32
On that dayוַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּאIsaac’sיִצְחָקservantsעַבְדֵיcameוַיָּבֹאוּand toldוַיַּגִּדוּhimלוֹaboutעַל אֹדוֹתthe wellהַבְּאֵרthatאֲשֶׁרthey had dug,חָפָרוּand saidוַיֹּאמְרוּto him,לוֹ“We have foundמָצָאנוּwater.”מָיִם
Genesis 26:32
Study it in the app“On that day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 26:32, word by word
- On that dayיְהִיyehi
happen
For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.
Where else “yehi” appears- On that dayיּוֹםyom
day
The day, the hours of light, or a whole day.
Where else “yom” 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- cameיָּבֹאוּyavou
come
To come, arrive: "days are coming".
Where else “yavou” appears- and toldיַּגִּדוּyagidu
tell
To tell someone something he does not know or has not seen.
Where else “yagidu” appears- aboutאֹדוֹתodot
cause
Cause, reason: "because of".
Where else “odot” appears- the wellבְּאֵרbeer
well
A deep hole dug in the ground to draw water.
Where else “beer” appears- they had dugחָפָרוּchafaru
dig
To make a well or a pit in the ground.
Where else “chafaru” appears- and saidיֹּאמְרוּyomru
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomru” appears- “We have foundמָצָאנוּmatsanu
find
To come upon what one seeks, or something not expected.
Where else “matsanu” appears- waterמָיִםmayim
water
Water: for drinking, of rivers or seas.
Where else “mayim” appears
The context
31They rose early in the morning and swore one to another; and Isaac sent them away, and they went from him in peace.
32 · This verse (above)
33He called it Shibah; that is why the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
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?