Revised Literal Translation
Genesis 21:30
30And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
Genesis 21:30 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
- New International Version (NIV)He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)He said, "These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.”
Context of Genesis 21:30
28And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well. 31Wherefore he called that place Beer–sheba; because there they sware both of them. 32Thus they made a covenant at Beer–sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
Read all of Genesis 21Genesis 21:30 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֚י אֶת־שֶׁ֣בַע כְּבָשֹׂ֔ת תִּקַּ֖ח מִיָּדִ֑י בַּעֲבוּר֙ תִּֽהְיֶה־לִּ֣י לְעֵדָ֔ה כִּ֥י חָפַ֖רְתִּי אֶת־הַבְּאֵ֥ר הַזֹּֽאת׃Read the interlinear
- And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
- ewe lambsכִּבְשָׂהkibώâh kabώâh · ewe-lambH3535
- shalt thou takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- of my handיָדyâd · handH3027
- thatעָבוּר‛âbûr ‛âbûr · for the sake ofH5668
- they may be a witnessעֵדָה‛êdâh · witnessH5713
- unto me, that I have diggedחָפַרchâphar · to searchH2658
- this wellבְּאֵרbe'êr · wellH875
Cross-references for Genesis 21:30
- 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.
- Joshua 22:27But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of Yhwh before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in Yhwh.
- Joshua 24:27And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of Yhwh which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
Commentaries on Genesis 21:30
- 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. 27-31Abraham gave gifts to Abimelec (compare 20:14). These gifts helped confirm his legal right to live peacefully in the land and to claim the well as his own. Beersheba marked another step toward the fulfillment (completion) of God’s promise.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 25-3125-31. And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well--Wells were of great importance to a pastoral chief and on the successful operation of sinking a new one, the owner was solemnly informed in person. If, however, they were allowed to get out of repair, the restorer acquired a right to them. In unoccupied lands the possession of wells gave a right of property in the land, and dread of this had caused the offense for which Abraham reproved Abimelech…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 21:30
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
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