Genesis 13:18 kjv

Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Genesis 13:18 nkjv

Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.

Genesis 13:18 niv

So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD.

Genesis 13:18 esv

So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Genesis 13:18 nlt

So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the LORD.

Genesis 13 verses

Genesis 13 18 Meaning

Genesis 13:18 describes Abram's relocation after separating from Lot, moving his dwelling from the plains of Jordan to the region of Mamre near Hebron. His immediate act upon settling was to build an altar to the LORD, signifying a continuous practice of worship, thanksgiving, and dedication to God in the land promised to him. This action establishes his commitment to God and acknowledges divine sovereignty over the territory.

Genesis 13 18 Context

Genesis 13:18 is situated immediately after Abram and Lot's separation due to their abundant livestock and escalating disputes between their herdsmen. Lot chose the well-watered Jordan Valley, looking towards Sodom and Gomorrah, places described as wicked in the LORD's sight. In contrast, after Lot's departure, the LORD reaffirms His covenant promises to Abram, instructing him to look from his current location in all directions, as all the land he could see would be given to him and his offspring. Abram is commanded to walk through the land, indicating a symbolic act of possession. Genesis 13:18 then describes Abram's obedient response to this divine command, his continued movement, and his characteristic act of worship by building an altar to the LORD. This establishes his settled place in the promised land and underscores his ongoing commitment to God amidst the practical realities of nomadic life and familial division.

Genesis 13 18 Word analysis

• Then Abram removed his tent: This indicates a deliberate action of dismantling and relocating. "Tent" (אֹהֶל - ohel) signifies his nomadic existence, yet this particular removal marks a settling, as described by "dwelt." It highlights his separation from Lot and his willingness to move in response to God's direction, a pattern of obedient itinerancy.
• and came and dwelt: "Dwelt" (וַיֵּשֶׁב - vayyeshev) implies a more prolonged and stable habitation than mere encampment. It signifies finding a home or a secure place to settle. This is distinct from Lot's continuous moving toward Sodom.
• by the terebinth trees of Mamre: "Terebinth trees" (אֵלֹנֵי - elonei), sometimes translated as "oaks," are large, long-lived trees often marking significant sites in ancient cultures, sometimes even associated with pagan worship. Here, they serve as a geographical landmark for a place connected to the Amorite Mamre, an ally of Abram (Gen 14:13). The location indicates a place of strategic importance and recognizable identification in the region.
• Mamre: (מַמְרֵא - Mamre) is a specific location in the Hebron region, becoming a consistent home for Abram and a site of future divine encounters (Gen 18:1) and the patriarchal burial plot (Machpelah, near Mamre, Gen 23). Its name means "fatness" or "strength," potentially referring to fertile ground or robust trees.
• which are in Hebron: "Hebron" (חֶבְרוֹן - Cheb̄rôn) means "confederacy" or "association." It is one of the oldest cities in the world, initially called Kiriath-Arba (Gen 23:2). Mentioning Hebron precisely locates Mamre and emphasizes its significance within the promised land. Hebron would become a vital city in Israel's history, notably a burial place for patriarchs and David's first capital.
• and built an altar there to the LORD:
  • built an altar: (וַיִּבֶן־שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ - vayyiven-sham mizbeach) An "altar" (mizbeach) is a structure for sacrifices and communion with God. Abram's consistent building of altars marks key stages in his journey of faith (Gen 12:7, 12:8). This act signifies dedication, calling upon God's name, public worship, and an act of claiming the land by consecrating it to God.
  • to the LORD: (לַיהוָה - la-YHWH) This explicitly identifies the God of Abram as Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It distinguishes Abram's worship from any surrounding pagan practices and emphasizes that his worship is solely directed toward the one true God, acknowledging His supremacy and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. This reiterates Abram's personal and covenantal relationship with the divine.

Genesis 13 18 Bonus Section

• Land Ownership & Sacred Space: While Abram did not yet legally possess the land, his acts of building altars consecrated these specific locations (Shechem, Bethel, Hebron) as sacred spaces and visible claims of God's future inheritance for his offspring. These altars effectively "marked" the land for God's purposes.
• Contrast with Pagan Practices: In the ancient Near East, trees and altars could be associated with pagan deities and fertility cults. By building an altar to the LORD by the "terebinth trees," Abram was actively countering or distinctively defining his monotheistic worship in contrast to prevalent polytheistic customs of the Canaanites. His altar was for worship and communication with YHWH, not for appeasing local spirits or idols.
• Patriarchal Tradition: The practice of building altars in key locations became a hallmark of the patriarchs (Isaac in Gen 26:25, Jacob in Gen 35:7), symbolizing their faith and dependence on the LORD wherever they journeyed or settled. This establishes a precedent for future generations regarding faithful living in the land.
• Hebron's Future: The location Hebron (and Mamre within it) became central to Israel's story. It was where Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob were buried in the Cave of Machpelah (Gen 49:30). It later served as a City of Refuge and was David's first capital (2 Sam 2:1-4). This initial act of worship by Abram therefore deeply rooted God's presence and covenant identity within this critically important biblical city.

Genesis 13 18 Commentary

Genesis 13:18 showcases Abram's response of faith and worship to God's renewed covenant promises. Following the pragmatic separation from Lot, which cleared the way for God's clear reiteration of the land promise, Abram doesn't merely relocate. Instead, he settles strategically at Mamre in Hebron, a fertile and well-known area in the promised land, thereby claiming a portion of it for himself and his descendants, just as God commanded him to "walk through" it (Gen 13:17). His immediate action upon settling, "built an altar there to the LORD," is paramount. This consistent practice of altar-building defines Abram's life, serving as a public declaration of his allegiance to YHWH, an act of consecration of the land, a point of communion, and a visible sign of thanksgiving for God's promises and provision. Unlike Lot who "pitched his tent toward Sodom" (Gen 13:12), drawn by its physical prosperity but spiritual peril, Abram grounds his dwelling in active worship and obedience to God, establishing a pattern of seeking God's presence at key moments of transition and settlement in the Promised Land. This choice not only marked a geographical location but sealed a spiritual commitment, cementing Mamre as a significant future site for divine encounters and familial history.