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Genesis 21:25

in Genesis 21

But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of the well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.

KJV

And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.

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This verse in Genesis 21

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well--Wells were of great importance to a pastoral chief and on the successful operation of sinking a new one, the owner was solemnly informed in person.

This site's exposition

a well that Abimelech's servants had seized

on Genesis 21:25-27

Abraham complained about a well Abimelech's servants had seized, and Abimelech replied that he had not heard of it until that day. The grievance is on the table before the covenant is made. Water is the standing quarrel here, and the Philistines fight Isaac over wells at 26:15 to 26:22.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Note, If our brother trespass against us, we must, with the meekness of wisdom, tell him his fault, that the matter may be fairly accommodated and an end made of it, Matt. xviii.
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Abraham reproved Abimelech - Wells were of great consequence in those hot countries, and especially where the flocks were numerous, because the water was scarce, and digging to find it was accompanied with much expense of time and labor.

The words behind it

12 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • וְהוֹכִ֥חַand he rebuked

    vehokhiachH3198 →59 times

  • אַבְרָהָ֖םAbraham

    ʾavrahamH85 →175 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְAbimelech

    ʾavimelekhH40 →66 times

  • עַל־on

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • אֹדוֹת֙[the] causes of

    ʾodotH182 →11 times

  • בְּאֵ֣ר[the] well of

    beerH875 →38 times

  • הַמַּ֔יִם<the> water

    hamayimH4325 →581 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • גָּזְל֖וּthey had seized

    gazeluH1497 →

  • עַבְדֵ֥י[the] servants of

    ʾavdeiH5650 →799 times

  • אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃Abimelech

    ʾavimelekhH40 →66 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

12 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Genesis 26:20But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him.8 worksGenesis 26:15–22So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.5 worksExodus 2:17And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock.4 worksGenesis 13:7And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.2 worksGenesis 29:8But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”2 worksProverbs 27:5Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.2 works
The other 6 cross-references, with their words ▾
Proverbs 25:9Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,2 worksProverbs 17:10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.2 worksExodus 2:15–17When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well.2 worksMatthew 18:15If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.2 worksJudges 1:15“Give me a blessing,” she answered. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.2 worksLeviticus 6:4once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Proverbs 27:5

    Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 28:23

      He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.

    • 1 Timothy 5:20

      But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

    • Galatians 2:14

      When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a…

    • Matthew 18:15

      If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

    • Leviticus 19:17

      You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him.

  • Through

    Genesis 13:7

    And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 26:20

      But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him.

    • Genesis 12:6

      Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the Oak of Moreh at Shechem. And at that time the Canaanites were in the land.

    • James 3:16

      For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

Where this verse is studied

About Genesis

Hagar and Ishmael in the Wilderness — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Hagar and Ishmael in the Wilderness — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Genesis: the study guide →Read Genesis 21 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; 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.

Read on in Genesis 21 →