And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
Read it in contextGod's Covenant with Isaac and His Sojourn in Gerar and Beersheba
Start reading at Genesis 26:1 (Genesis 26:1 to Genesis 26:33).
The narrative begins with Isaac's move to Gerar due to famine and details his interactions and God's initial promises, leading up to this reaffirmation and the establishment of Beersheba.
26:1And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
26:2And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
26:3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
26:4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
26:5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
26:6And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
26:7And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
26:8And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
26:9And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.
26:10And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
26:11And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
26:12Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
26:13And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
26:14For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
26:15For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
26:16And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
26:17And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
26:18And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
26:19And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
26:20And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
26:21And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
26:22And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
26:23And he went up from thence to Beersheba.
26:24And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
26:25And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.
26:26Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
26:27And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?
26:28And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
26:29That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.
26:30And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.
26:31And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
26:32And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.
26:33And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional Jewish and Christian author of Genesis as part of the Pentateuch. Genesis itself does not explicitly identify its writer. Biblical references: John 5:46; Mark 12:26. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Genesis 26:1–26:35): Isaac, Rebekah, Abimelech, and their neighboring herdsmen are the principal human participants. The LORD's promises are addressed to Isaac. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel, the covenant people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were the first community for whom this account of their origins was preserved. An exact first circulation date or named recipient is not established. Biblical references: Genesis 12:1; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 35:10. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? The LORD appears to Isaac and reaffirms the covenant promises of blessing and multiplication of his seed, for Abraham's sake.
What is God revealing? God reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, affirming His faithfulness to His covenant promises to bless Isaac, multiply his descendants, and be with him, all for the sake of His servant Abraham.
What is the literary style? Narrative history, specifically a divine address or oracle.
When
When was it written? Approximately 1440 to 1400 B.C.
When does the event take place? During Isaac's lifetime, specifically the night after he arrived in Beersheba, following his departure from Gerar and the digging of wells.
Where
Where did it happen? Beersheba.
Where was the author located? The Wilderness of Sinai.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in God's Covenant with Isaac and His Sojourn in Gerar and Beersheba (Genesis 26:1 to Genesis 26:33).
Start reading at Genesis 26:1. The narrative begins with Isaac's move to Gerar due to famine and details his interactions and God's initial promises, leading up to this reaffirmation and the establishment of Beersheba.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage reaffirms the covenant promises made to Abraham and reiterated to Isaac earlier in the chapter, providing divine assurance and comfort to Isaac during a period of relocation and conflict with the Philistines. It precedes Isaac building an altar and calling upon the LORD. stated in the text
How does it point to Christ? The promise to multiply Isaac's 'seed' and bless him, for Abraham's sake, ultimately points to the singular 'seed' of Abraham, Jesus Christ, through whom all the nations of the earth are blessed. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Believers today can find comfort in God's enduring faithfulness to His promises, His constant presence, and His blessing, even amidst life's challenges and uncertainties. interpretation
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. Elsewhere Scripture attributes the Law to Moses, and Jesus calls it the book of Moses. Exodus 17:14Joshua 8:31Mark 12:26John 5:46
Early traditionJewish tradition (Talmud, Baba Bathra 14b) and the early church assign the first five books to Moses.
What is debatedSome scholars propose several later sources behind the Pentateuch. A few notes appear to be written after Moses, such as the list of kings in Genesis 36:31.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Genesis 26
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Genesis introduces creation, the nations, and the ancestral family of Israel. It does not name a recipient or give a composition date. Read the promises to named people in their narrated settings before applying them to later readers. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Family rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
Connection to the wholeFamily rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
Connection to the wholeFamily rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
Connection to the wholeFamily rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Family rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Genesis
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Genesis introduces creation, the nations, and the ancestral family of Israel. It does not name a recipient or give a composition date. Read the promises to named people in their narrated settings before applying them to later readers.
Connection to the wholeThe opening establishes God as Creator, describes human rebellion and its consequences, and traces the nations before narrowing the account to Abram's family.
Connection to the wholeThe narrative concentrates on God's promises to Abraham, the birth of Isaac, and the continuation of the family through whom the earlier promise is carried forward.
Connection to the wholeFamily rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
Connection to the wholeJoseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.