English Standard Version
Genesis 21:30
30He said, "These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well."
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.”
Context of Genesis 21:30
28Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?" 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." 31Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32So 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.
Read all of Genesis 21Genesis 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 us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me."
- Joshua 22:27but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, "You have no portion in the Lord."'
- Joshua 24:27And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with 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
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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