Genesis 26:18 kjv

And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

Genesis 26:18 nkjv

And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them.

Genesis 26:18 niv

Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.

Genesis 26:18 esv

And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them.

Genesis 26:18 nlt

He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham's death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

Genesis 26 verses

Genesis 26 18 Meaning

Genesis 26:18 describes Isaac's deliberate act of reopening and re-digging the wells of water that had originally been dug by his father Abraham's servants. These wells, essential for life in the arid land, had been maliciously filled in by the Philistines after Abraham's death, symbolizing a forceful displacement and claim over valuable resources. Isaac's action demonstrates his perseverance, his reclaiming of his ancestral heritage, and his peaceful but firm reassertion of rights and legacy established by his father.

Genesis 26 18 Context

Genesis chapter 26 chronicles Isaac's sojourn in the land of the Philistines, specifically Gerar, during a famine. Following in his father Abraham's footsteps, he finds prosperity but also faces similar challenges, including deceit regarding his wife Rebekah and conflict with the local Philistines. The core tension in the chapter revolves around access to essential resources, primarily water, which in that arid region signified life, prosperity, and territorial rights. The Philistines, out of envy and possibly malice, actively filled in wells dug by Abraham. Isaac's response in verse 18 sets the tone for his character: rather than retaliating with force, he meticulously reclaims what was rightfully his by restoring the original wells. This act is not just about water but about reclaiming his legacy, asserting his right to the land promised by God, and patiently dealing with ongoing friction, a recurring theme leading up to the resolution in Beersheba.

Genesis 26 18 Word analysis

• And Isaac: Signifies continuity of lineage and promise. Isaac is portrayed as the legitimate heir to Abraham's blessing and inheritance. This points to the generational aspect of God's covenant.
• dug again: (Hebrew: châphar shûb - חָפַר שׁוּב). Chapar means 'to dig', shub means 'again' or 'to return'. This denotes a deliberate, repetitive action. It’s not about finding new wells, but restoring old ones. This signifies an act of patient retrieval and restoration rather than new conquest or forceful takeover. It is an affirmation of past rights and a refusal to yield them.
• the wells of water: (Hebrew: be'ērôt māyim - בְּאֵרֹת מָיִם). Wells were paramount in the Near East. They were vital for survival for people and livestock, marking boundaries, and asserting ownership over territory. Water was life. The be'ērôt were deep, permanent sources of water, implying significant labor and established infrastructure. They symbolize settled life and prosperity granted by God.
• which they had dug: Refers to Abraham's servants. This emphasizes the historical ownership and rightful claim established long before, validating Isaac’s inheritance.
• in the days of Abraham his father: Highlights the ancestral connection and Abraham's legacy. Isaac's actions are rooted in his heritage, demonstrating respect for his father's work and asserting the continuity of the Abrahamic covenant promises, particularly concerning the land and its resources. This reinforces his identity as the legitimate inheritor of the promise.
• for the Philistines: Identifies the antagonists. The Philistines were local inhabitants and rivals for resources. Their actions reflect hostility and territorial dispute, specifically targeting what rightfully belonged to the covenant people.
• had stopped them: (Hebrew: sātam - סָתַם). This verb means 'to stop up', 'to plug', 'to fill with earth'. It describes an intentional, malicious act designed to render the wells unusable and to dislodge the possessors. It's an act of sabotage and economic warfare. Spiritually, it can symbolize attempts by adversaries to cut off sources of blessing or truth.
• after the death of Abraham: The timing is significant. Abraham’s presence and renown provided a degree of protection. His death may have been seen by the Philistines as an opportune moment to aggressively assert their claim without fear of his powerful influence or God's direct intervention on his behalf, making Isaac's task more challenging and his perseverance more remarkable.

Words-group analysis:

• And Isaac dug again the wells of water: This phrase immediately establishes Isaac's methodical and persistent character. He is not discovering, but recovering, signifying a determination to maintain his rightful inheritance against adverse conditions.
• which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father: This entire clause links Isaac's actions directly to his paternal legacy. It underlines the importance of ancestral rights and the continuation of the divine promise passed from father to son. Isaac isn't just seeking water; he's restoring his family's established place and authority in the land.
• for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: This portion provides the direct conflict and motive for Isaac’s actions. It highlights the opposition faced by the people of God and the opportunistic nature of their adversaries. The Philistines' act was a territorial claim and an economic attack, attempting to sever Isaac’s ties to the land his father settled and which God had promised. Isaac’s patient reclaiming is a silent, but powerful, refutation of this hostile act.

Genesis 26 18 Bonus section

• Polemics: This passage subtly counters the common ancient Near Eastern practice of violent land grabbing. While the Philistines engaged in a form of territorial assertion by destroying existing resources, Isaac's response is one of patient re-establishment, reflecting a more divinely guided path of peaceable inheritance, asserting rights without resorting to armed conflict (until forced by extreme circumstances, which he ultimately avoided in this chapter by moving).
• Spiritual Application of "Dug Again": The act of re-digging can be seen as a spiritual metaphor for Christians needing to revisit and reclaim foundational truths and blessings of their faith. Just as the Philistines tried to "stop up" the physical wells, spiritual adversaries (or worldly influences) may seek to obscure or make inaccessible the "wells of salvation" (Isa 12:3), the "living water" (John 4:10-14), or the rich spiritual inheritance we have in Christ. Isaac's perseverance reminds believers to actively and continuously draw from the unchanging source of God's Word and Spirit.
• Isaac's Character: This verse offers insight into Isaac's unique character. Unlike Abraham who sometimes fled or Jacob who often contended aggressively, Isaac typically chose a path of peaceful relocation and patient re-establishment when faced with conflict over resources. This suggests a quieter, more resilient faith that does not always resort to outward confrontation but steadfastly works to reclaim what is rightfully theirs through God's provision.

Genesis 26 18 Commentary

Genesis 26:18 serves as a poignant narrative of persistence, restoration, and the assertion of rightful inheritance in the face of opposition. Isaac, facing environmental hardship (famine) and hostile human action (Philistine sabotage), embodies a peaceful yet unwavering determination. His act of "re-digging" wells dug by his father Abraham is more than a pragmatic quest for water; it is a profound declaration of continuity, a reclaiming of family legacy, and a trust in the promises of God that extended from Abraham to him. The Philistines' malicious act of "stopping" the wells was an attempt to undermine Isaac’s economic stability, force his departure, and negate his family's established claims to the land. This can be seen as a microcosm of spiritual warfare, where adversaries seek to cut off believers from sources of spiritual life and blessing. Isaac’s response, not through vengeance but diligent restoration, highlights his unique character of quiet perseverance. It shows that sometimes, progress is made not by initiating something new, but by diligently restoring and preserving the foundational truths and blessings passed down through generations. It underscores that God's covenant promises endure and are progressively fulfilled, even when met with earthly contention and hardship.