Behold, I have two daughters who have not known man: the desperate Lot trying to protect his guests offers them his two daughters, but this only seems to anger the men of Sodom. For Behold see 1.31. Not known man again refers to having sexual relations. Good News Translation and others translate “who are still virgins.” Translators need to take particular caution in using a word for “virgin,” because it can mean different things in different societies. In some cultures a “virgin” may have had sex but is not yet initiated into a particular cult. However, many languages have expressions for sexual relations that can be used naturally here; for example, “I have two daughters whom men have not gone to yet” and “I’ve got two girls here; men have never touched those two.”

Let me bring them out to you: Lot places his responsibility as host above his obligation to protect his own family.

Do to them as you please: that is, “Do whatever you want with them.” If this must be stated more precisely, we may say, for example, “You [plural] may lie with them.”

Only do nothing to these men: that is, “leave these men alone,” “do not touch these men.” The word order in Hebrew emphasizes these men and thus makes a strong contrast between the daughters and the guests: “But these men, don’t do anything to them….” This is not brought out in English versions but is easily and naturally expressed in many other languages; for example, “but these two strangers, you can’t touch them because….”

For they have come under the shelter of my roof: for introduces a clause of reason. This may sometimes be translated “because”; or in some languages the order of clauses will show the reason relation to the previous clause. This order may sometimes be reversed; for example, “These two men have come to sleep in my house, and I must take care of them; so you cannot do anything to them.” Come under … roof is a figurative expression meaning “they are under my protection,” “I am bound to protect them,” or “it is my duty to look after them.” We may translate verse 8 as “Listen please, I will bring out my two daughters who have never slept with a man. You can do as you wish with them; but don’t harm these men, because they are my guests and I must protect them.”

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 .