Genesis 26:14 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 26:14 kjv
For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
Genesis 26:14 nkjv
for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.
Genesis 26:14 niv
He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.
Genesis 26:14 esv
He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.
Genesis 26:14 nlt
He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him.
Genesis 26 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| God's Blessing & Prosperity | ||
| Gen 12:2-3 | "I will make of you a great nation... I will bless those who bless you..." | Abrahamic covenant promise of blessing |
| Gen 13:2 | "Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold." | Abraham's earlier prosperity from God's blessing |
| Gen 24:35 | "...the Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become great..." | Abraham's servant acknowledging divine blessing |
| Gen 26:12 | "Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him." | Immediate context of God's direct blessing |
| Gen 30:43 | "So the man [Jacob] grew exceedingly prosperous..." | Jacob's similar increase in wealth due to blessing |
| Deut 8:18 | "...remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth..." | God as the source of all prosperity |
| Prov 10:22 | "The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." | Divine blessing leading to wealth |
| Psa 112:3 | "Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever." | Godly individuals blessed with prosperity |
| Envy (Examples & Warnings) | ||
| Gen 4:5-8 | "...Cain was very angry, and his face fell. ...And while they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel his brother..." | Cain's envy leading to murder |
| Gen 37:11 | "And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the saying in mind." | Joseph's brothers' envy due to his favor |
| 1 Sam 18:8-9 | "...Saul was very angry... And Saul eyed David from that day on." | Saul's envy of David's success |
| Prov 14:30 | "A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot." | Spiritual and physical destructiveness of envy |
| Mark 15:10 | "For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up." | Jesus betrayed due to envy |
| Rom 1:29 | "...full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice..." | Envy listed among unrighteous human behaviors |
| 1 Cor 3:3 | "...for since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh...?" | Envy as a mark of fleshly behavior |
| Gal 5:21 | "envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these..." | Envy as a work of the flesh |
| Jas 3:16 | "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." | Envy leading to chaos and evil |
| 1 Pet 2:1 | "So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander." | Command to put away sinful traits |
| Conflict & Resources | ||
| Gen 13:7 | "And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock." | Earlier dispute over resources |
| Gen 21:25-27 | "When Abraham reproved Abimelech concerning a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized..." | Abraham's conflict over a well in Gerar |
| Exod 1:7-12 | "...the people of Israel were fruitful... and the land was filled with them. ...Then a new king... said, "...let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply...'" | Pharaoh's fear and oppression due to Israel's growth |
| Neh 2:10 | "Now when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it grieved them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel." | Enemies distressed by God's people thriving |
Genesis 26 verses
Genesis 26 14 meaning
Gen 26:14 states that Isaac possessed immense wealth, comprising vast herds of sheep and goats, large numbers of cattle, and a significant body of servants or household retainers. This remarkable prosperity, directly attributed to God's blessing, caused deep envy among the Philistine inhabitants of Gerar, where Isaac resided.
Genesis 26 14 Context
Genesis chapter 26 chronicles Isaac's sojourn in Gerar during a severe famine, a scenario that echoes his father Abraham's experiences. God commands Isaac not to go to Egypt but to stay in the land promised to his descendants (Gen 26:1-3). God reiterates the Abrahamic covenant to Isaac, promising blessing, multiplication of his offspring, and possession of the land, all for Abraham's obedience (Gen 26:3-5). Living among the Philistines in Gerar, Isaac experiences prosperity that directly results from God's blessing (Gen 26:12-13). Verse 14 details the extent of this prosperity—immense wealth in livestock and human resources—which becomes the catalyst for the conflict described in the subsequent verses (Gen 26:15-16), where the Philistines act upon their envy by stopping up Isaac's wells. The context highlights divine faithfulness to the covenant despite hostile surroundings.
Genesis 26 14 Word analysis
- He had: This indicates a settled, acquired possession. It signifies Isaac's status as a proprietor rather than merely a temporary resident or nomad.
- possessions of flocks: (Hebrew: מִקְנֵה־צֹאן, miqneh-t͡son) Miqneh means acquired property, specifically livestock. T͡son refers to sheep and goats. In ancient Near Eastern societies, livestock represented the primary form of liquid wealth, social status, and means of survival. Isaac's wealth in this domain suggests vast holdings.
- and possessions of herds: (Hebrew: וּמִקְנֵה בָקָר, umiqneh baqar) The addition of baqar (cattle/oxen) signifies an even higher level of wealth. Cattle were valuable for meat, milk, and especially as draft animals for agriculture, indicating deeper economic infrastructure and capability. The repetition of "possessions of" emphasizes the sheer volume and Isaac's mastery over these assets.
- and many servants: (Hebrew: וַעֲבֻדָּה רַבָּה, va'avuddah rabbah) Avuddah refers to service or work, but in this context, "a large body of servants" or "much service." It signifies a substantial retinue of laborers, household staff, and possibly even armed retainers, akin to Abraham's 318 trained men (Gen 14:14). Such a large household was essential for managing extensive livestock and property, reflecting Isaac's substantial social power and practical influence beyond mere monetary wealth. It represented both economic capacity and security.
- so that: This conjunction clearly links Isaac's great prosperity to the consequence that follows.
- the Philistines: (Hebrew: פְּלִשְׁתִּים, P'lishtim) A settled people group dwelling in the fertile coastal plain. They had a structured society and fixed settlements, unlike the more nomadic patriarchal groups. Their reaction underscores the friction between an established power and a rapidly growing, divinely blessed foreign entity within their land. The portrayal here indirectly sets them as an opposing force to God's chosen.
- envied him: (Hebrew: וַיְקַנְאוּ אֹתוֹ, vayqan'u oto) The verb qana' means "to be zealous, jealous, envious." Here it denotes a destructive, hostile form of envy (Prov 27:4). This isn't merely admiration or healthy competition; it's a bitter resentment that often leads to malicious action (Jas 3:16). Their envy was the deep-seated emotional precursor to their active obstruction (stopping up wells, Gen 26:15) and expulsion (Gen 26:16). It speaks to human fallen nature and a spirit contrary to divine blessing.
Genesis 26 14 Bonus section
- The detail of "many servants" points to Isaac's ability to maintain and expand his enterprise, not just passive ownership. This workforce suggests a significant operational capacity, much like Abraham's self-sufficient household.
- This verse underscores the ancient perception of wealth not just in accumulated resources, but also in human assets—the "servants" were vital to managing the growing herds and thus integral to Isaac's increasing "greatness" (Gen 26:13).
- The conflict arising from envy here (Gen 26:15) sets a pattern for future interactions between the patriarchs/Israelites and other nations. The land (Gerar), wells (resources), and inherent opposition between God's chosen people and local powers foreshadow future disputes in the conquest era and beyond.
Genesis 26 14 Commentary
Genesis 26:14 provides a concrete manifestation of God's covenant blessing on Isaac. The immediate preceding verses establish Isaac's unparalleled agricultural success, and this verse elaborates on the broader scale of his accumulating wealth—not just a good harvest, but vast livestock and a substantial retinue. This immense prosperity, stemming solely from divine favor and not through human striving or cunning, served as undeniable proof of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises to Abraham and now Isaac (Gen 12:2-3, 26:3-5).
The significant takeaway, however, is the reaction of the Philistines. Isaac's blessings, while a sign of God's grace, evoked not admiration or peace but deep-seated envy. This highlights a recurring biblical theme: God's blessings often incur the animosity of those outside His covenant. The Philistines' envy speaks to the darker aspects of human nature (Rom 1:29, Gal 5:21), where prosperity in others can trigger malice and hostility rather than goodwill. This negative reaction directly precipitates the ensuing conflict, demonstrating how sin—even an internal emotion like envy—can lead to destructive actions, serving as a cautionary tale for all who witness others' success. For believers, it is a reminder that living under God's blessing may sometimes draw the world's resentment, requiring reliance on God for protection and guidance.