Focused Passage

Genesis 14:1-16

The LORD Gives Abram Victory, Delivers Lot, and Reveals the Priest-King Melchizedek

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim

2 went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

3 The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

4 For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

6 and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.

7 Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim

9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.

10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.

11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way.

12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since Lot was living in Sodom.

13 Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram.

14 And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

15 During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.

16 He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

- וַיְהִ֗י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular In those days בִּימֵי֙ H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Amraphel אַמְרָפֶ֣ל H569 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Shinar שִׁנְעָ֔ר H8152 Noun - proper - feminine singular Arioch אַרְי֖וֹךְ H746 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Ellasar אֶלָּסָ֑ר H495 Noun - proper - masculine singular Chedorlaomer כְּדָרְלָעֹ֙מֶר֙ H3540 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Elam עֵילָ֔ם H5867 Noun - proper - feminine singular and Tidal וְתִדְעָ֖ל H8413 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֥לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Goiim גּוֹיִֽם׃ H1471 Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9
Verse 2

Original words

went to עָשׂ֣וּ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural war מִלְחָמָ֗ה H4421 Noun - feminine singular against אֶת־ H854 Preposition Bera בֶּ֙רַע֙ H1298 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Sodom סְדֹ֔ם H5467 Noun - proper - feminine singular . . . וְאֶת־ H854 Conjunctive waw | Preposition Birsha בִּרְשַׁ֖ע H1306 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Gomorrah עֲמֹרָ֑ה H6017 Noun - proper - feminine singular Shinab שִׁנְאָ֣ב׀ H8134 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Admah אַדְמָ֗ה H126 Noun - proper - feminine singular Shemeber וְשֶׁמְאֵ֙בֶר֙ H8038 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Zeboiim צְבֹיִים H6636 Noun - proper - feminine singular and the king וּמֶ֥לֶךְ H4428 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Bela בֶּ֖לַע H1106 Noun - proper - feminine singular (that is הִיא־ H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular Zoar) צֹֽעַר׃ H6820 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

The latter אֵ֙לֶּה֙ H428 Pronoun - common plural [five] כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct came as allies חָֽבְר֔וּ H2266 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Valley עֵ֖מֶק H6010 Noun - masculine singular construct of Siddim הַשִּׂדִּ֑ים H7708 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular (that is ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular the Salt הַמֶּֽלַח׃ H4417 Article | Noun - masculine singular Sea יָ֥ם H3220 Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • That is, the Dead Sea
Verse 4

Original words

For twelve שְׁתֵּ֤ים H8147 Number - fd . . . עֶשְׂרֵה֙ H6240 Number - feminine singular construct years שָׁנָ֔ה H8141 Noun - feminine singular they had been subject עָבְד֖וּ H5647 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker to Chedorlaomer כְּדָרְלָעֹ֑מֶר H3540 Noun - proper - masculine singular but in the thirteenth וּשְׁלֹשׁ־ H7969 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct . . . עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה H6240 Number - feminine singular construct year שָׁנָ֖ה H8141 Noun - feminine singular they rebelled מָרָֽדוּ׃ H4775 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 5

Original words

In the fourteenth וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ H702 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Number - feminine singular construct . . . עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה H6240 Number - feminine singular construct year שָׁנָ֜ה H8141 Noun - feminine singular Chedorlaomer כְדָרְלָעֹ֗מֶר H3540 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the kings וְהַמְּלָכִים֙ H4428 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative allied with him אִתּ֔וֹ H854 Preposition | third person masculine singular went out בָּ֣א H935 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular and defeated וַיַּכּ֤וּ H5221 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Rephaites רְפָאִים֙ H7497 Noun - proper - masculine plural in בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹ֣ת H6255 Preposition Ashteroth-karnaim קַרְנַ֔יִם H6255 Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the Zuzites הַזּוּזִ֖ים H2104 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural in Ham בְּהָ֑ם H1990 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular - וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the Emites הָֽאֵימִ֔ים H368 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural in Shaveh-kiriathaim בְּשָׁוֵ֖ה H7740 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . קִרְיָתָֽיִם׃ H7156 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 6

Original words

and וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the Horites הַחֹרִ֖י H2752 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular in [the area of] Mount בְּהַרְרָ֣ם H2022 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Seir שֵׂעִ֑יר H8165 Noun - proper - feminine singular as far as עַ֚ד H5704 Preposition vvv אֵ֣יל H364 El-paran פָּארָ֔ן H364 Noun - proper - feminine singular which [is] אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative near עַל־ H5921 Preposition the desert הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ H4057 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

Then they turned back וַ֠יָּשֻׁבוּ H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural to invade וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition vvv עֵ֤ין H5880 En-mishpat מִשְׁפָּט֙ H5880 Noun - proper - feminine singular (that is הִ֣וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular Kadesh) קָדֵ֔שׁ H6946 Noun - proper - feminine singular and they conquered וַיַּכּ֕וּ H5221 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct territory שְׂדֵ֖ה H7704 Noun - masculine singular construct of the Amalekites הָעֲמָלֵקִ֑י H6003 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular as וְגַם֙ H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker well as the Amorites הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י H567 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular who lived הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב H3427 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular vvv בְּחַֽצְצֹ֥ן H2688 Preposition in Hazazon-tamar תָּמָֽר׃ H2688 Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Then the king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Sodom סְדֹ֜ם H5467 Noun - proper - feminine singular the king וּמֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Gomorrah עֲמֹרָ֗ה H6017 Noun - proper - feminine singular the king וּמֶ֤לֶךְ H4428 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Admah אַדְמָה֙ H126 Noun - proper - feminine singular the king וּמֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Zeboiim צְבֹיִים H6636 Noun - proper - feminine singular and the king וּמֶ֥לֶךְ H4428 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Bela בֶּ֖לַע H1106 Noun - proper - feminine singular (that is הִוא־ H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular Zoar צֹ֑עַר H6820 Noun - proper - feminine singular marched out וַיֵּצֵ֨א H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and arrayed וַיַּֽעַרְכ֤וּ H6186 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural themselves אִתָּם֙ H854 Preposition | third person masculine plural for battle מִלְחָמָ֔ה H4421 Noun - feminine singular in the Valley בְּעֵ֖מֶק H6010 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Siddim הַשִּׂדִּֽים׃ H7708 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • That is, the Valley of the Dead Sea
Verse 9

Original words

against אֵ֣ת H854 Preposition Chedorlaomer כְּדָרְלָעֹ֜מֶר H3540 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Elam עֵילָ֗ם H5867 Noun - proper - feminine singular Tidal וְתִדְעָל֙ H8413 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Goiim גּוֹיִ֔ם H1471 Noun - masculine plural Amraphel וְאַמְרָפֶל֙ H569 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Shinar שִׁנְעָ֔ר H8152 Noun - proper - feminine singular and Arioch וְאַרְי֖וֹךְ H746 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶ֣לֶךְ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Ellasar אֶלָּסָ֑ר H495 Noun - proper - masculine singular four אַרְבָּעָ֥ה H702 Number - masculine singular kings מְלָכִ֖ים H4428 Noun - masculine plural against אֶת־ H854 Preposition five הַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ H2568 Article | Number - masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Now the Valley וְעֵ֣מֶק H6010 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Siddim הַשִׂדִּ֗ים H7708 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular was full of tar חֵמָ֔ר H2564 Noun - masculine singular pits בֶּֽאֱרֹ֤ת H875 Noun - feminine plural construct . . . בֶּאֱרֹת֙ H875 Noun - feminine plural construct and as the kings מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Sodom סְדֹ֥ם H5467 Noun - proper - feminine singular and Gomorrah וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה H6017 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular fled וַיָּנֻ֛סוּ H5127 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural some men fell וַיִּפְּלוּ־ H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural into [the pits] שָׁ֑מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular but the survivors וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים H7604 Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural fled נָּֽסוּ׃ H5127 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to the hill country הֶ֥רָה H2022 Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

The [four kings] seized וַ֠יִּקְחוּ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the goods רְכֻ֨שׁ H7399 Noun - masculine singular construct of Sodom סְדֹ֧ם H5467 Noun - proper - feminine singular and Gomorrah וַעֲמֹרָ֛ה H6017 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct their food אָכְלָ֖ם H400 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural and they went on their way וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 12

Original words

They also carried off וַיִּקְח֨וּ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker - וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Abram’s אַבְרָ֖ם H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular nephew בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . אֲחִ֥י H251 Noun - masculine singular construct Lot ל֧וֹט H3876 Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and his possessions רְכֻשׁ֛וֹ H7399 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular since [Lot] וְה֥וּא H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular was living יֹשֵׁ֖ב H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular in Sodom בִּסְדֹֽם׃ H5467 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

Then an escapee הַפָּלִ֔יט H6412 Article | Noun - masculine singular came וַיָּבֹא֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and reported [this] וַיַּגֵּ֖ד H5046 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to Abram לְאַבְרָ֣ם H87 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular the Hebrew הָעִבְרִ֑י H5680 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Now [Abram] וְהוּא֩ H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular was living שֹׁכֵ֨ן H7931 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular near the Oaks בְּאֵֽלֹנֵ֜י H436 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of Mamre מַמְרֵ֣א H4471 Noun - proper - feminine singular the Amorite הָאֱמֹרִ֗י H567 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular a brother אֲחִ֤י H251 Noun - masculine singular construct of Eshcol אֶשְׁכֹּל֙ H812 Noun - proper - masculine singular [and] וַאֲחִ֣י H251 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Aner עָנֵ֔ר H6063 Noun - proper - masculine singular all of whom וְהֵ֖ם H1992 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural were bound בַּעֲלֵ֥י H1167 Noun - masculine plural construct by treaty בְרִית־ H1285 Noun - feminine singular construct to Abram אַבְרָֽם׃ H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or Terebinths or Great Trees
  • Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant.
Verse 14

Original words

And when Abram אַבְרָ֔ם H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular heard וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular that כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction his relative אָחִ֑יו H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular had been captured נִשְׁבָּ֖ה H7617 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular he mobilized וַיָּ֨רֶק H7324 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the 318 שְׁמֹנָ֤ה H8083 Number - masculine singular . . . עָשָׂר֙ H6240 Number - masculine singular . . . וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ H7969 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct . . . מֵא֔וֹת H3967 Number - feminine plural trained men חֲנִיכָ֜יו H2593 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular born יְלִידֵ֣י H3211 Noun - masculine plural construct in his household בֵית֗וֹ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and they set out in pursuit וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף H7291 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular as עַד־ H5704 Preposition far as Dan דָּֽן׃ H1835 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

During the night לַ֛יְלָה H3915 Noun - masculine singular [Abram] ה֥וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular divided וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק H2505 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם׀ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine plural his forces וַעֲבָדָ֖יו H5650 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular and routed [Chedorlaomer’s army] וַיַּכֵּ֑ם H5221 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural pursuing them וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵם֙ H7291 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural as far as עַד־ H5704 Preposition Hobah חוֹבָ֔ה H2327 Noun - proper - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative north מִשְּׂמֹ֖אל H8040 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular of Damascus לְדַמָּֽשֶׂק׃ H1834 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 16

Original words

He retrieved וַיָּ֕שֶׁב H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֵ֖ת H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the goods הָרְכֻ֑שׁ H7399 Article | Noun - masculine singular as well as וְגַם֩ H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his relative אָחִ֤יו H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Lot ל֨וֹט H3876 Noun - proper - masculine singular and his possessions וּרְכֻשׁוֹ֙ H7399 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . הֵשִׁ֔יב H7725 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular together with וְגַ֥ם H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the women הַנָּשִׁ֖ים H802 Article | Noun - feminine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the rest of the people הָעָֽם׃ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular

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