The Hebrew verb saphah means to sweep away, to destroy utterly, or to add. It carries the sense of being consumed or wiped out, often in the context of divine judgment. Abraham uses this word in his famous intercession for Sodom: 'Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?'
The use of saphah in Abraham's intercession (Genesis 18:23) is one of the most theologically significant passages about prayer and God's justice in the Old Testament. Abraham appeals to God's character as the righteous Judge of all the earth — surely He would not saphah (sweep away) the righteous along with the wicked? This prayer reveals several theological truths: God's willingness to be questioned, the power of intercessory prayer, God's deep concern for justice and the righteous, and ultimately, that God's grace can outweigh His judgment. The same word appears in Deuteronomy for the fear of being swept away in punishment — making righteous intercession even more precious.