Genesis 13:6
in Genesis 13But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
KJV
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
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This verse in Genesis 13
Commentary
7 notes on this verseIn fact, since [Lot] had already deliberately begun to deviate from his uncle, the land could not support both of them dwelling together; indeed, no space can be large enough for those who love discord.… Even limited spaces are more than adequate for those who are meek and peace-loving, while for those whose mentality is one of discord even wide open spaces are too restricted.
This site's exposition
Lot, who was traveling with Abram
on Genesis 13:5-7
Lot's flocks and herds have grown too, and the land cannot carry both households at once. The wealth they brought out of Egypt is what divides them. Their herdsmen quarrel while the Canaanites and the Perizzites are living in the same land, and Wesley notes that those neighbours knew what both men professed.
This site's exposition
the land was unable to support both of them
Clarke explains that the flocks and herds were the clothing, food and drink of both households, so the herds grew as the families grew. Ambrose reads the verse of any two who love discord, for whom no land is large enough to support both. The land set the limit.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and herds, and tents; nor could the land bear them so that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, and they could not dwell together: hence there was a quarrel between the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
(3.) The stopping of it by the prudence of Abram, ver. 8, 9. Lot's departure from Abram to the plain of Sodom, ver. 10-14. God's appearance to Abram, to confirm the promise of the land of Canaan to him, ver. 14-17.
quarantine:anchor (2026-07-29) — cites-ver-10/14-anchored-6-6
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Their substance was great - As their families increased, it was necessary their flocks should increase also, as from those flocks they derived their clothing, food, and drink. Many also were offered in sacrifice to God. They could not dwell together - 1. Because their flocks were great. 2. Because the Canaanites and the Perizzites had already occupied a considerable part of the land. 3. Because there appears to have been envy between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלֹא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נָשָׂ֥א | nasa' | it supported | H5375 → | 656 times |
| אֹתָ֛ם | ʾotam | <obj.> them | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָאָ֖רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| לָשֶׁ֣בֶת | lashevet | to dwell | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| יַחְדָּ֑ו | yachdav | together | H3162 → | 141 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הָיָ֤ה | hayah | it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| רְכוּשָׁם֙ | rekhusham | possession[s] their | H7399 → | 28 times |
| רָ֔ב | rav | much | H7227 → | 454 times |
| וְלֹ֥א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יָֽכְל֖וּ | yakhelu | they were able | H3201 → | 194 times |
| לָשֶׁ֥בֶת | lashevet | to dwell | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| יַחְדָּֽו׃ | yachdav | together | H3162 → | 141 times |
וְלֹא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
נָשָׂ֥אit supported
nasa'H5375 →656 times
אֹתָ֛ם<obj.> them
ʾotamH853 →10935 times
הָאָ֖רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
לָשֶׁ֣בֶתto dwell
lashevetH3427 →1079 times
יַחְדָּ֑וtogether
yachdavH3162 →141 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
הָיָ֤הit was
hayahH1961 →3559 times
רְכוּשָׁם֙possession[s] their
rekhushamH7399 →28 times
רָ֔בmuch
ravH7227 →454 times
וְלֹ֥אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
יָֽכְל֖וּthey were able
yakheluH3201 →194 times
לָשֶׁ֥בֶתto dwell
lashevetH3427 →1079 times
יַחְדָּֽו׃together
yachdavH3162 →141 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Timothy 6:9Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
it leads to
- 1 John 2:15–17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
- Proverbs 28:20–22
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
- Acts 8:20
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
- 1 Timothy 3:7
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
- 1 John 2:15–17
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, On Abraham; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.