New International Version
Genesis 21:23
23Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.”
Genesis 21:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner.”
Context of Genesis 21:23
21While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. 22At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.” 24Abraham said, “I swear it.” 25Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized.
Read all of Genesis 21Genesis 21:23 word by word
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה לִּ֤י בֵֽאלֹהִים֙ הֵ֔נָּה אִם־תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר לִ֔י וּלְנִינִ֖י וּלְנֶכְדִּ֑י כַּחֶ֜סֶד אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֤יתִי עִמְּךָ֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה עִמָּדִ֔י וְעִם־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־גַּ֥רְתָּה בָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now therefore swearשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
- unto me hereהֵ֫נָּהhênnâh · here/thusH2008
- by Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- that thou wilt not deal falselyשָׁקַרshâqar · to dealH8266
- with me, nor with my sonנִיןnîyn · offspringH5209
- nor with my son’s sonנֶ֫כֶדneked · progenyH5220
- according to the kindnessחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
- that I have doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- unto me, and to the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- wherein thou hast sojournedגּוּרgûr · to sojournH1481
Cross-references for Genesis 21:23
- Genesis 14:22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
- Genesis 24:3I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
- Genesis 26:28They answered, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you
- Genesis 31:44Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”
- Deuteronomy 6:13Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
- Joshua 2:12“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
- 1 Samuel 20:13But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father.
- 1 Samuel 24:21Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
- 1 Samuel 30:15David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?” He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.”
- Jeremiah 4:2and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:23I call God as my witness—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
- Hebrews 6:16People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.
- Genesis 20:14Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.
Commentaries on Genesis 21:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Now therefore swear unto me - The oath on such occasions probably meant no more than the mutual promise of both the parties, when they slew an animal, poured out the blood as a sacrifice to God, and then passed between the pieces. See this ceremony, Genesis 15:18; (note), and on Genesis 15 (note). According to the kindness that I have done - The simple claims of justice were alone set up among virtuous people in those ancient times, which constitute the…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. 22-23Abimelech wanted a treaty so that Abraham would not deceive him. He knew that God was blessing Abraham, even though Abraham had not always been truthful (20:9–10). This sad contradiction made the treaty necessary. By contrast, God’s people are called to speak truthfully. Paul teaches believers to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25). Jesus also warned against using oaths to distort the truth (Matthew 5:37; James 5:12).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 21:23
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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