Genesis 21:32

Genesis 21:32 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thus they made a covenant at Beer–sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
• New International Version (NIV)After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.

Context of Genesis 21:32

30Abraham replied, ‘You must accept these seven lambs as a gift from me. That will show that you agree that I dug this well. Everyone will know that it belongs to me.’ 31Because of that, the name of the place became ‘Beersheba’, because the two men made a promise there. In that way, they made a promise at Beersheba to help one another. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the leader of his army, returned to the land of the Philistines. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba. In that place, he worshipped the Lord who is God for ever. 34Abraham lived in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

Genesis 21:32 word by word

וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ בְרִ֖ית בִּבְאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיָּ֣קָם אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ וּפִיכֹל֙ שַׂר־צְבָא֔וֹ וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thus they madeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• a covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• at Beer–shebaבְּאֵר שֶׁ֫בַעbe'êr sheba‛ · BeershebaH884
• then Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• rose upקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• and Phicholפִּיכֹלpîykôl · PhicolH6369
• the chief captainשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of his hostצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · armyH6635
• and they returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• into the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430

Cross-references for Genesis 21:32

• Genesis 21:27So Abraham brought some sheep and some cows and he gave them to Abimelech. The two men made a promise to help each other.
• Genesis 14:13At that time, Abram, the Hebrew man, was living near the special oak trees of Mamre. Mamre was an Amorite. He was the brother of Eshcol and Aner. These men had agreed to be Abram's friends. A man ran away from Sodom. He told Abram everything that had happened.
• Genesis 31:53Let the God of Abraham, Nahor, and their ancestors decide if one of us is guilty.’ So Jacob made a promise in the name of the God that his father Isaac worshipped.
• 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.
• Genesis 10:14Pathrusites, Kasluhites and Caphtorites. The Philistines were descendants of the Kasluhites.
• Genesis 26:8Isaac stayed in Gerar for a long time. One day Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, looked down from his window. He saw that Isaac was kissing Rebekah.
• Exodus 13:17When Pharaoh let the people go away, God did not lead them through the country of the Philistines. This was a short way for them to go, but God did not lead them that way. God said, ‘If the people have to fight a war, they may change their minds. Then they may return to Egypt.’
• Judges 13:1The Israelites again did things that the Lord saw were evil. So he put them under the power of the Philistines for 40 years.

Commentaries on Genesis 21:32

• 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. 32The Philistines mentioned in Genesis are not the same as the Philistines in Judges through Kings. The earlier group had Semitic (ancient Near Eastern) names, such as Abimelech, and they followed Canaanite culture. The later Philistines were likely from the Aegean region (near Greece). They had different customs and culture. They seem to have come to Canaan by sea around 1200 BC, during the time of the judges. Because of this, the name Philistines in…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 21:32

• Abimelech
• Abraham
• Alliances
• Beer-Sheba
• Contracts
• Covenant
• Phichol
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• Philistines
• Sheba
• Call
• Cast
• Covenant
• 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