Genesis 21:23
in Genesis 21Now, 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.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
KJV
Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
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This verse in Genesis 21
Commentary
6 notes on this verseAfter these things, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, for they saw that God was with him and had helped him in the wars of the kings and had also promised him the land of the Canaanites.
This site's exposition
God is with you in all that you do
on Genesis 21:22-24
Abimelech comes with Phicol, the commander of his army. His opening is what an outsider could see from the road, that God is with Abraham in all he does. This is the same Abimelech who questioned him in chapter 20, and he asks for an oath of good faith. Abraham answers in three words.
This site's exposition
swear to me here before God
Abimelech asks for an oath covering three generations. Ephrem the Syrian says the king had seen God help Abraham in the war of the kings and knew of God's promise of the land to him. John Gill notes that the vision of chapter 15 put that possession four hundred years off.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Now therefore swear unto me here by God,....
It is consented to by Abraham, with a particular clause inserted about a well. In Abraham's part of this transaction observe, 1. He was ready to enter into this league with Abimelech, finding him to be a man of honour and conscience, and that had the fear of God before his eyes: I will swear,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Now therefore swear unto me - The oath on such occasions probably meant no more than the mutual promise of both the parties, when they slew an animal, poured out the blood as a sacrifice to God, and then passed between the pieces. See this ceremony, Gen 15:18 (note), and on Genesis 15 (note).
The words behind it
21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעַתָּ֗ה | veatah | and therefore | H6258 → | 433 times |
| הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה | hishaveah | swear ! | H7650 → | 186 times |
| לִּ֤י | li | to <the> me | ||
| בֵֽאלֹהִים֙ | velohim | by God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| הֵ֔נָּה | henah | here | H2008 → | 49 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר | tishkor | you will deal falsely | H8266 → | |
| לִ֔י | li | to me | ||
| וּלְנִינִ֖י | ulenini | and to posterity my | H5209 → | |
| וּלְנֶכְדִּ֑י | ulenekhdi | and to progeny my | H5220 → | |
| כַּחֶ֜סֶד | kachesed | according to the loyalty | H2617 → | 247 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| עָשִׂ֤יתִי | ʾasiti | I have done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עִמְּךָ֙ | ʾimekha | with you | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה | taaseh | you will do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עִמָּדִ֔י | ʾimadi | with me | H5978 → | 42 times |
| וְעִם־ | veim- | and with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| הָאָ֖רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| גַּ֥רְתָּה | gartah | you have sojourned | H1481 → | 97 times |
| בָּֽהּ׃ | bah | in <the> it |
וְעַתָּ֗הand therefore
veatahH6258 →433 times
הִשָּׁ֨בְעָהswear !
hishaveahH7650 →186 times
לִּ֤יto <the> me
li
בֵֽאלֹהִים֙by God
velohimH430 →2601 times
הֵ֔נָּהhere
henahH2008 →49 times
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
תִּשְׁקֹ֣רyou will deal falsely
tishkorH8266 →
לִ֔יto me
li
וּלְנִינִ֖יand to posterity my
uleniniH5209 →
וּלְנֶכְדִּ֑יand to progeny my
ulenekhdiH5220 →
כַּחֶ֜סֶדaccording to the loyalty
kachesedH2617 →247 times
אֲשֶׁר־which
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
עָשִׂ֤יתִיI have done
ʾasitiH6213 →2628 times
עִמְּךָ֙with you
ʾimekhaH5973 →1050 times
תַּעֲשֶׂ֣הyou will do
taasehH6213 →2628 times
עִמָּדִ֔יwith me
ʾimadiH5978 →42 times
וְעִם־and with
veim-H5973 →1050 times
הָאָ֖רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
אֲשֶׁר־which
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
גַּ֥רְתָּהyou have sojourned
gartahH1481 →97 times
בָּֽהּ׃in <the> it
bah
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
Genesis 26:28“We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you
it leads to
- Genesis 21:22–23
At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.
- Genesis 21:22–23
Through
1 Samuel 20:17And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
it leads to
- Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
- Proverbs 18:24
Through
1 Samuel 20:13But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety.…
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 22:11
Now, my son, may the LORD be with you, and may you succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as He said you would.
- 1 Samuel 17:37
David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with…
- Ruth 1:17
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
- 1 Chronicles 22:16
in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you.”
- 1 Chronicles 22:11
Through
Genesis 20:14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.
it leads to
- Genesis 12:16
He treated Abram well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.
- Genesis 12:16
Through
Joshua 2:12Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
it leads to
- Joshua 2:18
unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all…
- Joshua 2:18
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 19:1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.