Focused Passage

Genesis 21:22-34

The LORD Fulfills His Promise in Isaac, Casts Out the Bondwoman’s Line from the Covenant Inheritance, and Preserves Ishmael in Mercy

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

22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.

23 Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”

24 And Abraham replied, “I swear it.”

25 But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,

26 Abimelech replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.”

27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.

28 Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock,

29 and Abimelech asked him, “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”

30 He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well.”

31 So that place was called Beersheba, because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.

32 After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.

33 And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.

34 And Abraham resided in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 22

Original words

- וַֽיְהִי֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular At that הַהִ֔וא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular time בָּעֵ֣ת H6256 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Phicol וּפִיכֹל֙ H6369 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular the commander שַׂר־ H8269 Noun - masculine singular construct of his army צְבָא֔וֹ H6635 Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Abraham אַבְרָהָ֖ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct God אֱלֹהִ֣ים H430 Noun - masculine plural is with you עִמְּךָ֔ H5973 Preposition | second person masculine singular in all בְּכֹ֥ל H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתָּ֖ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular do עֹשֶֽׂה׃ H6213 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

Now, therefore וְעַתָּ֗ה H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb swear הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה H7650 Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular to me לִּ֤י Preposition | first person common singular here הֵ֔נָּה H2008 Adverb before God בֵֽאלֹהִים֙ H430 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural that you will not אִם־ H518 Conjunction deal falsely תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר H8266 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular with me לִ֔י Preposition | first person common singular or my children וּלְנִינִ֖י H5209 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular or descendants וּלְנֶכְדִּ֑י H5220 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Show תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to me עִמָּדִ֔י H5978 Preposition | first person common singular and וְעִם־ H5973 Conjunctive waw | Preposition to the country הָאָ֖רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular in which אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative you reside גַּ֥רְתָּה H1481 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular . . . בָּֽהּ׃ Preposition | third person feminine singular the same kindness כַּחֶ֜סֶד H2617 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative I have shown עָשִׂ֤יתִי H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular to you עִמְּךָ֙ H5973 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

And Abraham אַבְרָהָ֔ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular I אָנֹכִ֖י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular swear it. אִשָּׁבֵֽעַ׃ H7650 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Verse 25

Original words

But when Abraham אַבְרָהָ֖ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker complained וְהוֹכִ֥חַ H3198 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular to Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular about עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . אֹדוֹת֙ H182 Noun - feminine plural construct a well בְּאֵ֣ר H875 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . הַמַּ֔יִם H4325 Article | Noun - masculine plural that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative Abimelech’s אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular servants עַבְדֵ֥י H5650 Noun - masculine plural construct had seized גָּזְל֖וּ H1497 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 26

Original words

Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular I do not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle know יָדַ֔עְתִּי H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular who מִ֥י H4310 Interrogative has done עָשָׂ֖ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֶּ֑ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular . . . וְגַם־ H1571 Conjunction . . . הַדָּבָ֣ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular You אַתָּ֞ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular did not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle tell הִגַּ֣דְתָּ H5046 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular me לִּ֗י Preposition | first person common singular . . . וְגַ֧ם H1571 Conjunction so I אָנֹכִ֛י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular have not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle heard שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular about it until today בִּלְתִּ֥י H1115 Preposition . . . הַיּֽוֹם׃ H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 27

Original words

So Abraham אַבְרָהָם֙ H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular brought וַיִּקַּ֤ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular sheep צֹ֣אן H6629 Noun - common singular and cattle וּבָקָ֔ר H1241 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and gave them וַיִּתֵּ֖ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to Abimelech לַאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ H40 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and the two men שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם H8147 Number - masculine dual construct | third person masculine plural made וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ H3772 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural a covenant בְּרִֽית׃ H1285 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 28

Original words

Abraham אַבְרָהָ֗ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker separated וַיַּצֵּ֣ב H5324 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . לְבַדְּהֶֽן׃ H905 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine plural seven שֶׁ֛בַע H7651 Number - feminine singular ewe lambs כִּבְשֹׂ֥ת H3535 Noun - feminine plural construct from the flock הַצֹּ֖אן H6629 Article | Noun - common singular
Verse 29

Original words

and Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular asked וַיֹּ֥אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition [him] אַבְרָהָ֑ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular Why מָ֣ה H4100 Interrogative . . . הֵ֗נָּה H2007 Pronoun - third person feminine plural have you set apart הִצַּ֖בְתָּ H5324 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular . . . לְבַדָּֽנָה׃ H905 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine plural these הָאֵ֔לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative seven שֶׁ֤בַע H7651 Number - feminine singular ewe lambs כְּבָשֹׂת֙ H3535 Noun - feminine plural
Verse 30

Original words

He replied וַיֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular כִּ֚י כִּ֚י H3588 Conjunction אֶת־ אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker You are to accept תִּקַּ֖ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the seven שֶׁ֣בַע H7651 Number - feminine singular ewe lambs כְּבָשֹׂ֔ת H3535 Noun - feminine plural from my hand מִיָּדִ֑י H3027 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular vvv בַּעֲבוּר֙ H5668 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular vvv תִּֽהְיֶה־ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular vvv לִּ֣י Preposition | first person common singular as my witness לְעֵדָ֔ה H5713 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular that כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction I dug חָפַ֖רְתִּי H2658 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֹּֽאת׃ H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular well הַבְּאֵ֥ר H875 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

So עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּ֗ן H3651 Adverb that הַה֖וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular בְּאֵ֣ר בְּאֵ֣ר H884 Preposition place לַמָּק֥וֹם H4725 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular was called קָרָ֛א H7121 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Beersheba שָׁ֑בַע H884 Noun - proper - feminine singular because כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction it was there שָׁ֥ם H8033 Adverb that the two שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ H8147 Number - masculine dual construct | third person masculine plural of them swore an oath נִשְׁבְּע֖וּ H7650 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural

BSB notes

  • Beersheba means well of seven or well of the oath.
Verse 32

Original words

After they had made וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ H3772 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural the covenant בְרִ֖ית H1285 Noun - feminine singular vvv בִּבְאֵ֣ר H884 Preposition at Beersheba שָׁ֑בַע H884 Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular Abimelech אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ H40 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Phicol וּפִיכֹל֙ H6369 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular the commander שַׂר־ H8269 Noun - masculine singular construct of his army צְבָא֔וֹ H6635 Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular got up וַיָּ֣קָם H6965 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and returned וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the land אֶ֥רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of the Philistines פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ H6430 Noun - proper - masculine plural
Verse 33

Original words

And [Abraham] planted וַיִּטַּ֥ע H5193 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular a tamarisk tree אֶ֖שֶׁל H815 Noun - masculine singular vvv בִּבְאֵ֣ר H884 Preposition in Beersheba שָׁ֑בַע H884 Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular and there שָׁ֔ם H8033 Adverb he called וַיִּ֨קְרָא־ H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular upon the name בְּשֵׁ֥ם H8034 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the Eternal עוֹלָֽם׃ H5769 Noun - masculine singular God אֵ֥ל H410 Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • Hebrew El-Olam
Verse 34

Original words

And Abraham אַבְרָהָ֛ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular resided וַיָּ֧גָר H1481 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular in the land בְּאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of the Philistines פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים H6430 Noun - proper - masculine plural for a long רַבִּֽים׃פ H7227 Adjective - masculine plural time יָמִ֥ים H3117 Noun - masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.