25
He builtוַיִּבֶןthereשָׁםan altarמִזְבֵּחַand called onוַיִּקְרָאthe nameבְּשֵׁםof YHWH,יְהוָהand pitchedוַיֶּטhis tentאָהֳלוֹthere,שָׁםand thereשָׁםIsaac’sיִצְחָקservantsעַבְדֵיdugוַיִּכְרוּa well.בְּאֵר
Genesis 26:25
Study it in the app“He built there an altar and called on the name of YHWH, and pitched his tent there, and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 26:25, word by word
- He builtיִּבֶןyiven
build
To raise a house, a city or an altar, setting stone on stone.
Where else “yiven” appears- an altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbeach
altar
Altar: a structure of stone or earth on which sacrifices are offered to God.
Where else “mizbeach” appears- and 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- and pitchedיֶּטyet
stretch out
To reach out the hand, or set up a tent.
Where else “yet” appears- his tentאָהֳלahol
tent
A home of cloth or skins on poles, where herdsmen lived; also one's home.
Where else “ahol” appears- 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- dugיִּכְרוּyichru
dig
To dig a well or a grave.
Where else “yichru” appears- a wellבְּאֵרbeer
well
A deep hole dug in the ground to draw water.
Where else “beer” appears
The context
24YHWH appeared to him that night and said, “I am the Elohim of Abraham your father. Do not be afraid, for I am with you, and I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of Abraham my servant.”
25 · This verse (above)
26Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his friend and Phicol, the commander of his army.
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?