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

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

23Now, 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.”

24And Abraham replied, “I swear it.”

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

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

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

28Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock,

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

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

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

32After 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.

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

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

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 22

Original words

-וַֽיְהִי֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularAt thatהַהִ֔ואH1931Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singulartimeבָּעֵ֣תH6256Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularAbimelechאֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularand Phicolוּפִיכֹל֙H6369Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularthe commanderשַׂר־H8269Noun - masculine singular constructof his armyצְבָא֔וֹH6635Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionAbrahamאַבְרָהָ֖םH85Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .לֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructGodאֱלֹהִ֣יםH430Noun - masculine pluralis with youעִמְּךָ֔H5973Preposition | second person masculine singularin allבְּכֹ֥לH3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeyouאַתָּ֖הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singulardoעֹשֶֽׂה׃H6213Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

Now, thereforeוְעַתָּ֗הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbswearהִשָּׁ֨בְעָהH7650Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularto meלִּ֤יPreposition | first person common singularhereהֵ֔נָּהH2008Adverbbefore Godבֵֽאלֹהִים֙H430Preposition-b | Noun - masculine pluralthat you will notאִם־H518Conjunctiondeal falselyתִּשְׁקֹ֣רH8266Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularwith meלִ֔יPreposition | first person common singularor my childrenוּלְנִינִ֖יH5209Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularor descendantsוּלְנֶכְדִּ֑יH5220Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularShowתַּעֲשֶׂ֣הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularto meעִמָּדִ֔יH5978Preposition | first person common singularandוְעִם־H5973Conjunctive waw | Prepositionto the countryהָאָ֖רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularin whichאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeyou resideגַּ֥רְתָּהH1481Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular. . .בָּֽהּ׃Preposition | third person feminine singularthe same kindnessכַּחֶ֜סֶדH2617Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeI have shownעָשִׂ֤יתִיH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularto youעִמְּךָ֙H5973Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֔םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularrepliedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularIאָנֹכִ֖יH595Pronoun - first person common singularswear it.אִשָּׁבֵֽעַ׃H7650Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Verse 25

Original words

But when Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖םH85Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markercomplainedוְהוֹכִ֥חַH3198Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularto Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularaboutעַל־H5921Preposition. . .אֹדוֹת֙H182Noun - feminine plural constructa wellבְּאֵ֣רH875Noun - feminine singular construct. . .הַמַּ֔יִםH4325Article | Noun - masculine pluralthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeAbimelech’sאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃H40Noun - proper - masculine singularservantsעַבְדֵ֥יH5650Noun - masculine plural constructhad seizedגָּזְל֖וּH1497Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 26

Original words

Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularrepliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularI do notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleknowיָדַ֔עְתִּיH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularwhoמִ֥יH4310Interrogativehas doneעָשָׂ֖הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֶּ֑הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singular. . .וְגַם־H1571Conjunction. . .הַדָּבָ֣רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singularYouאַתָּ֞הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singulardid notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particletellהִגַּ֣דְתָּH5046Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singularmeלִּ֗יPreposition | first person common singular. . .וְגַ֧םH1571Conjunctionso Iאָנֹכִ֛יH595Pronoun - first person common singularhave notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleheardשָׁמַ֖עְתִּיH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularabout it until todayבִּלְתִּ֥יH1115Preposition. . .הַיּֽוֹם׃H3117Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 27

Original words

So Abrahamאַבְרָהָם֙H85Noun - proper - masculine singularbroughtוַיִּקַּ֤חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularsheepצֹ֣אןH6629Noun - common singularand cattleוּבָקָ֔רH1241Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularand gave themוַיִּתֵּ֖ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto Abimelechלַאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְH40Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand the two menשְׁנֵיהֶ֖םH8147Number - masculine dual construct | third person masculine pluralmadeוַיִּכְרְת֥וּH3772Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plurala covenantבְּרִֽית׃H1285Noun - feminine singular
Verse 28

Original words

Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֗םH85Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerseparatedוַיַּצֵּ֣בH5324Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .לְבַדְּהֶֽן׃H905Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine pluralsevenשֶׁ֛בַעH7651Number - feminine singularewe lambsכִּבְשֹׂ֥תH3535Noun - feminine plural constructfrom the flockהַצֹּ֖אןH6629Article | Noun - common singular
Verse 29

Original words

and Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularaskedוַיֹּ֥אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Preposition[him]אַבְרָהָ֑םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularWhyמָ֣הH4100Interrogative. . .הֵ֗נָּהH2007Pronoun - third person feminine pluralhave you set apartהִצַּ֖בְתָּH5324Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular. . .לְבַדָּֽנָה׃H905Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine pluraltheseהָאֵ֔לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common plural-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativesevenשֶׁ֤בַעH7651Number - feminine singularewe lambsכְּבָשֹׂת֙H3535Noun - feminine plural
Verse 30

Original words

He repliedוַיֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularכִּ֚יכִּ֚יH3588Conjunctionאֶת־אֶת־H853Direct object markerYou are to acceptתִּקַּ֖חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularthe sevenשֶׁ֣בַעH7651Number - feminine singularewe lambsכְּבָשֹׂ֔תH3535Noun - feminine pluralfrom my handמִיָּדִ֑יH3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularvvvבַּעֲבוּר֙H5668Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularvvvתִּֽהְיֶה־H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularvvvלִּ֣יPreposition | first person common singularas my witnessלְעֵדָ֔הH5713Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularthatכִּ֥יH3588ConjunctionI dugחָפַ֖רְתִּיH2658Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisהַזֹּֽאת׃H2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularwellהַבְּאֵ֥רH875Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

Soעַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּ֗ןH3651Adverbthatהַה֖וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singularבְּאֵ֣רבְּאֵ֣רH884Prepositionplaceלַמָּק֥וֹםH4725Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularwas calledקָרָ֛אH7121Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularBeershebaשָׁ֑בַעH884Noun - proper - feminine singularbecauseכִּ֛יH3588Conjunctionit was thereשָׁ֥םH8033Adverbthat the twoשְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃H8147Number - masculine dual construct | third person masculine pluralof them swore an oathנִשְׁבְּע֖וּH7650Verb - 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 madeוַיִּכְרְת֥וּH3772Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe covenantבְרִ֖יתH1285Noun - feminine singularvvvבִּבְאֵ֣רH884Prepositionat Beershebaשָׁ֑בַעH884Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singularAbimelechאֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְH40Noun - proper - masculine singularand Phicolוּפִיכֹל֙H6369Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularthe commanderשַׂר־H8269Noun - masculine singular constructof his armyצְבָא֔וֹH6635Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singulargot upוַיָּ֣קָםH6965Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand returnedוַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּH7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe landאֶ֥רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃H6430Noun - proper - masculine plural
Verse 33

Original words

And [Abraham] plantedוַיִּטַּ֥עH5193Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulara tamarisk treeאֶ֖שֶׁלH815Noun - masculine singularvvvבִּבְאֵ֣רH884Prepositionin Beershebaשָׁ֑בַעH884Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singularand thereשָׁ֔םH8033Adverbhe calledוַיִּ֨קְרָא־H7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularupon the nameבְּשֵׁ֥םH8034Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Eternalעוֹלָֽם׃H5769Noun - masculine singularGodאֵ֥לH410Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • Hebrew El-Olam
Verse 34

Original words

And Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֛םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularresidedוַיָּ֧גָרH1481Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularin the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםH6430Noun - proper - masculine pluralfor a longרַבִּֽים׃פH7227Adjective - masculine pluraltimeיָמִ֥יםH3117Noun - 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.