Genesis 26:2
in Genesis 26The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
KJV
And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
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This verse in Genesis 26
Commentary
11 notes on this verseGo not down into Egypt - As Abraham had taken refuge in that country, it is probable that Isaac was preparing to go thither also; and God, foreseeing that he would there meet with trials, etc., which might prove fatal to his peace or to his piety, warns him not to fulfill his intention.
This site's exposition
another famine in the land
on Genesis 26:1-2
A second famine comes, and Isaac turns toward Egypt as his father had done. The LORD stops him: do not go down to Egypt. Abraham had no such word in chapter 12, and the road he took is closed to the son. Isaac is the only one of the three patriarchs who never leaves the land of promise.
This site's exposition
Do not go down to Egypt
The command comes without a reason attached. John Calvin and John Wesley both judged Isaac weaker than his father, and read the order as sparing him a trial he could not bear. Adam Clarke thought God foresaw dangers in Egypt that might wreck his peace or his piety.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Now it is likely that Isaac also made for there on account of his intention to continue on from there into Egypt; for proof of this, listen to what Scripture says: "God appeared to him and said, 'Don't go down into Egypt.' " I do not want you to make that long journey, he is saying, but to stay here. Instead of allowing you to experience that hardship, I am going to put into effect the promise made to your father; the promises to him will be fulfilled in you, and you will experience the pledges to him. "Don't go down into Egypt but dwell in the land that I show you, and be a sojourner in that land."
The Reformation2 voices
Because, therefore, he knew that there was more infirmity in Isaac than there had been in Abraham, he was unwilling to expose him to danger; for he is faithful, and will not suffer his own people to be tempted beyond what they are able to bear.
Because, therefore, he knew that there was more infirmity in Isaac than there had been in Abraham, he was unwilling to expose him to danger; for he is faithful, and will not suffer his own people to be tempted beyond what they are able to bear.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Abraham was a man of very intimate communion with God, and to him all places and conditions were alike; Isaac a very good man, but not cut out for hardship, therefore he is forbidden to go to Egypt; Jacob inured to difficulties, strong and patient, and therefore he must go down into Egypt, that the trial of his faith might be to praise, and honour, and glory.
Abraham was a man of very intimate communion with God, and to him all places and conditions were alike; Isaac a very good man, but not cut out for hardship, therefore he is forbidden to go to Egypt; Jacob inured to difficulties, strong and patient, and therefore he must go down into Egypt, that the trial of his faith might be to praise, and honour, and glory.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And the Lord appeared unto him,....
Isaac was a very good man, but not cut out for hardship; therefore he is forbidden to go to Egypt. Jacob was inured to difficulties, strong and patient; and therefore he must go down into Egypt, that the trial of his faith might be to praise, and honour, and glory.
Isaac was a very good man, but not cut out for hardship; therefore he is forbidden to go to Egypt. Jacob was inured to difficulties, strong and patient; and therefore he must go down into Egypt, that the trial of his faith might be to praise, and honour, and glory.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּרָ֤א | vaiyera' | and he appeared | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אֵלָיו֙ | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| יְהוָ֔ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| וַיֹּ֖אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תֵּרֵ֣ד | tered | you go down | H3381 → | 381 times |
| מִצְרָ֑יְמָה | mitzrayemah | Egypt towards | H4714 → | 641 times |
| שְׁכֹ֣ן | shekhon | dwell | H7931 → | 129 times |
| בָּאָ֔רֶץ | baaretz | in the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֖ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אֹמַ֥ר | ʾomar | I will say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ | ʾeleikha | to you | H413 → | 5510 times |
וַיֵּרָ֤אand he appeared
vaiyera'H7200 →1300 times
אֵלָיו֙to him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
יְהוָ֔הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תֵּרֵ֣דyou go down
teredH3381 →381 times
מִצְרָ֑יְמָהEgypt towards
mitzrayemahH4714 →641 times
שְׁכֹ֣ןdwell
shekhonH7931 →129 times
בָּאָ֔רֶץin the land
baaretzH776 →2504 times
אֲשֶׁ֖רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
אֹמַ֥רI will say
ʾomarH559 →5305 times
אֵלֶֽיךָ׃to you
ʾeleikhaH413 →5510 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
Psalms 37:3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
- Matthew 6:31–33
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- Psalms 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
- 1 Corinthians 15:57–58
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
Through
Genesis 12:1Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
- Nehemiah 9:7
You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.
- Hebrews 11:8
Through
Genesis 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Ephesians 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
- Philippians 4:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Chuck Missler, Learn the Bible in 24 Hours; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 51.6; 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.