wife.  I believe that the entire plain of what is now the Dead Sea bottom, covered over since with great layers of ash and salt, was entirely molten when Lot left it and reached Zoar (possibly to us called Bab edh-dhra). 

Frederick G. Clapp

http://search.datapages.com/data/doi/10.1306/3D932DFC-16B1-11D7-8645000102C1865D

and Geo-tech G. M. Harris and Geologist A. P. Beardow

http://qjegh.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/4/349

concluded that the great Salt mountains, and the melting at the upper strata are the clues to where Sodom and Gomorrah were. There is a Volcanic Fault which extends from southern Turkey and onward through the Dead Sea and onward,

http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/earth/issues/yer-98-7-2/yer-7-2-1-97012.pdf

It is my contention that the Dead Sea did not exist until AFTER the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The pre-Dead sea Plain controlled by the Sodomic alliance was likely a fresh water paradise and Bread-basket region in heavy trade with Egypt, with Bronze Era copper and sulfur mines (in the eastern mountain hill range that runs south of the Lisan Peninsula almost to the gulf of Aqaba), and bitumen or asphalt pits would have been collected for boat (and other forms of) sealing.

Based on the reading of the text of Genesis 19, I have come to conclude based on the texts, that the Dead Sea’s bottom was called the Kikkar – the encircling plain – the encircling disk.  The name of the Kikkar was a biblical nomination based on its observation point, and the observation one has of the Dead Sea’s shape from the Lisan Peninsula to the East of the Dead Sea.  The Dead Sea, therefore, is the plain that sunk away, by both earthquakes and volcanic lava churnings of the earth.  Kikar in the Akkadian is equated with the word used for a "talent" of weight.  That is, ‘kikar” is equated to a  heavy weight of measuring prosperity that drives a scale "down".  This in turn is linked to a prison, and a form of separation from the rest of the world through the corresponding Hebrew word Kele.  But lest I lose 99% of my reading audience, I will stop there and move on.

 The Dead Sea is itself called the lake of Sodom in the historical tradition left to the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbos / Shabbat 108b, 109a).

The Lisan settlement of Bab edh-dhra (often misdated to circa 2300 B.C. when it is more than 300 years newer at its demise) was covered with some 3 feet of ash and this led to its abandonment.  Modern excavations recorded that approximately 50% of the populations there perished prior to age 21 in those two settlements.  Syphillis as well as other diseases were at high percentages among the dead as the likely cause of death.   It is my opinion that Bab edh-dhra is likely our biblical Zoar, although it is not a total certainty.

Another  essential text in understanding the location of Zoar is the definition of the Israel’s boundary lines and the biblical citation of the southern boundary of Canaan.  The discussion that is of interest in Jewish scholarship is that of: Rashi, Maskil LeDavid, and Minchas Yehuda; in regard to Numbers 34:3-4.  The gist of the commentaries cited and the Scripture for us here is that the precise line of boundary is somewhat obscure, but what is agreed by the three Jewish commentaries, is that the boundary of Canaan runs from the southern boundary of Gaza to somewhere beneath (south of, even around the base of ) the Dead Sea.  This directs us to at least the location of Zoar as not far from the river Arnon, and at least on the Lisan Peninsula itself, it seems to me.  The Hebrews were not above using “curves” and “horizontals”, “slanting lines”, “ascents”, “graduals”, “expands”, ‘broadens”, “narrows, “passes” to express their borders sense of direction, as if expressing their thoughts like using a stick drawing in the dirt to describe them (as an examination of Numbers 34 will show).

 In effect, there may have been more than just a beach-line claim to the eastern boundary of the Salt Sea, but something of a narrow border encompassing a strip of land, even as Israel in 1949 had an armistice strip of land that encompassed the sea of Galilee from many hundreds to as little as only 33 feet wide as a border on the East (by modern example for possible border size).  That would place Zoar in the approximate proximity of ancient Bab edh-dhra on the Lisan peninsula. 

I do not believe that Bab Edh-dhra is Sodom, as believed at Harvard University

http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~semitic/wl/digsites/Transjordan/DeadSea_98/index.htm

and by others (e.g.) http://www.nd.edu/~mchesson/newedsphome.html

The location of Bab edh-dhra fails on its face because it is an elevated place, and not a sunken down place as the Hebrew of Genesis 19 informs us that it was.  Further, Bab edh-dhra was not immediately dis-inhabited and made into a place of salt and covered by salt marshes, as a location under the Dead Sea floor itself would so qualify.   Further, Sodom is a place never to be inhabited again…not even by excavators, according to the Biblical texts referring back to it by specificity and example. 

Isaiah 1:9 implies total annihilation: 
“Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.”

Deuteronomy  29:23 translates the destruction of Sodom as in the present tense, and on-going:  “the whole land thereof IS brimstone, and salt, and burning, that IT IS NOT sown, NOR beareth, NOR any grass groweth therein, LIKE the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:”


Jeremiah 49:18 implies total annihilation:
“As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.”  and implies, no man shall dwell in it ever again.


Jeremiah 50:40  implies total annihilation:
“As G-D overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.” (again, "ever again" is implied by the text)


Jesus testifies that Sodom ceased existence, and implies having ceased existence in the Day it was judged:

 “But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.”  (Luke 17:29)  -- with --  “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” (Matthew 11:23)

2 Peter 2:6  testifies that it ceased in existence: 
“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;”

Jude 7   testifies that Sodom ceased to exist:  “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”


The plain text readings support the permanent annihilation of Sodom, and these plain text interpretations are clearly supported by Jesus, Peter, and Jude in the NT.

Because the Scriptures say in Jeremiah 49:18 that no man shall ever dwell there again, I believe it will remain under 30 or more feet of ash at its location about 18 -22 miles or so South-South West of Lisan,  the approximate distance I believe Lot traveled in his 4.5 to 6..5 hour journey from the first breaking of light in the yet to dawn sky and his arrival after 9 a.m. in the morning…and there under 30 feet or more of volcanic ash and layers of salt on top, there it will remain undiscovered, until the Judgment Day of Christ after the end of His Millennial Reign.  Or so it seems to me.

That’s my input.