19
Isaac’sיִצְחָקservantsעַבְדֵיdugוַיַּחְפְּרוּin the valleyבַּנָּחַלand foundוַיִּמְצְאוּthereשָׁםa wellבְּאֵרof livingחַיִּיםwater.מַיִם
Genesis 26:19
Study it in the app“Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of living water.”
Isaac leaves disputed wells and digs another until there is roomConflict and Reconciliation
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 26:19, word by word
- Isaac’sיִצְחָקyitschak
Isaac
Isaac, the son promised to Abraham and Sarah, father of Esau and Jacob. His name means "he laughs" (Genesis 17:17, 19; 21:6).
Where else “yitschak” appears- servantsעַבְדֵיavde
servant
Someone who works for another, or a king's official.
Where else “avde” appears- dugיַּחְפְּרוּyachpru
dig
To make a well or a pit in the ground.
Where else “yachpru” appears- in the valleyנָּחַלnachal
valley
The hollow the water runs through.
Where else “nachal” appears- and foundיִּמְצְאוּyimtsu
find
To come upon what one seeks, or something not expected.
Where else “yimtsu” appears- a wellבְּאֵרbeer
well
A deep hole dug in the ground to draw water.
Where else “beer” appears- of livingחַיִּיםchayim
raw
Literally "living": running water, uncooked meat.
Where else “chayim” appears- waterמַיִםmayim
water
Water: for drinking, of rivers or seas.
Where else “mayim” appears
The context
18Isaac again dug the wells of water that they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped up after the death of Abraham; and he called them by names like the names by which his father had called them.
19 · This verse (above)
20The herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they had contended with him.
To study Genesis 26 in a group
1. What it says
What did YHWH promise Isaac, and what happened with the wells he dug (vv. 2-5, 18-22)?
2. What it means
What did Isaac say when he named the well Rehoboth, the one they did not quarrel over, and what does that show about his attitude (vv. 20-22)?
3. How I live it
How can you respond with peace the next time someone disputes something that is yours?