Now the men of Sodom were wicked: Revised Standard Version Now (see also New English Bible, Revised English Bible) marks in English a statement that is parenthetical, that is, it gives other information that is not a necessary part of the story line at this point. It is not particularly appropriate here because the thought will not be developed until much later (chapters 18 and 19). Good News Translation handles the connection with the previous verse by saying “whose [referring to Sodom] people were wicked….” We may also translate, for example, “… in the city of Sodom, where the people were very wicked….”

Wicked, great sinners against the LORD is in Hebrew “wicked and sinful,” a case of hendiadys, as explained in 12.1 under “your country,” and so may be translated “wicked sinners.” Stylistic considerations, however, often require that sinners be expressed as a verb; for example, “and sinned badly against the LORD.” Against the LORD often requires some adjustment in translation to make clear the relation between sin and the LORD. In some languages it is possible to say “they did evil deeds in the LORD’s eyes” or “they sinned and offended the LORD.” Bible en français courant says “The people of the city gravely offended the Lord by their evil conduct.” A typical example of how this may be translated is “They were really no-good people, all the time sinning against the LORD.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .