Genesis 21:24
in Genesis 21And Abraham replied, “I swear it.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Abraham said, I will swear.
KJV
And Abraham said, I will swear.
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This verse in Genesis 21
Commentary
4 notes on this verseAnd Abraham said, I will swear. Sensible of the many favours he had received from Abimelech in times past, and was still indulged with, he very readily agreed to his proposal; and the rather, as he knew by the vision between the pieces, that it would be four hundred years before his posterity should be put into the possession of the land of Canaan; and therefore could take an oath that neither he, nor his son, nor his grandson, should be injured or dispossessed.
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.
This site's exposition
I swear it
Henry reads the quick answer as the mark of an honest mind, since a man who means to be true has no fear of swearing. John Gill adds that Abraham remembered the kindness Abimelech had shown him. The complaint about the well follows the oath.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Note, (1.) Religion does not make men morose and unconversable; We must not, under colour of shunning bad company, be sour to all company, and jealous of every body. (2.) An honest mind does not startle at giving assurances: if Abraham say that he will be true to Abimelech, he is not afraid to swear it; an oath is for confirmation.
The words behind it
4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אַבְרָהָ֔ם | ʾavraham | Abraham | H85 → | 175 times |
| אָנֹכִ֖י | ʾanokhi | I | H595 → | 359 times |
| אִשָּׁבֵֽעַ׃ | ʾishavea' | I will swear | H7650 → | 186 times |
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אַבְרָהָ֔םAbraham
ʾavrahamH85 →175 times
אָנֹכִ֖יI
ʾanokhiH595 →359 times
אִשָּׁבֵֽעַ׃I will swear
ʾishavea'H7650 →186 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
Romans 12:18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- Romans 14:19
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
- Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
- 2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
- James 3:16–18
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
- Hebrews 12:14
Through
Genesis 14:13Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by…
it leads to
- Genesis 13:18
So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
- Genesis 14:24
I 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.”
- Genesis 13:18
Through
Hebrews 6:16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.
it leads to
- Exodus 22:11
an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept the oath and require no restitution.
- Exodus 22:11
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 Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.