Genesis 26:25 kjv

And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

Genesis 26:25 nkjv

So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well.

Genesis 26:25 niv

Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

Genesis 26:25 esv

So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well.

Genesis 26:25 nlt

Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the LORD. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.

Genesis 26 verses

Genesis 26 25 Meaning

Genesis 26:25 describes Isaac's pivotal actions at Beer-sheba following God's reassurance and renewed covenant promises. It signifies his worship, commitment, and establishment in the land promised by God. Isaac built an altar as an act of devotion and publicly invoked the LORD's name, signifying his reliance and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. His pitching of the tent indicated his settled presence, a form of spiritual claim and temporal dwelling. The subsequent digging of a well by his servants highlighted the practical outworking of God's provision and blessings upon Isaac in the midst of abundance and peace. This verse demonstrates Isaac’s profound faith and obedience, mirroring the spiritual practices of his father, Abraham.

Genesis 26 25 Context

Genesis chapter 26 focuses on Isaac's journey and experiences in the land of the Philistines and then back towards Beer-sheba. It begins with a famine, prompting Isaac to sojourn in Gerar where God reaffirms the covenant made with Abraham, promising to bless him and his descendants, and give them the land. Like Abraham, Isaac feigned that Rebekah was his sister to avoid danger. After being exposed, he became prosperous, which led to envy from the Philistines, who stopped up his wells, forcing him to move. He consistently faced conflict over water sources (Esek, Sitnah) until he found Rehoboth, where there was ample room and no strife. Following this, he ascended to Beer-sheba, where the LORD appeared to him again (v. 24), reiterating the promises of protection, blessing, and increased offspring due to Abraham. This divine encounter directly precedes Isaac’s acts of worship and settlement in verse 25, establishing Beer-sheba as a place of reaffirmed covenant and peace, similar to its significance for Abraham.

Genesis 26 25 Word analysis

• So: (waw) Indicates a consequence or direct response. Isaac's actions here are a direct, faithful response to the LORD's appearing and reaffirmation of His covenant promises in the preceding verse (Gen 26:24). It highlights his obedience and recognition of God's presence.
• he: Refers to Isaac. Emphasizes Isaac's personal agency in carrying out these acts of devotion, marking him as a mature man of faith distinct from his father while walking in his footsteps.
• built: Hebrew: bana (בנה). To build, establish, construct. This isn't a mere setting up; it implies a deliberate, lasting construction for worship, signifying a permanent spiritual claim on the land.
• an altar: Hebrew: mizbeach (מזבח). A structure used for worship and sacrifice to God. In the patriarchal narratives, altars represent a designated place for encountering God, offering thanks, prayer, and commemoration of God's revelation. Building an altar symbolized the dedication of a place to God and public declaration of faith.
• there: Specifically refers to Beer-sheba, a significant site repeatedly connected to divine revelation, covenant, and the patriarchs (Gen 21:31-33 for Abraham; now Gen 26:25 for Isaac; later Gen 46:1 for Jacob). This locative adverb grounds the spiritual action in a specific, biblically important place.
• and called upon: Hebrew: qara' b'shem (קרא בשם). This phrase denotes a solemn, public invocation or proclamation, not just a casual mention. It means to call out the name of the LORD as a sign of worship, dedication, prayer, dependence, and to identify oneself with God.
• the name: Hebrew: shem (שם). In the Bible, a "name" represents character, reputation, authority, and presence. To call upon God's name is to appeal to His very essence and power.
• of the LORD: Hebrew: YHWH (יהוה), the covenantal name of God, revealing Him as the self-existent, faithful God who keeps His promises. This specific reference emphasizes that Isaac is worshipping the one true, covenant-making God.
• and pitched: Hebrew: natah (נטה). To stretch out, spread, extend, encamp. Implies setting up a temporary dwelling, a tent.
• his tent: Hebrew: ohel (אהל). A tent, typical dwelling of nomads and sojourners in that period. Pitching a tent signifies habitation and establishing residence, but also highlights their identity as sojourners in the land of promise, not yet settled citizens in permanent structures.
• there: Again, Beer-sheba. Reinforces the location of his settlement and ongoing presence.
• and there Isaac's servants dug: Indicates the practical manifestation of the spiritual blessings. The "there" confirms this act happens in the same place of worship and dwelling. "Servants" implies Isaac's growing household and prosperity. "Dug" demonstrates the effort involved in obtaining resources.
• a well: Hebrew: be'er (באר). A water source, vital for life in an arid land. Wells were markers of territory, provision, and wealth. After the disputes over wells earlier in the chapter, this well represents God's peaceful provision and abundance in Beer-sheba.

Words-group Analysis:

• "So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD": This sequence reveals Isaac's primary actions upon divine revelation: worship and invocation. The altar is a physical structure for dedication and sacrifice, while calling on the LORD's name is the verbal, spiritual act of personal and communal commitment. These actions prioritize spiritual devotion and acknowledge God's sovereignty above all else. This highlights a response of profound faith to God's presence, echoing the earliest forms of Israelite worship.
• "and pitched his tent there": This signifies his dwelling. It’s an act of settled occupation, establishing a residence for his family and flocks. It shows Isaac putting down roots (albeit temporary ones) in the promised land. Coupled with the altar, it implies that his home was centered around worship. This also reflects the migratory, yet divinely guided, lifestyle of the patriarchs.
• "and there Isaac’s servants dug a well": This group of words denotes the practical outcome of divine blessing and faithful living. While the previous phrases illustrate worship and dwelling, this shows tangible prosperity and provision. The act of digging a well, especially after previous conflicts over wells, underscores a new era of peace and the fulfillment of God's promise to bless Isaac materially. It is a symbol of abundant life and a sign that God's favor extended to even the daily necessities.

Genesis 26 25 Bonus section

The site of Beer-sheba holds significant historical and spiritual weight throughout the patriarchal narratives and beyond. For Abraham, it was the site of a covenant oath and the planting of a tamarisk tree, marking it as a place of established peace and the invocation of "the LORD, the Everlasting God" (Gen 21:30-33). Isaac's actions here echo and reinforce this historical precedent, solidifying Beer-sheba's identity as a sacred ground where God makes covenant and grants peace. The act of digging a well at Beer-sheba symbolizes more than just physical water; it often represented a formal claim of possession in ancient society. After disputes elsewhere, finding undisturbed water at this covenant site symbolizes peace, provision, and divine favor finally resting upon Isaac and his household. This also prefigures the broader concept of divine provision for God's people in all circumstances, and the ultimate source of living water in Jesus Christ (John 4:14). Isaac’s quiet and steady faith is often overlooked compared to Abraham and Jacob, yet his acts of consistent worship and seeking God at foundational sites demonstrate a profound and practical reliance on the Lord.

Genesis 26 25 Commentary

Genesis 26:25 is a rich portrait of patriarchal piety and God's faithfulness. Having endured contention over vital resources, and then experiencing God's reaffirmation of His covenant promises in a moment of fear (v. 24), Isaac responds immediately with worship. He doesn't first establish his physical security or resource base; instead, his primary act is building an altar and calling upon the covenant God, YHWH. This order underscores a profound spiritual principle: prioritizing relationship with God precedes and enables blessed temporal living. The altar symbolizes devotion, sacrifice, and the dedication of the place and himself to God. Calling upon "the name of the LORD" is a public declaration of faith, acknowledging God's identity, power, and covenant loyalty, making his allegiance explicit. This reflects Abraham’s foundational practice and established a pattern for future generations of faith.

Following these acts of worship, Isaac pitches his tent. This is an act of establishing his dwelling, settling in the promised land, yet with the nomadic characteristic of one who still awaits a more permanent dwelling (Heb 11:9-10). It signifies both a spiritual claiming of the land in faith and the reality of their sojourner status. Finally, the digging of the well, not by Isaac directly but by his servants, marks the practical blessing of God's provision. Water, so crucial for survival and livelihood in the ancient Near East, here represents the abundance and peace Isaac received after persistent strife. This well contrasts sharply with the earlier contested wells (Esek and Sitnah), emphasizing that God grants "room" (reḥoboth, meaning "broad places") and provision where He is honored. This sequence – revelation, worship, dwelling, provision – is a powerful paradigm, illustrating that where God is honored, blessings follow, confirming the enduring promise and faithfulness of the LORD.