Genesis 18:20

Because … because Better, as marg., Verily … verily.

the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah See Genesis 19:13. (1) Either, this is the complaint concerning Sodom and Gomorrah going up to Heaven. The genitive "of" is then objective, like "the report of Tyre" (Isaiah 23:5), "the spoil of thine enemies" (Deuteronomy 20:14). (2) Or, it is the cry by the cities, which are personified, and which make their loud complaint against the inhabitants. The genitive then is subjective. See Genesis 4:10.

their sin is very grievous Cf. Genesis 13:13; Ezekiel 16:49-50.