Genesis 26:20 kjv

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

Genesis 26:20 nkjv

But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him.

Genesis 26:20 niv

But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him.

Genesis 26:20 esv

the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.

Genesis 26:20 nlt

But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. "This is our water," they said, and they argued over it with Isaac's herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means "argument").

Genesis 26 verses

Genesis 26 20 Meaning

Genesis 26:20 details a specific conflict Isaac encountered with the Philistines. It states that they vigorously disputed with Isaac concerning a newly dug well, aggressively asserting that the water belonged to them. In response to this recurring and intense contention, Isaac named that well "Esek," which directly means "contention" or "dispute," signifying the opposition he faced. This act of naming reflects Isaac's peaceable approach to persistent opposition.

Genesis 26 20 Context

Genesis chapter 26 chronicles Isaac's sojourn in Gerar during a famine, much like his father Abraham. God commands him to stay there, promising to bless him and reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham. As Isaac prospers greatly through farming and herding, the Philistines, particularly King Abimelech and his people, become envious (Gen 26:12-14). This envy manifests as aggression, as they stop up the wells his father Abraham had dug (Gen 26:15), denying Isaac essential water resources. Consequently, Abimelech requests Isaac to leave.

Isaac then moves to the valley of Gerar and redigs the wells his father had originally dug and named, which the Philistines had stopped. When his servants dig a new well, this is where the specific conflict of Gen 26:20 arises. The digging of wells was not merely about accessing water; it was a powerful act asserting claim to land, resources, and implied settlement rights in a semi-arid region where water sources were fiercely guarded assets and vital for survival and prosperity. The Philistines' aggressive claim over Isaac's newly discovered water source was an act of possessive hostility.

Genesis 26 20 Word analysis

• And they strove: (וַיָּרִיבוּ - vayyarivu) This Hebrew word is derived from the root רִיב (riv), meaning "to contend," "to quarrel," "to dispute," often implying a legalistic or hostile assertion of rights. It signifies an active, aggressive conflict initiated by the Philistine herdsmen.
• with Isaac: (עִם יִצְחָק - ’im Yitsḥaq) Indicates a direct confrontation against Isaac, or more precisely, his servants representing him.
• concerning the wells: (עַל־בְּאֵרֹת - ‘al-be’ērōṯ) Refers to the precious and indispensable sources of water. In the ancient Near East, wells were life-giving resources and foundational to economic prosperity, herd sustenance, and human survival. Possession of wells was synonymous with territorial control and power.
• saying: (לֵאמֹר - lē’mōr) A common Hebrew idiom introducing direct speech.
• The water is ours: (לָנוּ הַמָּיִם - lānū hammayim) A direct and possessive claim. The Philistines' assertion was one of absolute ownership, disregarding Isaac's labor in discovering and digging the well, highlighting their perceived dominance and sense of entitlement over resources even on foreign ground.
• and he called: (וַיִּקְרָא - vayyiqrā') The typical verb used in Genesis for assigning a name, denoting authority and the acknowledgment of a significant event.
• the name of the well: (שְׁמָהּ - shĕmāh, referring to בְּאֵר - be’er, "well") The naming of locations or wells was a significant practice, often commemorating events, emotions, or revelations associated with that place.
• Esek: (עֵשֶׂק - ‘Ēseq) This name is derived from the Hebrew root עָשַׂק (‘āsaq), meaning "to strive," "to struggle," "to contend with." It literally means "contention," "strife," or "dispute." The name itself is an historical marker of the conflict that took place there.
• because they contended with him: (הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ עִמּוֹ - hiṯ‘aśśeqū ‘immō) This phrase reiterates and explains the name "Esek." It uses the same root as the name (‘āsaq). The Hithpael stem used here, hit‘aśśeqū, suggests a reciprocal or persistent struggling/striving. It wasn't a minor disagreement but an active, continuous, and potentially harassing form of opposition from the Philistines.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they strove with Isaac concerning the wells": This phrase highlights the ongoing harassment and hostility from the Philistines towards Isaac, directly fueled by their envy over his prosperity (Gen 26:14-16). Water was the tangible resource over which their aggressive territorial and economic dispute manifested.
• "saying, The water is ours": This verbal declaration by the Philistines reveals their absolute possessiveness and their belief in their right to claim anything in their territory, even what Isaac had specifically labored to find and access. It underscores a fundamental clash of claims and an unwillingness to share.
• "and he called the name of the well Esek; because they contended with him": Isaac's response is characteristic of his peace-loving nature. Rather than engaging in further battle over the well, he acknowledges the intense and repeated contention by giving the well a name that reflects the strife. This act is both an historical record and a testament to his decision to withdraw from conflict, allowing him to move on rather than perpetually fighting over the same point. It prefaces his eventual movement to find uncontentious water (Gen 26:22).

Genesis 26 20 Bonus section

The Hebrew wordplay in Genesis 26:20 between the well's name, Esek (עֵשֶׂק), and the description of the Philistines' action, hit'assqu (הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ), is very intentional. Both terms stem from the same root asaq (עָשַׂק). The verb form, in the Hithpael, suggests an intensified or sustained contention. This highlights that the dispute was not a minor disagreement but a severe, persistent struggle over this particular well. The naming convention, common in the book of Genesis, provides a perpetual memory marker for the interaction, cementing the narrative for future generations. It underscores that this "contention" was a significant feature of Isaac's life in Gerar, part of the testing and refinement process by which he learned to trust more deeply in God's guidance and provision.

Genesis 26 20 Commentary

Genesis 26:20 illustrates a recurring challenge for God's blessed servant, Isaac: the envious and contentious nature of his neighbors. As Isaac, guided by God, prospers and develops vital water sources, the Philistines demonstrate a hostile claim over resources they did not labor for. Their assertion, "The water is ours," epitomizes the greedy, human tendency to lay claim to what others have developed, often driven by jealousy and a lack of true blessing. Isaac's response is highly significant. Instead of engaging in protracted and potentially violent conflict, he simply names the well "Esek" (Contention) and then yields, moving on to dig another well. This pattern highlights Isaac's peaceful character, reminiscent of his father Abraham who likewise avoided strife with Lot (Gen 13:7-9). It's not a sign of weakness, but a profound demonstration of trusting in God's abundance rather than clinging to disputed possessions. Isaac understands that true provision comes from the Lord, not from holding tightly to a single well or winning a territorial dispute. This quiet yielding anticipates the New Testament call to peacemaking (Matt 5:9) and living peaceably (Rom 12:18), even when wronged, demonstrating faith that God will provide without needing to contend with carnal means.