Genesis 26:12 kjv

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

Genesis 26:12 nkjv

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.

Genesis 26:12 niv

Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.

Genesis 26:12 esv

And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him,

Genesis 26:12 nlt

When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him.

Genesis 26 verses

Genesis 26 12 Meaning

Genesis 26:12 reveals God's powerful provision and blessing upon Isaac. Amidst a widespread famine, Isaac sowed seeds in the Philistine land of Gerar, as the Lord had instructed him not to depart from the region. Against all natural agricultural expectations, especially during a time of scarcity, he reaped an unprecedented hundredfold harvest in that same year. This extraordinary abundance was directly attributed to the Lord's supernatural favor and fulfillment of His covenant promises to Abraham's descendant, Isaac. It demonstrates God's ability to bless His faithful in adverse circumstances, turning human effort into divine overflowing fruitfulness.

Genesis 26 12 Context

Genesis chapter 26 unfolds with a severe famine afflicting the land (v. 1). Unlike his father Abraham who went to Egypt during a famine, Isaac considered going there but was directly instructed by the Lord to "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you" (v. 2). God reiterated the covenant promises of land, multitude of descendants, and universal blessing (v. 3-4), specifically linking them to Abraham's obedience (v. 5). Isaac obeyed, remaining in Gerar, a Philistine city, even lying about his wife Rebekah due to fear, as Abraham had done. Despite this imperfection, God's faithfulness to His covenant promises remained. The context immediately surrounding verse 12 shows Isaac "dwelling in that land" (v. 6), fearing for his life, but protected by God even through Abimelech's edict (v. 11). It is after Isaac commits to staying and obeying God's instruction, within the famine-stricken land, that he takes the step of faith to sow, and God responds with the supernatural hundredfold blessing. This profound blessing then leads to Philistine envy and contention in the following verses (v. 13-16).

Genesis 26 12 Word analysis

• Then: Signifies a chronological progression, following Isaac's obedience to God's instruction to remain in Gerar despite the famine.
• Isaac: The son of Abraham, chosen by God to inherit the covenant promises. His actions here demonstrate an act of faith and labor, despite the challenging circumstances.
• sowed (יִזְרַע - yizra'): To scatter seed, to plant. This highlights Isaac's active participation and trust in God's promise rather than passive waiting or reliance solely on gathered provisions. It implies a venture of faith, investing resources into an uncertain outcome given the famine.
• in that land (בָּאָרֶץ הַהִוא - ba'aretz hahiw): Refers to Gerar, the specific place God commanded Isaac to stay. The fertility of this land was naturally diminished by the famine, making the subsequent harvest even more miraculous and indicative of divine intervention, not inherent land productivity.
• and reaped (וַיִּמְצָא - vayim'tsa'): This Hebrew verb means "and he found," "he obtained," or "he acquired." It is less about the act of cutting down crops (qatsar) and more about the result – what he came to possess. This suggests that the abundant yield was easily obtained, almost unexpectedly or as a fortunate discovery, emphasizing the divine ease and lack of struggle associated with the blessing, rather than just laborious harvesting.
• in the same year (בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִוא - bashanah hahiw): Highlights the immediacy and specificity of the blessing. The extraordinary yield happened rapidly, confounding natural expectations for recovery after famine, and pointing to supernatural agency.
• a hundredfold (מֵאָה שְׁעָרִים - me'ah she'arim): Literally "a hundred measures/gates." She'arim can refer to a gate, a unit of measure for grain, or a proportional yield. A hundredfold return was exceedingly rare and considered a miraculous harvest in ancient agriculture, where typical returns might be five to tenfold, and even thirtyfold was remarkable. This numerical specificity emphasizes the unparalleled nature of God's blessing.
• and the Lord (וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ יְהוָה - vay'varechehu YHWH): Identifies the precise source of the blessing: Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This directly attributes the supernatural yield to divine favor and power, not to Isaac's agricultural skill, the land's natural fertility, or any pagan deity worshipped for fertility (like Baal).
• blessed him (וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ - vay'varechehu): The blessing (barak) signifies an impartation of power and prosperity from God, resulting in material increase and success. This blessing extends beyond just the crops to Isaac's overall prosperity and influence (as seen in the following verses).

Words-group Analysis:

• "Then Isaac sowed in that land": This phrase underlines Isaac's obedient action rooted in faith. Despite the famine, he engaged in labor, showing trust in God's prior command to remain there and implied promise of sustenance. It was an investment made under difficult circumstances.
• "and reaped in the same year a hundredfold": This points to the supernatural outcome. The "finding" or "obtaining" of such an enormous, unprecedented return, in the very year of the sowing, is a clear sign of divine intervention and contradicts any purely natural agricultural expectation during a famine.
• "and the Lord blessed him": This is the ultimate cause and explanation for the extraordinary events. It attributes the entire miraculous yield and subsequent prosperity directly to the covenant-keeping God, YHWH. Without God's active blessing, such an outcome would be impossible, particularly in famine conditions.

Genesis 26 12 Bonus section

• This verse highlights the practical implications of covenant faithfulness. Isaac's blessing was not just spiritual but intensely practical and material, showing that God's covenant encompasses all aspects of life, including sustenance and prosperity.
• The overwhelming nature of the blessing (hundredfold) directly contrasts with the adversity (famine). This amplification emphasizes that God's blessings often far exceed human expectation or what natural circumstances would suggest. It's a miracle of abundance in scarcity.
• The immediate consequence of Isaac's blessing was not universal rejoicing, but envy from the Philistines (Gen 26:13-14), leading to conflict. This shows that divine favor, while wonderful for the recipient, can provoke jealousy and opposition from those outside the covenant, a theme common throughout biblical narrative.
• Isaac's act of sowing demonstrates responsible stewardship alongside faith. He didn't passively wait for manna but worked the land, illustrating that God often blesses our diligent efforts performed in alignment with His will.

Genesis 26 12 Commentary

Genesis 26:12 serves as a profound testimony to God's covenant faithfulness and His power to provide abundantly for His people, even in the direst circumstances. Isaac's decision to sow during a famine, in the very land where God had told him to stay, was an act of obedience and practical faith. It was not merely hoping for the best; it was engaging in labor consistent with the agrarian context, but trusting in divine oversight for the outcome. The "hundredfold" return transcends any normal agricultural yield, especially given the famine. This extreme level of increase vividly illustrates God's supernatural power overriding natural limitations. It declares that prosperity, when experienced by God's people, is ultimately His gift and direct doing, not merely the result of human skill, favorable conditions, or the capricious favor of local deities. This verse functions as a powerful polemic against any pagan fertility cults that might have been prevalent, establishing Yahweh as the sole and ultimate provider of all increase. Furthermore, it foreshadows New Testament teachings on sowing and reaping (e.g., 2 Cor 9:6), not merely as a human effort principle but as a dynamic tied to God's generous grace and blessing upon those who faithfully invest according to His will. It reminds us that our labor, however diligent, finds its true fruitfulness through divine enablement.