Genesis 13:8

Genesis 13:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
• New International Version (NIV)So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.

Context of Genesis 13:8

6Now the land was not able to support them [that is, sustain all their grazing and water needs] while they lived near one another, for their possessions were too great for them to stay together. 7And there was strife and quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were living in the land at that same time [making grazing of the livestock difficult]. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife and disagreement between you and me, nor between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, because we are relatives. 9Is not the entire land before you? Please separate [yourself] from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.” 10So Lot looked and saw that the valley of the Jordan was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; [it was all] like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar [at the south end of the Dead Sea].

Genesis 13:8 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־ל֗וֹט אַל־נָ֨א תְהִ֤י מְרִיבָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ וּבֵ֥ין רֹעַ֖י וּבֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abramאַבְרָם'abrâm · AbramH87
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Lotלוֹטlôţ · LotH3876
• Let there beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• noאַל'al · notH408
• strifeמְרִיבָהmerîybâh · provocationH4808
• I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmenרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
• for weאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-relativeH251

Cross-references for Genesis 13:8

• Proverbs 15:1A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.
• Matthew 5:9“Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.
• 1 Corinthians 6:6but instead, brother goes to law against brother, and that before [judges who are] unbelievers?
• Philippians 2:14Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God],
• Hebrews 12:14Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.
• James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].
• Genesis 11:27Now these are the records of the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram (Abraham), Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot.
• Genesis 45:24So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “See that you do not quarrel on the journey [about how to explain this to our father].”
• Exodus 2:13He went out the next day and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other; and he said to the aggressor, “Why are you striking your friend?”
• Psalms 133:1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
• Acts 7:26Then on the next day he suddenly appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong one another?’
• Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor;
• Ephesians 4:2with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:9Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you, for you have been [personally] taught by God to love one another [that is, to have an unselfish concern for others and to do things for their benefit].
• Hebrews 13:1Let love of your fellow believers continue.
• 1 Peter 1:22Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another],

Commentaries on Genesis 13:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8For we be brethren - We are of the same family, worship the same God in the same way, have the same promises, and look for the same end. Why then should there be strife? If it appear to be unavoidable from our present situation, let that situation be instantly changed, for no secular advantages can counterbalance the loss of peace.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-18Verses 1-18 - Abram and Lot Separate 7. פרזי perı̂zı̂y Perizzi, “descendant of Paraz.” פרז pārāz “leader,” or inhabitant of the plain or open country. 10. ככר kı̂kar “circle, border, vale, cake, talent;” related: “bow, bend, go round, dance.” ירדן yardēn Jardan, “descending.” Usually with the article in prose. צער tso‛ar Tsoar, “smallness.” 18. ממרא mamrē' Mamre, “fat, strong, ruler.” חברון chebrôn Chebron, “conjunction, confederacy.” Lot has been…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 5-9 Riches not only afford matter for strife, and are the things most commonly striven about; but they also stir up a spirit of contention, by making people proud and covetous. Mine and thine are the great make-bates of the world. Poverty and labour, wants and wanderings, could not separate Abram and Lot; but riches did so. Bad servants often make a great deal of mischief in families and among neighbours, by their pride and passion, lying…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Abram wanted to avoid conflict (Hebrew meribah) because they were close relatives (literally brothers). Later, Moses rebuked Israel for the incident in the wilderness at Meribah (Exodus 17:1–7; Numbers 20:1–13). He taught them to have faith in such situations. So, Meribah became a word of warning for testing and arguing with the Lord in unbelief (see Psalm 95).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-181. went up ... south--Palestine being a highland country, the entrance from Egypt by its southern boundary is a continual ascent.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 13:8

• Fraternity
• Lot
• Meekness
• Peace
• Strife

In the dictionaries

• Abram
• Lot
• Abraham, Abram
• Brother
• Lift
• Meekness
• Noah
• Rich
• Abraham
• Atonement, Day of

Commentaries on Genesis 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings