Genesis 13:9
in Genesis 13Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go to the left.
KJV
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
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This verse in Genesis 13
Commentary
8 notes on this verseIs not the whole land before thee - As the patriarch or head of the family, Abram, by prescriptive right, might have chosen his own portion first, and appointed Lot his; but intent upon peace, and feeling pure and parental affection for his nephew, he permitted him to make his choice first.
This site's exposition
let there be no contention
on Genesis 13:8-9
Abram holds the promise and the years, and he hands the first choice to his nephew. He calls Lot his brother, a wide word for an uncle and a nephew, and he uses it to end the quarrel. The whole land is set before Lot, left or right. Abram gives up his right to a kinsman.
This site's exposition
Is not the whole land before you
Henry hears Abram asking why the two of them should quarrel over land while the whole land lay before them. He wants them to separate as brothers. Clarke traces the offer to the love of Abram for the son of his brother Haran.
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 Awakening4 voices
As if he had said, "Why should we quarrel for room, while there is room enough for us both?" (1.) He concludes that they must part, and is very desirous that they should part friends: Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me.
There was all the reason in the world that Abram should choose first; yet he recedes from his right. Note, It is a noble conquest to be willing to yield for peace' sake; it is the conquest of ourselves, and our own pride and passion, Matt. v. 39, 40 . It is not only the punctilios of honour, but even interest itself, that in many cases must be sacrificed to peace.
Is not the whole land before thee?....
As if he had said, "Why should we quarrel for room, while there is room enough for us both?" (1.) He concludes that they must part, and is very desirous that they should part friends: Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
The verse states that the whole land of the Plain was adequately irrigated from the Jordan by working with the foot, just as was done with the garden of G-d, concerning which it is stated, And a river went out of Eden to water the garden, 103 Above,:10.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֲלֹ֤א | halo' | ¿ not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| כָל־ | khol- | [is] all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| לְפָנֶ֔יךָ | lefaneikha | <to> before you | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| הִפָּ֥רֶד | hipared | separate | H6504 → | 26 times |
| נָ֖א | na' | please | H4994 → | 404 times |
| מֵעָלָ֑י | mealai | from with <the> me | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| הַשְּׂמֹ֣אל | hasemol | the left | H8040 → | 54 times |
| וְאֵימִ֔נָה | veeiminah | so let me go right | H3231 → | |
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| הַיָּמִ֖ין | haiyamin | the right | H3225 → | 140 times |
| וְאַשְׂמְאִֽילָה׃ | veasmeilah | and I will go left | H8041 → |
הֲלֹ֤א¿ not
halo'H3808 →5168 times
כָל־[is] all
khol-H3605 →5413 times
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙the land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ<to> before you
lefaneikhaH6440 →2123 times
הִפָּ֥רֶדseparate
hiparedH6504 →26 times
נָ֖אplease
na'H4994 →404 times
מֵעָלָ֑יfrom with <the> me
mealaiH5921 →5755 times
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
הַשְּׂמֹ֣אלthe left
hasemolH8040 →54 times
וְאֵימִ֔נָהso let me go right
veeiminahH3231 →
וְאִם־and if
veim-H518 →1069 times
הַיָּמִ֖יןthe right
haiyaminH3225 →140 times
וְאַשְׂמְאִֽילָה׃and I will go left
veasmeilahH8041 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 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
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
- Matthew 5:8–9
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- 1 Peter 3:11
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Through
1 Corinthians 6:7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
it leads to
- Romans 12:17–19
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
- Matthew 5:39–41
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
- Romans 12:17–19
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Genesis (Hexaemeron); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.