21
They dugוַיַּחְפְּרוּanotherאַחֶרֶתwell,בְּאֵרand they quarreledוַיָּרִיבוּover itעָלֶיהָtoo,גַּםso he calledוַיִּקְרָאits nameשְׁמָהּSitnah.שִׂטְנָה
Genesis 26:21
Study it in the app“They dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he called its name Sitnah.”
Isaac leaves disputed wells and digs another until there is roomConflict and Reconciliation
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 26:21, word by word
- They dugיַּחְפְּרוּyachpru
dig
To make a well or a pit in the ground.
Where else “yachpru” appears- anotherאַחֶרֶתacheret
other
Other, another; next.
Where else “acheret” appears- wellבְּאֵרbeer
well
A deep hole dug in the ground to draw water.
Where else “beer” appears- and they quarreledיָּרִיבוּyarivu
quarrel
To fight with words.
Where else “yarivu” appears- so he calledיִּקְרָאyikra
call
To raise the voice to someone so that he comes, or to invite him.
Where else “yikra” appears- its nameשְׁמָshema
name
The word by which a person, place or thing is called and recognized.
Where else “shema” appears- Sitnahשִׂטְנָהsitna
Sitnah
Sitnah, the name of a well. It means "hostility".
Where else “sitna” appears
Translation note
“Sitnah” means “hostility, accusation.”
The context
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.
21 · This verse (above)
22He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he called its name Rehoboth, and said, “For now YHWH has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
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?