Genesis 26:23 kjv
And he went up from thence to Beersheba.
Genesis 26:23 nkjv
Then he went up from there to Beersheba.
Genesis 26:23 niv
From there he went up to Beersheba.
Genesis 26:23 esv
From there he went up to Beersheba.
Genesis 26:23 nlt
From there Isaac moved to Beersheba,
Genesis 26 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 21:31-33 | So he called that place Beersheba, because there they both swore an oath… | Abraham's earlier covenant and altar at Beersheba |
| Gen 26:24 | And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God..." | Immediate divine revelation at Beersheba |
| Gen 26:33 | So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city has been Beersheba… | Isaac confirms the name Beersheba and a new well |
| Gen 28:10 | Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. | Beersheba as a departure point for Jacob |
| Gen 46:1-5 | When Israel set out with all that he had... he came to Beersheba… | Jacob offering sacrifices at Beersheba |
| Exod 3:6 | "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and..." | God's continued identification with patriarchs |
| Deut 1:6 | "The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long..." | God commands His people to move and progress |
| Psa 37:23 | The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; | God guides the paths of His servants |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. | Divine direction in human journeying |
| Isa 58:11 | And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched | God's promise to guide and sustain |
| Jer 6:16 | Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient | Seeking the ancient paths and God's appointed places |
| Heb 11:9-10 | By faith he went to live in the land of promise... waiting for the city... | Faith leading patriarchs to journey in reliance |
| Acts 7:5 | Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length... | Patriarchs journeyed in faith, land still promise |
| Phil 3:20 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior... | Earthly pilgrimage pointing to heavenly hope |
| 1 Sam 8:2 | ...his sons were judges in Beersheba. | Beersheba as a recognized regional center |
| 1 Kgs 19:3 | Elijah arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba... | Beersheba as a place of retreat/destination |
| Amos 5:5 | But do not seek Bethel, nor go to Gilgal, nor cross to Beersheba... | Beersheba mentioned as a religious center |
| Mic 1:11 | Pass on, you inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame; the inhabitant | Refers to movements/displacements of people |
| Matt 2:23 | And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken... | God guiding movements of His chosen one |
| Rom 15:4 | For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction... | Significance of patriarchal narratives for believers |
Genesis 26 verses
Genesis 26 23 Meaning
Genesis 26:23 states that Isaac traveled from Rehoboth and settled in Beersheba. This verse marks a transition in Isaac's journey, signifying a movement towards a prominent patriarchal site where covenant was affirmed, and God's presence would be revealed to him, bringing an end to the nomadic wandering in response to the surrounding conflicts.
Genesis 26 23 Context
Genesis chapter 26 recounts Isaac's sojourn during a famine, similar to his father Abraham's experiences. After God instructs him to stay in Gerar and promises to be with him and bless him (Gen 26:1-5), Isaac faces hostility from the Philistines who envy his prosperity. They fill his wells and force him to move from place to place. He re-digs wells his father Abraham had dug, facing disputes over the wells Esek and Sitnah. He then moves to Rehoboth, where he finds "room" and no further contention, giving thanks to God. Verse 23 details his purposeful move from this place of peace and relative obscurity to Beersheba, a historically significant location connected to Abraham, where a deeper interaction with God is imminent. This journey highlights Isaac's patient obedience and the divine guidance at play amidst worldly opposition.
Genesis 26 23 Word analysis
From there (מִשָּׁם, mish·sham): "From there" directly refers to Rehoboth, the place of "room" and no contention. This marks a departure from a place where Isaac experienced temporary peace after conflict, indicating a deliberate forward movement by God's leading. It emphasizes a progressive journey.
he went up (וַיַּעַל, wai·ya·'al): The verb implies ascent. Beersheba is geographically higher than Rehoboth in some perspectives, or it may signify a journey "up" to a more prominent or spiritually significant location. This is not a random wandering but a purposeful climb. It can denote progress or a pilgrimage.
to Beersheba (בְּאֵר שָׁבַע, Be'er Sheva): Literally "Well of the Oath" or "Well of Seven." This site holds immense significance in patriarchal narratives. It's where Abraham made a covenant and built an altar (Gen 21:31-33), and where Isaac will soon re-affirm that covenant and experience a direct encounter with God (Gen 26:24). The very name of the place alludes to established agreements, promises, and divine interaction, making Isaac's move here foundational.
"From there he went up": This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and divinely guided nature of Isaac's journey. It shows that his progress was not aimless but directed towards a specific, divinely ordained destination. Despite past conflicts, Isaac is moving towards a place of affirmation.
"he went up to Beersheba": This entire phrase encapsulates Isaac's obedience and the unfolding of God's plan. It highlights the patriarchal pattern of returning to and dwelling in places sanctified by covenant and divine appearance. Beersheba serves as a sacred anchor point, reaffirming the continuity of God's promises from Abraham to Isaac.
Genesis 26 23 Bonus section
- Isaac's journey to Beersheba reflects the ongoing theme of divine providence guiding the patriarchs to specific locations crucial for the unfolding of God's covenant plan.
- The progression from conflict (Esek, Sitnah) to "room" (Rehoboth) and finally to a place of spiritual establishment and divine encounter (Beersheba) mirrors a spiritual pilgrimage many believers experience – finding true peace and closeness with God after enduring trials.
- Beersheba functioned as a significant boundary point for the land of Israel ("from Dan to Beersheba"), symbolizing its importance as a foundational patriarchial settlement and later, a geographic anchor for the nation. Isaac's re-establishment there underscores his role as an heir to the covenant land.
Genesis 26 23 Commentary
Genesis 26:23 marks a pivotal point in Isaac’s life story. After experiencing continuous disputes over water rights and being driven from place to place by envious Philistines, Isaac finds temporary relief in Rehoboth. However, his journey doesn't conclude there. His "going up" to Beersheba is not merely a geographic change but a significant spiritual move. Beersheba, a place sanctified by Abraham's altar and covenant, represents a return to a center of worship and covenantal confirmation for Isaac. It signifies the end of Isaac's testing period in wandering and sets the stage for God's direct and comforting appearance to him, affirming the Abrahamic covenant promises for Isaac personally. This journey demonstrates Isaac's patience, his pursuit of peace despite opposition, and his reliance on God's guidance towards a place of divine revelation. It reminds believers that true peace and divine encounters are often found not in permanent earthly settlement but in faithfully following God's leading, often to specific, God-ordained places or spiritual anchors in life.