Genesis 21:27

Genesis 21:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
• New International Version (NIV)So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.

Context of Genesis 21:27

25One day, Abraham complained to Abimelech about a certain well of water. Abimelech's servants had taken the well from Abraham. They said that the well belonged to them. 26Abimelech said, ‘I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me before. I did not hear about it until today.’ So Abraham brought some sheep and some cows and he gave them to Abimelech. The two men made a promise to help each other. 28Abraham took seven female lambs from the sheep. He put them in a different place from the other animals. 29Abimelech asked Abraham, ‘Why have you put these seven lambs in a different place?’

Genesis 21:27 word by word

וַיִּקַּ֤ח אַבְרָהָם֙ צֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לַאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בְּרִֽית׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abrahamאַבְרָהָם'abrâhâm · AbrahamH85
• tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• sheepצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
• and oxenבָּקָרbâqâr · cattleH1241
• and gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• them unto Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• and both of themשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• madeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• a covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285

Cross-references for Genesis 21:27

• Genesis 14:22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have made a strong promise to the Lord, the Most High God who made heaven and earth.
• Proverbs 17:8Somebody who offers a bribe thinks that it will work like magic. It will help him to do whatever he wants to do.
• Proverbs 18:16A gift will give you a chance to meet new people. Important people may become your friends.
• Proverbs 21:14If someone is angry with you, give him a gift secretly. A secret bribe will make him quiet, even if he is very angry.
• Isaiah 32:8But good people think of ways that they can be kind to others. They do the good things that they have decided to do.
• Genesis 26:28They replied, ‘We saw that the Lord is with you. So we said to one another, “There should be an agreement between us and you.” So let us promise to be friends.
• Genesis 31:44So we should be friends. Let us make an agreement together. It will show that we have agreed to be friends.’
• 1 Samuel 18:3Jonathan made a special promise to be David's friend, because he loved David as much as he loved his own life.
• Ezekiel 17:13He made an agreement with one man from the king of Israel's family. He made that man promise to serve Babylon's king. Then he could rule as king in Jerusalem. The king of Babylon also took away the leaders of Jerusalem as his prisoners.
• Romans 1:31They do not understand what is right. They do not do what they have promised to do. They do not love anyone and they are not kind to anyone.
• Galatians 3:15My Christian friends, I will use an example from our lives. Two people may make an agreement together and they both agree to it properly. If they do that, nobody else can change that agreement. They cannot take away its authority.

Commentaries on Genesis 21:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Took sheep and oxen - Some think that these were the sacrifices which were offered on the occasion, and which Abraham furnished at his own cost, and, in order to do Abimelech the greater honor, gave them to him to offer before the Lord.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. 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 21:27

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

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Call
• Cast
• Cattle
• Everlasting
• Falsely
• Grievous
• Lift

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