New Living Translation
Genesis 13:8
8Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives!
Genesis 13:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
- New International Version (NIV)So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.
Context of Genesis 13:8
6But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. 7So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.) Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” 10Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Read all of Genesis 13Genesis 13:8 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־ל֗וֹט אַל־נָ֨א תְהִ֤י מְרִיבָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ וּבֵ֥ין רֹעַ֖י וּבֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Abramאַבְרָם'abrâm · AbramH87
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Lotלוֹטlôţ · LotH3876
- Let there beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- noאַל'al · notH408
- strifeמְרִיבָהmerîybâh · provocationH4808
- I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmenרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- for weאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-relativeH251
Cross-references for Genesis 13:8
- Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
- Matthew 5:9God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
- 1 Corinthians 6:6But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!
- Philippians 2:14Do everything without complaining and arguing,
- Hebrews 12:14Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
- Genesis 11:27This is the account of Terah’s family. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot.
- Genesis 45:24So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!”
- Exodus 2:13The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight.
- Psalms 133:1How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
- Acts 7:26“The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?’
- Romans 12:10Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
- Ephesians 4:2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.
- Hebrews 13:1Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.
- 1 Peter 1:22You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
Commentaries on Genesis 13:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8For we be brethren - We are of the same family, worship the same God in the same way, have the same promises, and look for the same end. Why then should there be strife? If it appear to be unavoidable from our present situation, let that situation be instantly changed, for no secular advantages can counterbalance the loss of peace.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-18Verses 1-18 - Abram and Lot Separate 7. פרזי perı̂zı̂y Perizzi, “descendant of Paraz.” פרז pārāz “leader,” or inhabitant of the plain or open country. 10. ככר kı̂kar “circle, border, vale, cake, talent;” related: “bow, bend, go round, dance.” ירדן yardēn Jardan, “descending.” Usually with the article in prose. צער tso‛ar Tsoar, “smallness.” 18. ממרא mamrē' Mamre, “fat, strong, ruler.” חברון chebrôn Chebron, “conjunction, confederacy.” Lot has been…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 5-9 Riches not only afford matter for strife, and are the things most commonly striven about; but they also stir up a spirit of contention, by making people proud and covetous. Mine and thine are the great make-bates of the world. Poverty and labour, wants and wanderings, could not separate Abram and Lot; but riches did so. Bad servants often make a great deal of mischief in families and among neighbours, by their pride and passion, lying…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Abram wanted to avoid conflict (Hebrew meribah) because they were close relatives (literally brothers). Later, Moses rebuked Israel for the incident in the wilderness at Meribah (Exodus 17:1–7; Numbers 20:1–13). He taught them to have faith in such situations. So, Meribah became a word of warning for testing and arguing with the Lord in unbelief (see Psalm 95).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-181. went up ... south--Palestine being a highland country, the entrance from Egypt by its southern boundary is a continual ascent.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 13:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 13
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries