Genesis 14:24
in Genesis 14I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men that went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
KJV
Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
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This verse in Genesis 14
Commentary
8 notes on this verseHow remarkable it is, then, that Abraham did not wish to touch any of the spoil gained by his victory or to take even what was offered him? The fact is that to receive recompense diminishes the joy of a victory and blunts the gratuitous character of a favor. For it makes a great difference whether one has fought for money or for fame. In one case, a person will be regarded as a mercenary. In the other case he will be deemed worthy of fame as a deliverer.
This site's exposition
even a thread, or a strap of a sandal
on Genesis 14:23-24
Abram refuses everything, down to a thread and the strap of a sandal, so that no king of Canaan can say he made Abram rich. Pharaoh had made him rich once already, for a sister. The oath binds Abram alone, and Aner, Eshcol and Mamre take their portion.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
These I will allow to take a portion, he says, since they have given evidence of deep friendship. "These," you see, the text says, "were Abram's confederates," that is, they were joined in friendship, willing to share the perils with him. Hence, with the intention of rewarding them, he is even prepared to take some portion, and in this once again he fulfills the apostolic law in the words "the worker deserves his fare." I mean, he lets them take no more than their due: "except what my young men consumed and the portion for the men who accompanied me, Eschol, Aner and Mamre—they will take a portion." Do you see the precision of the patriarch's virtue? He gives evidence as well of good sense in the matter of his disregard and scorn for wealth. And at the same time [he does] everything so as not to appear to have acted from pretense or contempt and thus to have entertained grandiose notions about winning the victory.
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Rich countries are a desirable prey, and idle luxurious countries are an easy prey, to growing greatness. The Sodomites were the posterity of Canaan whom Noah had pronounced a servant to Shem, from whom Elam descended; thus soon did that prophecy begin to e fulfilled.
A good man will deny himself that liberty which he will not deny another, contrary to the practice of the Pharisees, Matt. xxiii. There was not the same reason why Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, should quit their right, that there was why Abram should. They did not make the profession that he made, nor were they, as he was, under the obligation of a vow.
In all our prayers we must praise God, and join hallelujahs with all our hosannas. These are the spiritual sacrifices we must offer up daily, and upon particular occasions. God as the most high God must have the glory of all our victories.
Save only that which the young men have eaten,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Save only that which the young men have eaten - His own servants had partaken of the victuals which the confederate kings had carried away; see Gen 14:11. This was unavoidable, and this is all he claims; but as he had no right to prescribe the same liberal conduct to his assistants, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, he left them to claim the share that by right of conquest belonged to them of the recaptured booty. Whether they were as generous as Abram we are not told.
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בִּלְעָדַ֗י | biladai | apart from me | H1107 → | 17 times |
| רַ֚ק | rak | only | H7535 → | 109 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | [that] which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אָֽכְל֣וּ | ʾakhelu | they have eaten | H398 → | 810 times |
| הַנְּעָרִ֔ים | hanearim | the young men | H5288 → | 239 times |
| וְחֵ֙לֶק֙ | vechelek | and [the] share of | H2506 → | 67 times |
| הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים | haanashim | the men | H582 → | 566 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הָלְכ֖וּ | halkhu | <they> went | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| אִתִּ֑י | ʾiti | with me | H854 → | 929 times |
| עָנֵר֙ | ʾaner | Aner | H6063 → | |
| אֶשְׁכֹּ֣ל | ʾeshkol | Eshcol | H812 → | |
| וּמַמְרֵ֔א | umamre' | and Mamre | H4471 → | 10 times |
| הֵ֖ם | hem | they | H1992 → | 553 times |
| יִקְח֥וּ | yikchu | let them take | H3947 → | 966 times |
| חֶלְקָֽם׃ ס | chelkam | share their | H2506 → | 67 times |
בִּלְעָדַ֗יapart from me
biladaiH1107 →17 times
רַ֚קonly
rakH7535 →109 times
אֲשֶׁ֣ר[that] which
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
אָֽכְל֣וּthey have eaten
ʾakheluH398 →810 times
הַנְּעָרִ֔יםthe young men
hanearimH5288 →239 times
וְחֵ֙לֶק֙and [the] share of
vechelekH2506 →67 times
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםthe men
haanashimH582 →566 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
הָלְכ֖וּ<they> went
halkhuH1980 →1546 times
אִתִּ֑יwith me
ʾitiH854 →929 times
עָנֵר֙Aner
ʾanerH6063 →
אֶשְׁכֹּ֣לEshcol
ʾeshkolH812 →
וּמַמְרֵ֔אand Mamre
umamre'H4471 →10 times
הֵ֖םthey
hemH1992 →553 times
יִקְח֥וּlet them take
yikchuH3947 →966 times
חֶלְקָֽם׃ סshare their
chelkamH2506 →67 times
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
Matthew 7:12In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
it leads to
- Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
- Romans 13:8–10
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
- Galatians 5:13–14
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
- Mark 12:29–34
Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
- Luke 6:31
Through
Proverbs 3:27Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- James 2:15–16
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
- Galatians 6:10
Through
1 Timothy 5:18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 25:4
Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
- Deuteronomy 25:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, On Abraham; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 35.20; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.