And the LORD said: since what the LORD says is a response to Abraham’s words in verse 24, “the LORD answered Abraham” may be better in some languages. The change of speakers may also require an appropriate marker. The LORD replies only to the question of the number of innocent people in Sodom, not to Abraham’s exclamation in verse 25.

If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake: the LORD responds favorably to Abraham’s plea. If I find: that is, when the LORD reaches Sodom and determines how many innocent people there are. The wording is taken largely from Abraham’s pleas in verse 24. For their sake: that is, “because of them” or “because there are fifty innocent people.”

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 .