Lot offered his daughters to the violent mob in a desperate and tragic attempt to protect the angelic visitors who had come under his roof. His action was not condoned by God, nor was it righteous. It reflected the corrupting influence of Sodom on Lot’s judgment and priorities.
“See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”
(Genesis 19:8)
In ancient culture, hospitality was sacred. Protecting one’s guests was considered a serious moral obligation, even at great personal cost. However, Lot’s proposal to give his daughters to be abused by the mob was morally reprehensible and highlights just how deeply he had been affected by the surrounding wickedness.
Earlier in Genesis 13, Lot had chosen to dwell in Sodom despite its known sinfulness:
“But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.”
(Genesis 13:13)
By the time of Genesis 19, Lot had become a city official, sitting in the gate of Sodom (Genesis 19:1), suggesting he had become deeply integrated into the society. His offer to the mob, though framed as a defense of his guests, showed compromised values and a failure of godly leadership within his own home.
The angels did not allow Lot’s plan to proceed. They intervened supernaturally:
“But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness…”
(Genesis 19:10–11)
Lot’s offer stands as a warning. Even a man who believes in God can make catastrophic moral choices when he becomes too comfortable in a corrupt culture. The New Testament calls Lot a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7–8), yet this moment reveals that righteousness can be severely compromised when one dwells among the ungodly without spiritual separation.
Lot’s failure underscores the importance of guarding our judgment, refusing to conform to the world, and protecting our families with integrity, not by sacrificing truth or morality.