Genesis 14:5 kjv

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

Genesis 14:5 nkjv

In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

Genesis 14:5 niv

In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim

Genesis 14:5 esv

In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

Genesis 14:5 nlt

One year later Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived and defeated the Rephaites at Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites at Ham, the Emites at Shaveh-kiriathaim,

Genesis 14 verses

Genesis 14 5 Meaning

Genesis 14:5 describes the initial phase of the military campaign led by Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam, against rebellious vassal cities in the fourteenth year of their subjugation. It details the formidable invading coalition's conquests, specifically listing the defeat of three significant, ancient peoples—the Rephaim, the Zuzim, and the Emim—in their respective strongholds east of the Jordan River. This verse establishes the scale and destructive power of the invading forces before their engagement with Lot and subsequently with Abraham.

Genesis 14 5 Context

Genesis chapter 14 describes the first extensive military conflict recorded in the Bible, a coalition of kings from the east against five rebellious city-states in the southern Jordan plain. Verse 5 specifically details the initial strategic movements of the invading forces. After 12 years of servitude, the cities of the Jordan plain, including Sodom and Gomorrah, rebelled against Chedorlaomer of Elam. In the 14th year, Chedorlaomer and his allies launched a punitive expedition. This verse specifies their campaign's focus prior to reaching the Jordan plain. They first targeted various indigenous, formidable peoples (Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim), primarily in the Transjordan region (east of the Jordan River), signifying their intent to secure their eastern flank and resources before confronting the main rebellious cities to the west. This geographical sweep highlights the power and extensive reach of Chedorlaomer's empire, establishing the menacing scale of the threat that would ultimately impact Lot and draw Abraham into the conflict. It also implicitly foreshadows God's future activity in dispossessing such peoples from the Promised Land for Israel.

Genesis 14 5 Word analysis

• And in the fourteenth year:
  • This phrase (וּבְאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה - ūḇə’arba‘ ‘eśrēh shānāh) provides a precise chronological marker, indicating that Chedorlaomer's invasion occurred exactly one year after the rebellious cities ceased their tribute in the thirteenth year (Gen 14:4). It underscores the immediacy and determination of the eastern kings' response to the rebellion, suggesting an established calendar or record-keeping.
• came:
  • The verb "came" (בָּא - ba') signifies purposeful movement and aggression. It denotes an offensive military action rather than a passive arrival.
• Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him:
  • This highlights the unified power and broad scope of the invading force. Chedorlaomer (כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר), king of Elam, is clearly the hegemon, with other kings acting as allies or vassals. Their collective presence underscores the immense power dynamic at play, representing a significant political and military force in the ancient Near East. This emphasizes the magnitude of the power Abraham would later confront.
• and smote:
  • The verb "smote" (הִכּוּ - hikku, from the root נָכָה nakah) is a strong term for striking, hitting, or decisively defeating in battle. It implies military conquest, often involving bloodshed and destruction, indicating that these listed peoples were thoroughly overcome and likely subjected or dispersed.
• the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim:
  • Rephaim: (הָרְפָאִים - ha-Rəfā’im) refers to an ancient, indigenous people inhabiting Canaan and Transjordan, frequently associated with unusually large stature, often translated as "giants." Their defeat here by Chedorlaomer foreshadows God enabling Israel to conquer similar formidable inhabitants of the land later (e.g., Og of Bashan, a remnant of the Rephaim). Their mention highlights the land's original inhabitants were not easily subdued, making Chedorlaomer's success notable.
  • Ashteroth-karnaim: A city identified with present-day Tel Ashtarah in Bashan, east of the Jordan. It was a cultic center dedicated to the goddess Ashtoreth (Ishtar/Astarte), symbolizing a strong religious and military presence that was nevertheless vulnerable to a superior force. The victory over a group in such a fortified and significant religious center demonstrates the invaders' might.
• and the Zuzim in Ham:
  • Zuzim: (הַזּוּזִים - ha-Zuzim) refers to another ancient tribal group inhabiting Transjordan. Deuteronomistic tradition identifies them with the "Zamzummim" (Deut 2:20-21), also described as giants, similar to the Emim and Anakim. This reinforces the pattern of formidable, pre-Israelite inhabitants being subjected to powerful foreign forces.
  • Ham: The exact location is debated but is generally understood to be a town in the territory of ancient Ammon, possibly near modern Ajlun in Transjordan. This further indicates the eastern kings' sweep across Transjordanian territories.
• and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim:
  • Emim: (וְאֵימִים - wə’Eimim) meaning "the dreadful ones" or "the terrible ones." They were described as giants, feared by surrounding peoples, and inhabiting the land later given to the Moabites (Deut 2:10-11). Their formidable reputation emphasizes the power of Chedorlaomer's coalition.
  • Shaveh-kiriathaim: "Plain of Kiriathaim." Kiriathaim was a significant city in Moabite territory (Num 32:37, Jer 48:1). The "plain" aspect might indicate a battle fought in a flat area near the city. This further extends the geographical range of the eastern kings' conquest southward into what would become Moabite land.

Words-group analysis:

• "And smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim": This sequential listing of defeated peoples and their locations forms a deliberate catalog of conquests. It maps out Chedorlaomer's victorious campaign through Transjordan before he turned to the Jordan plain. This systematic "smoting" of distinct, often giant-like tribes signifies the comprehensive and overwhelming military superiority of the eastern coalition. The defeat of these powerful native groups also subtly prepares the reader for God's later, even more decisive action through Israel to dispossess the inhabitants of the Promised Land. It sets a historical precedent for foreign powers influencing or dominating these lands, laying groundwork for future narratives of conquest and divine intervention.

Genesis 14 5 Bonus section

The specific listing of the "Rephaim, Zuzim, and Emim" in Transjordan, long before the Israelite conquest, indicates a pre-existing awareness of diverse, sometimes physically imposing, native populations in the Promised Land and surrounding regions. This suggests historical knowledge or traditions preserved in Genesis concerning these groups, whose remnants or related peoples (like the Anakim and Zamzummim) are later encountered by the Israelites under Moses and Joshua. Their mention here subtly underscores that the land promised to Abraham's descendants was not empty, nor its inhabitants weak, but already under complex human control and subject to inter-kingdom warfare, emphasizing the future miraculous nature of the Israelite conquest as a divine gift rather than a simple military feat. The conquest of these formidable peoples by an external force (Chedorlaomer) further serves as a narrative precursor to God's own methods of judging and dispossessing nations to make way for His covenant people.

Genesis 14 5 Commentary

Genesis 14:5 serves as a critical historical detail, setting the stage for Abraham's pivotal role in the wider conflict. It unveils the destructive efficiency and widespread influence of Chedorlaomer's coalition. By systematically defeating the Rephaim, Zuzim, and Emim – groups later recognized in Mosaic traditions as formidable, often giant-like indigenous inhabitants of Transjordan – the invaders demonstrate their overwhelming power. This preliminary sweep secured their flanks and established dominance over key regions before their direct confrontation with the rebellious cities of the plain. The inclusion of these specific, geographically distant conquests paints a vivid picture of the volatile political landscape and the extensive reach of Elamite power in Abraham's day. For the biblical reader, these early encounters with "giants" in the land also foreshadow the future conquest of Canaan by Israel, where similar powerful groups would be divinely dislodged. Thus, the verse highlights human dominion and strife, while subtly affirming God's overarching providence that allows such historical events to unfold, ultimately setting the stage for the narrative of Abraham's faith and God's faithfulness in protecting Lot and validating His covenant promises.