New King James Version
Genesis 21:23
23Now 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.”
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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.”
- 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 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
21He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. 22And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. 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.” 24And Abraham said, “I will swear.” 25Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’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, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,
- Genesis 24:3and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell;
- Genesis 26:28But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you,
- Genesis 31:44Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”
- Deuteronomy 6:13You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
- Joshua 2:12Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token,
- 1 Samuel 20:13may the Lord do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And the Lord be with you as He has been with my father.
- 1 Samuel 24:21Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”
- 1 Samuel 30:15And David said to him, “Can you take me down to this troop?” So he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop.”
- Jeremiah 4:2And you shall swear, ‘The Lord lives,’ In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:23Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.
- Hebrews 6:16For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
- Genesis 20:14Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries