Genesis 21:31 kjv

Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

Genesis 21:31 nkjv

Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.

Genesis 21:31 niv

So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.

Genesis 21:31 esv

Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath.

Genesis 21:31 nlt

Then he named the place Beersheba (which means "well of the oath"), because that was where they had sworn the oath.

Genesis 21 verses

Genesis 21 31 Meaning

This verse recounts Abraham naming a specific location "Beer-sheba" because it was the place where he and Abimelech mutually swore an oath, thereby solidifying their agreement over the rights to a well. The name "Beer-sheba" is explicitly interpreted as "Well of the Oath" in this context, commemorating a solemn covenant.

Genesis 21 31 Context

Genesis chapter 21 unfolds with the miraculous birth of Isaac and the subsequent banishment of Hagar and Ishmael. Amidst these deeply personal family events, the narrative shifts to Abraham's interaction with Abimelech, the king of Gerar. This portion highlights the crucial matter of water rights in an arid region, a common source of conflict in the ancient Near East. Abraham had dug a well, but Abimelech's servants had seized it. The ensuing negotiation and oath-swearing at the well form a covenant of peace and define the ownership of the well. This agreement secured Abraham's standing and rights within the land of Canaan, fulfilling aspects of God's promise to establish him in that territory. The naming of Beer-sheba solidifies the legal and historical significance of this covenant.

Genesis 21 31 Word analysis

• "Therefore" (Hebrew: עַל-כֵּן, 'al-ken): This connective introduces a direct consequence, indicating that the naming of the place is a natural and intended result of the preceding actions and agreement between Abraham and Abimelech. It signals a foundational event.

• "he called" (Hebrew: וַיִּקְרָא, vayyiqra): This signifies an act of authoritative naming. In the biblical narrative, to name something often denotes ownership, establishment, or recognition of its essence. Abraham's action establishes the identity of this significant location.

• "that place" (Hebrew: הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, hammaqōm hahū'): Refers to the specific geographical spot where the dispute over the well and the subsequent oath took place. It marks the location as particularly noteworthy in Abraham's history and in the unfolding of God's promises.

• "Beer-sheba" (Hebrew: בְּאֵר שָׁבַע, Be'er Shava'): This proper noun means "Well of an Oath," combining be'er (well) and shava' (to swear/oath). The verse explicitly attributes this meaning to the place. Although the Hebrew word for "seven" (sheva') is linguistically similar, linking to the seven lambs Abraham gave as witness (Gen 21:28-30), the immediate textual interpretation strongly favors "oath" as the primary reason for its naming in this passage.

• "because" (Hebrew: כִּי, ki): This conjunction introduces the causal reason for the naming. It points directly to the core event—the swearing of the oath—as the definitive moment that defines the identity of Beer-sheba.

• "there" (Hebrew: שָׁם, sham): This adverb of place reinforces the geographical specificity, linking the name of the place directly to the very location where the solemn covenant was made.

• "they both" (Hebrew: שְׁנֵיהֶם, shenêhem): Refers to Abraham and Abimelech. This emphasis on "both" highlights the mutual and binding nature of the agreement, signifying a reciprocal act of covenant-making, important for peace and property rights.

• "swore an oath" (Hebrew: נִשְׁבְּעוּ, nishbe'u): The root shaba' denotes the act of taking an oath or binding oneself by an oath. An oath in ancient cultures was a deeply solemn act, often invoking divine witness, thereby rendering the agreement sacred and unbreakable. It confirms a legal and morally binding agreement.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Therefore he called that place Beer-sheba": This phrase underlines Abraham's definitive act of establishing the name of a place that would become profoundly significant in Israelite history, asserting a claim over the land through a named memorial.
  • "because there they both swore an oath": This explanatory clause provides the theological and historical foundation for the place's name, emphasizing the critical role of solemn, binding covenants in establishing relationships and validating rights, reflective of God's own covenant-making nature.

Genesis 21 31 Bonus section

The interplay between the Hebrew words for "oath" (שָׁבַע, shava') and "seven" (שֶׁבַע, sheva') is a profound linguistic and theological element associated with Beer-sheba. While Genesis 21:31 explicitly links the name to the oath, the presence of seven ewe lambs (Gen 21:28-30) as a witness strongly alludes to the numerical significance of seven—a number of completeness, perfection, and covenant in the ancient Near East. This suggests a rich double entendre embedded within the name itself, indicating that the place signifies not only a sworn agreement but perhaps a complete and perfect one. This site became a regular pilgrimage or stopping point for the patriarchs, indicating its established spiritual significance. Isaac later reconfirms the well's name in Gen 26:33, following a similar oath with Abimelech, solidifying its identity for generations to come.

Genesis 21 31 Commentary

Genesis 21:31 marks the historical and symbolic genesis of Beer-sheba, a name deeply embedded in the narrative of Abraham and, later, Israel's geographical and spiritual identity. The explicit meaning, "Well of the Oath," directly connects the place to the solemn covenant forged between Abraham and Abimelech. This was not merely an act of land acquisition but a formal agreement that brought peace and security regarding essential resources. By naming it in remembrance of an oath, Abraham consecrated the site as a testimony to integrity and binding agreements, reflecting the faithfulness inherent in divine covenants. Beer-sheba subsequently served as a significant patriarchal hub, a boundary marker for Israel (from "Dan to Beer-sheba"), and a place where God often revealed Himself, highlighting the enduring impact of this initial, defining act. This teaches the importance of honoring agreements, even with those outside one's immediate community, and how divinely guided human actions can establish lasting peace and presence.