Genesis 21:30

Genesis 21:30 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
• New International Version (NIV)He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)He said, "These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.”

Context of Genesis 21:30

28Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock. 29And Abimelech said to Abraham, “Why have you separated these seven ewe lambs?” He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from me so that this act will serve as my witness that I dug this well.” 31Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba because it was there that the two of them swore an oath. 32After they had made a covenant at Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to the land of the Philistines.

Genesis 21:30 word by word

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֚י אֶת־שֶׁ֣בַע כְּבָשֹׂ֔ת תִּקַּ֖ח מִיָּדִ֑י בַּעֲבוּר֙ תִּֽהְיֶה־לִּ֣י לְעֵדָ֔ה כִּ֥י חָפַ֖רְתִּי אֶת־הַבְּאֵ֥ר הַזֹּֽאת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
• ewe lambsכִּבְשָׂהkibώâh kabώâh · ewe-lambH3535
• shalt thou takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• of my handיָדyâd · handH3027
• thatעָבוּר‛âbûr ‛âbûr · for the sake ofH5668
• they may be a witnessעֵדָה‛êdâh · witnessH5713
• unto me, that I have diggedחָפַרchâphar · to searchH2658
• this wellבְּאֵרbe'êr · wellH875

Cross-references for Genesis 21:30

• Genesis 31:44Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be a witness between the two of us.”
• Joshua 22:27Instead, it is to be a witness between us and you, and between the generations after us, so that we may carry out the worship of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings. Then in the future, your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no share in the Lord!’
• Joshua 24:27And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone — it will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the Lord said to us, and it will be a witness against you, so that you will not deny your God.”

Commentaries on Genesis 21:30

• 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. 27-31Abraham gave gifts to Abimelec (compare 20:14). These gifts helped confirm his legal right to live peacefully in the land and to claim the well as his own. Beersheba marked another step toward the fulfillment (completion) of God’s promise.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 25-3125-31. And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well--Wells were of great importance to a pastoral chief and on the successful operation of sinking a new one, the owner was solemnly informed in person. If, however, they were allowed to get out of repair, the restorer acquired a right to them. In unoccupied lands the possession of wells gave a right of property in the land, and dread of this had caused the offense for which Abraham reproved Abimelech…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 21:30

• Abimelech
• Abraham
• Alliances
• Contracts
• Covenant
• Rulers
• Token
• Wells
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Call
• Cast
• Everlasting
• Falsely
• Grievous
• Lift
• Mean
• Visit
• Well

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