Genesis 21:23

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 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.”

Context of Genesis 21:23

21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt. 22And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his army spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: 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. 24And Abraham said, I will swear. 25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.

Genesis 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

• 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 14:22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto Yhwh, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
• Genesis 24:3And I will make thee swear by Yhwh, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
• Genesis 26:28And they said, We saw certainly that Yhwh was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
• Genesis 31:44Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
• Deuteronomy 6:13Thou shalt fear Yhwh thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
• Joshua 2:12Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by Yhwh, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
• 1 Samuel 20:13Yhwh do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: And Yhwh be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
• 1 Samuel 24:21Swear now therefore unto me by Yhwh, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
• 1 Samuel 30:15And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.
• Jeremiah 4:2And thou shalt swear, Yhwh liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
• 2 Corinthians 1:23Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
• Hebrews 6:16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
• Genesis 20:14And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

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

• Abimelech
• Abraham
• Alliances
• Covenant
• Diplomacy
• Oath
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Abimelech
• Call
• Cast
• Everlasting
• Falsely
• Grievous
• Lift
• Mean

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