Genesis 21:27 kjv
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
Genesis 21:27 nkjv
So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.
Genesis 21:27 niv
So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty.
Genesis 21:27 esv
So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.
Genesis 21:27 nlt
Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made a treaty.
Genesis 21 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:18 | On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram... | God "cut" a covenant with Abraham. |
| Gen 26:28-30 | And they said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you... Let there now be an oath between us... and let us make a covenant with you..." | Isaac, Abraham's son, makes a similar covenant with Abimelech. |
| Gen 31:44 | "Come, let us make a covenant, you and I..." | Jacob and Laban make a covenant of peace. |
| Exo 24:8 | And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." | Covenant sealing with blood at Sinai. |
| Deut 29:1 | These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab... | The Mosaic covenant established. |
| Josh 9:6, 15 | And they came to Joshua... and said to him, "...make a covenant with us... Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live..." | Israel's covenant with the Gibeonites. |
| 1 Sam 23:18 | So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD... | Jonathan and David's loyal covenant. |
| 2 Sam 5:3 | So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them... | David's covenant with Israel's elders. |
| Jer 34:18-19 | And the men who transgressed My covenant... who cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—... the officials of Judah, and the officials of Jerusalem... | Illustrates the ritual of "cutting" a covenant. |
| Mal 2:14 | "Yet you say, 'For what reason?' Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant." | Marriage described as a covenant. |
| Eze 16:8 | "...and I swore to you and entered into a covenant with you,' declares the Lord GOD, 'and you became Mine.'" | God's covenant with Jerusalem/Israel. |
| Gen 17:10 | "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised." | Sign of Abrahamic covenant (circumcision). |
| Rom 4:9-12 | For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? Not after, but before. | Abraham's righteousness by faith, foundational to covenant. |
| Gal 3:15-18 | "...If a will is ratified, no one sets it aside or adds to it... God gave it to Abraham by a promise." | Covenant with Abraham preceding the Law. |
| Heb 8:6 | But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. | Jesus as mediator of a superior covenant. |
| Heb 9:15-22 | Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance... | Blood required for new covenant, through Christ. |
| Heb 10:16-17 | "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," | New covenant emphasizes internal transformation. |
| Matt 26:28 | "for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." | Christ's blood as the new covenant sacrifice. |
| Luke 22:20 | And in the same way He took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you." | The Lord's Supper symbolizing the new covenant. |
| 1 Cor 11:25 | In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." | Recalling the new covenant in communion. |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah..." | Prophecy of the New Covenant. |
| Gen 20:14 | Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male servants and female servants and gave them to Abraham... | Earlier gift of animals by Abimelech to Abraham. |
| Rom 1:31 | "foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." | Absence of "covenant keepers" as a moral indicator. |
| Isa 2:4 | "He shall judge between the nations... and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." | Ultimate peace, as secured by covenants. |
Genesis 21 verses
Genesis 21 27 Meaning
This verse describes a foundational act of establishing peace and clear boundaries between two powerful figures: Abraham, God's chosen patriarch, and Abimelech, the Philistine king of Gerar. Abraham provided sheep and oxen, symbolic of wealth and potential for covenant ritual, which facilitated a solemn agreement between them. The core meaning is the formation of a formal, binding covenant, indicating mutual recognition, respect, and a commitment to peaceful coexistence, particularly in light of previous disputes over resources.
Genesis 21 27 Context
Genesis 21:27 occurs amidst a period of settled interactions between Abraham and the local inhabitants, particularly King Abimelech. Prior to this verse, the focus of the chapter shifts from the birth of Isaac and the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael to a land dispute. Abimelech, acknowledging that God was with Abraham (as seen in Gen 20), sought to secure a long-term, non-aggression pact. The immediate preceding verse, Gen 21:26, highlights Abimelech's claim of ignorance regarding the seizure of Abraham's well by his servants (Gen 21:25). Verse 27, therefore, marks the formal act to rectify this dispute and ensure future peace. This is a crucial human-to-human covenant, mirroring the divine covenant model, intended to regulate resource access and establish mutual trust in a period before clearly defined national borders.
Genesis 21 27 Word analysis
- So: Implies a logical progression, connecting the resolution described in this verse to Abimelech's initiative and the dispute over the well mentioned just before. It signifies the start of the solution.
- Abraham: The patriarch chosen by God, central to the divine covenant promises. His actions here reflect both his earthly wisdom in navigating disputes and his commitment to honorable conduct, likely influenced by his covenant walk with God.
- took: (Hebrew: laqakh - לָקַח) More than passive reception; it suggests an intentional action of acquiring or choosing, implying purposefulness in gathering these animals for the specific act of covenant-making.
- sheep and oxen: (Hebrew: tso'n - צֹאן for sheep/goats, baqar - בָּקָר for cattle). These animals were primary forms of wealth in that nomadic society. Their transfer signifies substantial value, serving as a gift or offering to validate the solemnity of the agreement, and potentially as provisions for a covenant meal or as part of a sacrifice (though not explicitly stated as sacrificed here). They represent economic goodwill and peaceable intent.
- gave them: (Hebrew: natan - נָתַן) A direct act of transfer and presentation, signifying an acknowledgment of Abimelech's status and an initiation of the exchange, not merely compensation but a part of the ritualized covenant process.
- to Abimelech: The Philistine king of Gerar. This indicates a recognition of his authority and status in the land. The interaction between Abraham, God's servant, and Abimelech, a Gentile ruler, highlights the Abrahamic blessing that would extend through him to other nations.
- and the two of them: Emphasizes the mutual, reciprocal nature of this covenant. It was not a unilateral dictate but an agreement forged by both parties, signifying equal commitment and accountability.
- made a covenant: (Hebrew: karat b'rith - כָּרַת בְּרִית, literally "cut a covenant"). This is a critically important phrase in the Bible. It refers to an ancient practice of solemnly sealing an agreement, often by sacrificing an animal, cutting it into pieces, and the covenanting parties walking between the halves. This ritual underscored the severity of the oath: a breaker of the covenant would suffer the fate of the animal. It imparted gravity, symbolizing that life itself was pledged to the agreement's terms, with dire consequences for betrayal. This is distinct from a mere handshake or verbal promise, signifying an ultimate, life-binding commitment.
Genesis 21 27 Bonus section
- The "cutting a covenant" phrase is particularly potent. While animals are exchanged here, not explicitly sacrificed and cut in this specific verse, the idiom carries the weight of that practice, underscoring the deep commitment inherent in the agreement. It aligns with God's own covenant-making ritual with Abraham in Gen 15, signifying that Abraham was engaging in a most solemn and binding form of oath-taking, reflecting the divine example.
- This human covenant between Abraham and Abimelech serves as a microcosmic example of peaceful co-existence and diplomacy. It reflects Abraham's integrity and wisdom in managing conflicts through mutually binding agreements, which was crucial for his nomadic existence amidst various local powers.
- The re-occurrence of a similar covenant between Isaac and Abimelech in Gen 26 suggests that the terms of this original agreement were well-respected and had lasting impact on the relationship between Abraham's descendants and the Philistines of Gerar for a generation.
Genesis 21 27 Commentary
Genesis 21:27 is pivotal as it formalizes the relationship between Abraham and Abimelech through a deeply meaningful "cutting" of a covenant. The exchange of sheep and oxen by Abraham was not merely a gesture of generosity but an integral part of the ancient Near Eastern covenant-making ritual. This act underscored the solemnity of the agreement, highlighting a commitment of both resources and life itself. By establishing this covenant, Abraham, a sojourner blessed by God, secured practical peace, essential resources like water rights, and diplomatic recognition in the land where God had promised him a dwelling. The verse exemplifies how righteous living, guided by faith, can lead to harmonious and binding relationships even with those outside the immediate community of faith, reflecting a wise and practical application of Abraham's divinely favored status in the world. It provides a blueprint for honest negotiation and reliable commitments in inter-personal and inter-group relations.