Genesis 21:31
in Genesis 21So that place was called Beersheba, because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.
KJV
Wherefore he called that place Beer–sheba; because there they sware both of them.
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This verse in Genesis 21
Commentary
5 notes on this verseHe called that place Beer-sheba - באר שבע Beer-shaba, literally, the well of swearing or of the oath, because they both sware there - mutually confirmed the covenant.
This site's exposition
seven ewe lambs from the flock
on Genesis 21:28-31
These seven ewe lambs are the first lambs Genesis names. They buy a well and stand as Abraham's witness that he dug it. Isaac asks where the lamb is one chapter later, on the way up the mountain. Jerome gives both readings of Beersheba, the well of the seven and the well of the oath.
This site's exposition
So that place was called Beersheba
Adam Clarke takes the name literally as the well of the oath, confirmed by both men. The place later marks the southern edge of the land in the phrase from Dan to Beersheba, as at Judges 20:1. It begins as one well and a sworn right to it.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Wherefore he called that place Beersheba,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
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.
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| עַל־ | ʾal- | there- | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כֵּ֗ן | ken | -fore | H3651 → | 771 times |
| קָרָ֛א | kara' | he called | H7121 → | 733 times |
| לַמָּק֥וֹם | lamakom | <to> the place | H4725 → | 401 times |
| הַה֖וּא | hahu' | <the> that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| בְּאֵ֣ר | beer | Beer | H884 → | 68 times |
| שָׁ֑בַע | shava' | Sheba | H884 → | 68 times |
| כִּ֛י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| שָׁ֥ם | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| נִשְׁבְּע֖וּ | nishbeu | they swore an oath | H7650 → | 186 times |
| שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ | sheneihem | [the] two of them | H8147 → | 768 times |
עַל־there-
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כֵּ֗ן-fore
kenH3651 →771 times
קָרָ֛אhe called
kara'H7121 →733 times
לַמָּק֥וֹם<to> the place
lamakomH4725 →401 times
הַה֖וּא<the> that
hahu'H1931 →1879 times
בְּאֵ֣רBeer
beerH884 →68 times
שָׁ֑בַעSheba
shava'H884 →68 times
כִּ֛יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
שָׁ֥םthere
shamH8033 →834 times
נִשְׁבְּע֖וּthey swore an oath
nishbeuH7650 →186 times
שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃[the] two of them
sheneihemH8147 →768 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
1 Kings 4:25Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.
it leads to
- Micah 4:4
And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
- Zechariah 3:10
On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, you will each invite your neighbor to sit under your own vine and fig tree.’”
- Micah 4:4
Through
2 Samuel 17:11Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle.
it leads to
- Genesis 22:17
I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.
- Genesis 22:17
Through
Judges 20:1Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
it leads to
- Judges 11:11
So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
- Judges 21:5
The Israelites asked, “Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come to the assembly before the LORD?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to come up before…
- 2 Samuel 3:10
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
- 1 Samuel 10:17
After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah
- Judges 11:11
Through
Genesis 26:33So he called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the city is Beersheba.
it leads to
- 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
- Genesis 26:28
Where this verse is studied
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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).