Genesis 13:2 kjv
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 13:2 nkjv
Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 13:2 niv
Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
Genesis 13:2 esv
Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 13:2 nlt
(Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.)
Genesis 13 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great..." | God's promise to bless Abram. |
| Gen 12:16 | "He treated Abram well for her sake; and Abram had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, female donkeys, male servants, female servants, and camels." | Source of some of Abram's wealth from Pharaoh. |
| Gen 13:5 | "And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents." | Lot's wealth mirrored Abram's, leading to conflict. |
| Gen 13:6-7 | "...the land could not support both of them living together... for their possessions were so great." | Abram's wealth became a reason for separation. |
| Gen 24:35 | "The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants..." | Abraham's servant acknowledging God's blessing. |
| Gen 26:12-14 | "...Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him... he had possessions of flocks and herds and many..." | Isaac's wealth as a continuation of God's blessing. |
| Deut 8:18 | "You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth..." | God as the ultimate source of wealth. |
| 1 Sam 2:7 | "The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low, He also lifts up." | God's sovereignty over economic status. |
| Job 1:3 | "...he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys... This man was the greatest of all the people of the East." | Job's immense wealth described similarly. |
| Job 42:10 | "...the LORD restored Job's losses... and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." | Divine restoration and increase in wealth. |
| Ps 112:1-3 | "Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever." | Righteous living associated with prosperity. |
| Prov 10:22 | "The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it." | God's blessing brings true prosperity without trouble. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits... Then your barns will be filled..." | Connection between generosity and divine provision. |
| Eccl 5:19 | "As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his portion..." | Wealth as a gift from God to be enjoyed. |
| Mal 3:10-12 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... test me now in this... if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing..." | Tithing leading to overflowing blessing, even material. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." | Caution against materialism; focus on eternal wealth. |
| Luke 12:15 | "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." | Warning against equating life with material abundance. |
| Luke 18:24-25 | "...how hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle..." | Difficulty for the rich to enter God's kingdom. |
| 1 Tim 6:6-10 | "Godliness with contentment is great gain... For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil..." | Contentment is key; dangers of loving money. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed... For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." | Abram's ultimate treasure was not earthly but heavenly. |
| 2 Cor 8:9 | "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." | Christ's sacrifice provides spiritual wealth. |
| Jas 5:1-3 | "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten." | Warning to those who hoard wealth unjustly. |
| Rev 21:21, 27 | "The twelve gates were twelve pearls... and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass... nothing unclean will ever enter it." | Heavenly Jerusalem depicted with precious materials. |
Genesis 13 verses
Genesis 13 2 Meaning
Genesis 13:2 describes Abram's significant prosperity immediately following his return from Egypt to Canaan. He possessed vast material resources, specifically in livestock (which represented his primary capital and mobility), silver (a common form of currency and stored wealth), and gold (a high-value metal signifying immense riches). This verse highlights Abram's status as a very wealthy individual, setting the stage for the subsequent narrative.
Genesis 13 2 Context
Genesis 13:2 immediately follows Abram's departure from Egypt and his return to Bethel, where he had initially built an altar to the Lord (Gen 12:8). His brief detour to Egypt due to famine (Gen 12:10) had led to a troubling episode involving his wife Sarai and Pharaoh. Despite this moral lapse, God protected Sarai, and Pharaoh, unwittingly, enriched Abram with lavish gifts (Gen 12:16) as he sent him away. Thus, Abram's wealth described in 13:2 is, in part, a direct consequence of Pharaoh's actions, yet ultimately falls within the broader context of God's initial promise to bless Abram (Gen 12:2). This verse highlights that despite his failures, God's promise and favor remained with him. The significant wealth also sets the stage for the immediate conflict between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen, as the land cannot sustain their combined flocks, necessitating their separation and leading to God's renewed promise of the land to Abram alone (Gen 13:14-17).
Genesis 13 2 Word analysis
- And Abram: Identifies the patriarch who is the subject of God's covenant. Abram signifies "exalted father," foreshadowing his future status as "father of a multitude" (Abraham).
- was: A simple past tense verb indicating his state or condition at that time.
- very: From the Hebrew
mə’ōḏ(מְאֹד). This intensifier means "exceedingly," "greatly," or "to a great degree." It emphasizes the sheer scale of Abram's wealth. It signifies not merely a little but an exceptional quantity, distinguishing him. - rich: From the Hebrew
kāḇēḏ(כָּבֵד), which literally means "heavy." In this context, it metaphorically denotes being "heavy with possessions," thus wealthy or honored. It conveys substance and weight of possessions, not just superficial abundance. It connects wealth with "weightiness" or significance, which in ancient cultures was tied to status and influence. - in livestock: From the Hebrew
miqneh(מִקְנֶה). This term refers to purchased possessions, particularly flocks and herds. Livestock, including sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys, represented the primary form of wealth and capital in nomadic and semi-nomadic societies of the ancient Near East. They provided food, milk, wool, transportation, and labor, signifying self-sufficiency and economic power. - in silver: From the Hebrew
kesep̄(כֶּסֶף). Silver was the primary medium of exchange and a standard of value in the ancient world before coined money. It was typically weighed, not counted, signifying a store of movable wealth and purchasing power for land, goods, or servants. It indicates a liquid, tradeable form of assets. - and in gold: From the Hebrew
zāhāḇ(זָהָב). Gold was the most precious and highly valued metal. It was used for adornment, sacred objects, and as a store of immense wealth, particularly for the elite. Its presence signifies ultimate luxury and extreme prosperity.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Abram was very rich: This phrase establishes Abram's material status as exceptionally wealthy, underscoring God's blessing on him even after the challenging incident in Egypt. It serves as a direct fulfillment, in part, of the earlier divine promise to make him "great" (Gen 12:2).
- in livestock, in silver, and in gold: This triple declaration outlines the diverse nature of Abram's assets. It covers both productive capital (livestock, representing the basis of his pastoral economy and mobile wealth) and highly valuable precious metals (silver and gold, representing liquid assets and luxury wealth). This detailed enumeration emphasizes the comprehensive nature of his prosperity and confirms his elevated standing in the regional economy, indicative of divine favor and the ability to maintain a large household.
Genesis 13 2 Bonus section
- The wealth mentioned in this verse is not merely an indicator of personal luxury for Abram, but foundational for sustaining his large household, which included servants and retainers. This was essential for his security and status in a nomadic society, as well as for his ability to travel and operate freely within the land.
- In the ancient Near East, personal wealth was closely tied to a patriarch's ability to host guests, provide for his family, and conduct himself as a respected figure, as seen in later accounts such as Abraham's purchase of the field for Sarah's burial (Gen 23).
- While wealth is often a sign of God's blessing in the Old Testament, the very next verses (Gen 13:5-7) show how it can also be a source of tension and division. This illustrates a recurring biblical theme: blessings, if not managed with wisdom and integrity, can present challenges.
- The type of wealth (livestock, silver, gold) directly reflects the economic reality of the Bronze Age, reinforcing the historical grounding of the narrative. Livestock represents agricultural and pastoral prosperity, while silver and gold symbolize commercial and accumulated capital.
Genesis 13 2 Commentary
Genesis 13:2 succinctly states Abram's material abundance upon his return to Canaan. This declaration of his immense wealth—in livestock, silver, and gold—is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it underscores the continuing faithfulness of God's promise to bless Abram (Gen 12:2), even despite the moral compromises made in Egypt. Pharaoh’s involuntary contributions (Gen 12:16) became an unexpected conduit of divine provision. Secondly, this wealth established Abram as a person of considerable influence and stature in his time, allowing him to maintain a large household and signifying a visible mark of God’s favor. Lastly, and most immediately within the narrative, this substantial wealth, alongside that of Lot, directly leads to the conflict between their herdsmen (Gen 13:5-7). This conflict necessitates their separation, thereby preparing the way for God to reconfirm and expand His covenant promises specifically to Abram regarding the land. Abram's wealth, therefore, is not merely descriptive; it's a dynamic element that propels the unfolding narrative of God's covenant with him.