Genesis 19:33

So that night they got their father drunk with wine, and the firstborn went in and slept with her father; he was not aware when she lay down or when she got up.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator describes the daughters of Lot acting during the night after they had fled Sodom and taken refuge in a cave.

The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/תַּשְׁקֶ֧יןָ (va./tash.Kei.na) means "and they made drink," indicating the action of giving wine, while הַ/בְּכִירָה֙ (ha./be.khi.Rah) identifies the "firstborn" daughter who approached him.

The thread — This account of incest and drunkenness contrasts with the prohibition in Leviticus 18:6 against approaching close relatives for sexual relations and warns of the folly of intoxication in Proverbs 20:1 and Proverbs 23:29.

Why it lands — The text records that Lot remained unaware of his daughter’s arrival and departure, highlighting the complete loss of his awareness and control. Readers are asked to observe how the daughters’ deliberate plan to preserve their father’s line through sexual union directly violates the moral boundaries established elsewhere in Scripture.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַתַּשְׁקֶ֧יןָva./tash.Kei.naand/ they made drink אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲבִיהֶ֛ן'a.vi./Henfather/ their יַ֖יִןYa.yinwine בַּלַּ֣יְלָהba./Lay.lahin the/ night ה֑וּאHu'that וַתָּבֹ֤אva./ta.Vo'and/ she came הַבְּכִירָה֙ha./be.khi.Rahthe/ firstborn וַתִּשְׁכַּ֣בva./tish.Kavand/ she lay with אֶת־'et-<obj.>אָבִ֔יהָ'a.Vi./hafather/ her וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not יָדַ֥עya.Da'he knew בְּשִׁכְבָ֖הּbe./shikh.Va/hwhen/ lay down/ she וּבְקׄוּמָֽהּ׃u./ve./ku.Ma/hand/ when/ arose/ she

King James Version

And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

Cross-references

Leviticus 18:6 None of you are to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.
Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Proverbs 23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Habakkuk 2:15 Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!