Genesis 13:4 kjv

Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 13:4 nkjv

to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 13:4 niv

and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 13:4 esv

to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 13:4 nlt

This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the LORD again.

Genesis 13 verses

Genesis 13 4 Meaning

Genesis 13:4 signifies Abram's spiritual return and renewed devotion to the Lord following his journey back from Egypt. It highlights his intentional movement to the sacred spot where he had previously built an altar and first invoked the covenant name of God. This act marks a re-establishment of his relationship with YHWH through worship and invocation after a period of moral compromise and human endeavor in Egypt. It underscores the importance of foundational faith experiences and continuous, heartfelt communion with God.

Genesis 13 4 Context

Genesis chapter 13 immediately follows Abram's detour to Egypt due to a famine (Gen 12:10). While in Egypt, Abram displayed a lack of faith and compromised his integrity by misrepresenting Sarai as his sister, endangering his wife and potentially the promised lineage. Though he exited Egypt enriched (Gen 13:2), his faith had been tested and revealed its weaknesses. Chapter 13 begins with Abram's deliberate journey back to the Negev and then up to Bethel (Gen 13:1-3), precisely retracing his steps to the initial geographical and spiritual points of encounter with God. Verse 13:4 marks the culmination of this retracing, indicating a spiritual re-alignment and re-consecration after a period of human fallibility. This return signifies a priority of spiritual grounding over worldly gains.

Genesis 13 4 Word analysis

• Unto the place: אֶל־מְקוֹם (el-maqom). Maqom signifies a specific, designated location. It is not just any place but the exact spot of previous encounter, emphasizing the continuity and significance of sacred ground and spiritual memory.

• Of the altar: הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (hammizbeakh). Mizbeakh derives from the root zabah (to slaughter or sacrifice). An altar was the focal point of worship and communion with God through sacrifice. Its presence signifies devotion and an acknowledgment of God's authority and provision.

• Which he had made there: אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה שָׁם (asher-asah sham). Asah means "made" or "did." This highlights Abram's personal agency in constructing the altar, demonstrating his commitment. The "there" emphasizes its specific and remembered location.

• At the first: בָּרִאשֹׁנָה (barishonah). This temporal phrase stresses the original, initial, or former time (referring to Gen 12:7-8). It underscores the act as a return to a foundational, pioneering spiritual moment, suggesting remembrance and restoration.

• And there: וְשָׁם (ve-sham). This reinforces the significance of the specific location as the site for continued spiritual activity.

• Abram called: אַבְרָם קָרָא (Avram qara). Qara (to call) here is profound. It's an intentional invocation.

• On the name of the Lord: בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה (be-shem YHWH). This is a crucial phrase. Be-shem ("on/in the name of") coupled with YHWH (the covenant name of God, indicating His personal, self-existent, and relational nature).

  • "Called on the name of YHWH": This is more than merely uttering a name. It is a profound act of worship, involving:
    • Invocation and Supplication: Seeking God's presence, attention, and intervention.
    • Proclamation: Publicly declaring allegiance to YHWH, setting Him apart from other gods, and affirming His character.
    • Identification: Aligning oneself with God, acknowledging His ownership and covenant relationship.
    • Dedication and Worship: An act of prayer, devotion, and surrender, often accompanied by sacrifice. It is a deeply personal and corporate spiritual expression.
    • It stands as a stark contrast to the polytheism and idolatry prevalent in the ANE, implicitly presenting YHWH as the exclusive God.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first": This phrase meticulously traces Abram's physical and spiritual journey. It emphasizes memory and the sacredness of past encounters with God. It represents a spiritual landmark, a place of personal history with God. It shows that even after a deviation, returning to the point of origin in faith is essential for restoration.
  • "and there Abram called on the name of the Lord": This climax of the verse describes Abram's fundamental act of faith and worship. It signifies his re-centering himself on God, consciously abandoning the self-reliance exhibited in Egypt and re-engaging in direct communion with YHWH. This calling is an act of covenant renewal and heartfelt reliance.

Genesis 13 4 Bonus section

The repeated building of altars and calling on the name of YHWH by Abram (and later Isaac and Jacob) signifies portable, personal worship spaces that defined their pilgrim walk before a centralized tabernacle or temple existed. These altars marked places of revelation, promise, and personal communion. Abram's return to this specific altar emphasizes the continuity of his faith even through periods of failure. It teaches that even when we stumble or are led astray, God's grace invites us to return to the last place where we genuinely met Him and to resume our worship and commitment there. It underscores that true prosperity in God's eyes is found not in material gain (like Abram's newfound Egyptian wealth) but in renewed spiritual intimacy and reliance upon His name. This foundational act also establishes the Abrahamic covenant line as one uniquely characterized by calling upon and serving the One True God, distinct from the polytheistic world around them.

Genesis 13 4 Commentary

Genesis 13:4 offers a powerful insight into the journey of faith. Abram, having recently faltered in Egypt, returns not to mere prosperity, but to the very spiritual epicenter of his call: the altar at Bethel. This is more than a geographical move; it is a spiritual reset. The meticulously described return to "the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first" underscores the principle of spiritual foundations. Our walk with God often requires a deliberate returning to the "first love" (Rev 2:5) or the initial place of encounter and dedication when we have strayed. The act of "calling on the name of the Lord" is not a casual utterance but a profound invocation—a public and personal reaffirmation of absolute dependence and devotion to YHWH. It encompasses worship, prayer, praise, and an appeal for divine presence and intervention. After the pragmatic compromises of Egypt, Abram demonstrates true repentance not by explicit words of confession, but by resuming the life of deep, covenantal worship that defined his early faith. This verse teaches that restoration comes not through accumulation of wealth, but through the sincere and public return to worship and dependence upon God's covenant name.