Berean Standard Bible
Genesis 21:23
23Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”
Genesis 21:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
- New International Version (NIV)Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.”
Context of Genesis 21:23
21And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt. 22At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.” 24And Abraham replied, “I swear it.” 25But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,
Read all of Genesis 21Genesis 21:23 word by word
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה לִּ֤י בֵֽאלֹהִים֙ הֵ֔נָּה אִם־תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר לִ֔י וּלְנִינִ֖י וּלְנֶכְדִּ֑י כַּחֶ֜סֶד אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֤יתִי עִמְּךָ֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה עִמָּדִ֔י וְעִם־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־גַּ֥רְתָּה בָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
- Now, thereforeעַתָּ֫ה‛attâh · nowH6258
- swearשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
- hereהֵ֫נָּהhênnâh · here/thusH2008
- before Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- that you will notאִם'im · ifH518
- deal falselyשָׁקַרshâqar · to dealH8266
- or my childrenנִיןnîyn · offspringH5209
- or descendantsנֶ֫כֶדneked · progenyH5220
- Showעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- to meעִמָּדִי‛immâd · with meH5978
- andעִם‛im · withH5973
- to the countryאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- in whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- you resideגּוּרgûr · to sojournH1481
- the same kindnessחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
Cross-references for Genesis 21:23
- Genesis 14:22But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
- Genesis 24:3and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
- Genesis 26:28“We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you
- Genesis 31:44Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”
- Deuteronomy 6:13Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
- Joshua 2:12Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
- 1 Samuel 20:13But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father.
- 1 Samuel 24:21So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
- 1 Samuel 30:15“Will you lead me to these raiders?” David asked. And the man replied, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hand of my master, and I will lead you to them.”
- Jeremiah 4:2and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:23I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
- Hebrews 6:16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.
- Genesis 20:14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.
Commentaries on Genesis 21:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Now therefore swear unto me - The oath on such occasions probably meant no more than the mutual promise of both the parties, when they slew an animal, poured out the blood as a sacrifice to God, and then passed between the pieces. See this ceremony, Genesis 15:18; (note), and on Genesis 15 (note). According to the kindness that I have done - The simple claims of justice were alone set up among virtuous people in those ancient times, which constitute the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-34Verses 1-34 - The Birth of Isaac 7. מלל mı̂lēl “speak,” an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. 14. חמת chêmet “bottle,” akin to חמה chāmâh “surround, enclose,” and הוּם chûm “black. באר שׁבע beêr -sheba‛ Beer-sheba, “well of seven.” 22. פיכל pı̂ykol Pikhol, “mouth or spokesman of all.” 23. נין nı̂yn “offspring, kin;” related: “sprout, flourish.” נכד neked “progeny,” perhaps “acquaintance,” cognate with נגד ngd “be before” (the eyes) and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-34Verses 22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Abraham took care to have his title to the well allowed, to prevent disputes in future. No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-23Abimelech wanted a treaty so that Abraham would not deceive him. He knew that God was blessing Abraham, even though Abraham had not always been truthful (20:9–10). This sad contradiction made the treaty necessary. By contrast, God’s people are called to speak truthfully. Paul teaches believers to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25). Jesus also warned against using oaths to distort the truth (Matthew 5:37; James 5:12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-3422. Abimelech and Phichol--Here a proof of the promise (Ge 12:2) being fulfilled, in a native prince wishing to form a solemn league with Abraham. The proposal was reasonable, and agreed to [Ge 21:24].Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 21:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 21
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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