33
He plantedוַיִּטַּעa tamariskאֶשֶׁלin Beersheba,בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַעand thereוַ שָׁםhe called onיִּקְרָאthe nameבְּשֵׁםof YHWH,יְהוָהEl Olam.אֵל עוֹלָם
Genesis 21:33
Study it in the app“He planted a tamarisk in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of YHWH, El Olam.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 21:33, word by word
- He plantedיִּטַּעyita
plant
Plant; set firmly.
Where else “yita” appears- a tamariskאֶשֶׁלeshel
tamarisk
Tamarisk: a hardy desert tree that gives shade.
Where else “eshel” appears- in Beershebaבְאֵרveer
Beersheba
See it on the mapWhere else “veer” appears- he called onיִּקְרָאyikra
cry out
To shout to YHWH for help, call on his name.
Where else “yikra” appears- the nameשֵׁםshem
name of YHWH
YHWH's name: himself, as he makes himself known.
Where else “shem” appears- of YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- El Olamאֵלel
El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
Where else “el” appears- El Olamעוֹלָםolam
forever
Time without end, beyond what a lifetime can see.
Where else “olam” appears
Translation note
“El Olam” means “eternal God.” The text places it beside the name of YHWH: “he called there on the name of YHWH, El Olam.”
Places in this verse
Beersheba
Today: Beersheba (Be'er Sheva), Israel
A city at the southern edge of the land of Israel, in the Negev desert, about 47 miles (75 km) south of Jerusalem.
Abraham and Isaac made agreements there over a well (Gen 21:31; 26:33). "From Dan to Beersheba" meant the whole land.
The context
32So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines.
33 · This verse (above)
34Abraham resided as an alien in the land of the Philistines many days.
To study Genesis 21 in a group
1. What it says
What happened when Isaac was born, and what did Sarah say (vv. 1-7)?
2. What it means
What does it show about Elohim’s care that he heard the voice of the boy in the wilderness (vv. 17-19)?
3. How I live it
Whom that seems to be pushed aside can you give time and attention today?