New English Translation
Genesis 21:32
32So they made a treaty at Beer Sheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, returned to the land of the Philistines.
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
30He replied, “You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof that I dug this well.” 31That is why he named that place Beer Sheba, because the two of them swore an oath there. So they made a treaty at Beer Sheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, returned to the land of the Philistines. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord, the eternal God. 34So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for quite some time.
Read all of Genesis 21Genesis 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 21:27Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. The two of them made a treaty.
- Genesis 14:13A fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and Aner. (All these were allied by treaty with Abram.)
- Genesis 31:53May the God of Abraham and the god of Nahor, the gods of their father, judge between us.” Jacob took an oath by the God whom his father Isaac feared.
- 1 Samuel 18:3Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life.
- Genesis 10:14Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorites.
- Genesis 26:8After Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines happened to look out a window and observed Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.
- Exodus 13:17When Pharaoh released the people, God did not lead them by the way to the land of the Philistines, although that was nearby, for God said, “Lest the people change their minds and return to Egypt when they experience war.”
- Judges 13:1The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines for forty 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
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries