Genesis 26:27 kjv
And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?
Genesis 26:27 nkjv
And Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?"
Genesis 26:27 niv
Isaac asked them, "Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?"
Genesis 26:27 esv
Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?"
Genesis 26:27 nlt
"Why have you come here?" Isaac asked. "You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land."
Genesis 26 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 26:14-16 | "envied him...filled up all the wells...said to Isaac, “Go away from us..." | Context: Philistine envy & expulsion of Isaac. |
| Gen 26:24 | "Do not fear, for I am with you and will bless you..." | God's reaffirmation of presence and blessing to Isaac. |
| Gen 37:4 | "his brothers hated him and could not speak peacefully to him." | Similar theme of "hatred" leading to estrangement (Joseph). |
| Gen 49:23 | "The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him." | Metaphorical persecution against the blessed (Joseph/Israel). |
| Exo 1:9-11 | "said to his people, 'Behold, the people of the children of Israel...come, let us deal shrewdly with them...'" | Envy leading to oppression (Pharaoh against Israel). |
| Deut 32:21 | "They have stirred me to jealousy with what is no god...I will stir them to jealousy with a people that are no people." | Divine response to human "hatred"/jealousy against God's ways. |
| Judg 11:7 | "Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me out...?" | Similar accusation of past "hatred" and expulsion. |
| 1 Sam 19:17 | "Saul said to Michal, 'Why have you deceived me...?'" | Confrontation over past deceptive actions. |
| Ps 73:3-5 | "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." | Envy (similar to Philistines') when seeing others prosper. |
| Ps 105:25 | "He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants." | God permitting adversaries' "hatred" and craftiness. |
| Prov 24:26 | "Whoever gives a right answer kisses lips." | Wisdom in giving direct, truthful replies. |
| Isa 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God..." | God's assurance to His people amidst opposition. |
| Isa 66:5 | "Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name's sake..." | Those who "hate" and expel God's people for His name. |
| Jer 1:19 | "They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you..." | God's assurance of protection despite opposition. |
| Matt 5:43-44 | "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies..." | Jesus' teaching on transcending hatred; the context of human "hate." |
| Matt 7:3-5 | "Why do you see the speck...but do not notice the log...?" | Principle of confronting hypocrisy and internal state. |
| Lk 6:22 | "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you..." | Jesus' beatitude for those hated and expelled for His sake. |
| Jn 15:18-19 | "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." | Christ's warning about the world's hatred toward His followers. |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who can be against us?" | God's unfailing support, rendering opposition ultimately powerless. |
| Eph 4:15 | "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way..." | The manner of confronting others with truth. |
| Heb 12:14 | "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." | Seeking peace, but implicitly after truth is established. |
| 1 Pet 4:14 | "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed..." | Being insulted or "hated" for one's connection to God. |
Genesis 26 verses
Genesis 26 27 Meaning
Isaac directly challenges Abimelech and his entourage, questioning the sincerity of their visit by confronting their past hostile actions towards him. He highlights their previous animosity, evidenced by their "hatred" and explicit expulsion of him, underscoring the stark contradiction between their former behavior and their current appearance before him. This response reflects Isaac's discernment and his reliance on God's manifest protection.
Genesis 26 27 Context
The verse is situated after Isaac's significant prosperity in the land of Gerar, which had been blessed by God despite a famine (Gen 26:12). This blessing, however, caused deep envy among the Philistines (Gen 26:14). Their envy manifested in hostile actions, most notably their stopping up of the wells Abraham had dug (Gen 26:15) and a direct order from Abimelech for Isaac to depart their territory, citing Isaac's immense strength and prosperity as a threat (Gen 26:16). Isaac peacefully complied, moving and continuing to dig wells, proving God's faithful provision even in desolate places (Gen 26:17-22). After moving to Beer-sheba, Isaac received a further confirmation of God's presence and covenant blessing (Gen 26:23-25). Therefore, Abimelech's subsequent unexpected visit to Isaac at Beer-sheba, accompanied by his chief men, represents a perplexing change in demeanor, prompting Isaac's shrewd and direct question in verse 27. Isaac is not quick to trust their overtures given their recent actions.
Genesis 26 27 Word analysis
Then Isaac said to them,: The Hebrew "וַיֹּאמֶר" (vayyomer, "and he said") introduces an immediate and deliberate response. It shows Isaac's initiative in addressing the unexpected arrival of Abimelech and his companions.
'Why have you come to me,: The interrogative "מַדּוּעַ" (maddua‘, "why? for what reason?") is a probing question that immediately challenges the visitors' presence. It implies that their visit is contrary to, or inconsistent with, their prior conduct, signaling Isaac's discernment and caution.
seeing you hate me: The Hebrew "וְאַתֶּם שְׂנֵאתֶם אֹתִי" (ve’attem səna’tem oti, "and you hated me") uses the emphatic pronoun "אַתֶּם" (attem, "you") to directly lay responsibility on Abimelech and his people. The verb "שָׂנֵא" (sane', "to hate") indicates not mere dislike but a deep, active animosity and ill-will, explicitly evident in their envy, the stopping of wells, and the order to depart (Gen 26:14-16). This was a practical, active "hatred" rather than solely an emotional one.
and have sent me away from you?': The Hebrew "וַתְּשַׁלְּחוּנִי מֵאִתְּכֶם" (vattəshalləḥuni me’ittəkhem, "and you sent me away from you") employs the Piel stem of "שָׁלַח" (shalach, "to send"), which implies a forceful, decisive expulsion or driving out. This perfectly echoes Abimelech's explicit command in Gen 26:16: "Go away from us." Isaac uses their own previous actions and words to highlight the incongruity of their current visit. "מֵאִתְּכֶם" (me’ittəkhem, "from your presence/from you") emphasizes the definitive nature of their past act of removal.
"Why have you come...seeing you hate me...": This powerful rhetorical grouping by Isaac exposes the visitors' hypocrisy. It demonstrates that Isaac is fully aware of their true motives and actions from the past, challenging them to account for their sudden shift in behavior. Isaac is not naive but shrewdly calls them out.
"...hate me and have sent me away...": This combination succinctly encapsulates the two main expressions of Philistine hostility: their internal disposition ("hate") and their external action ("sent me away"). It confirms that their actions were rooted in active malice, making their present friendly overture deeply suspicious and necessitating a direct explanation.
Genesis 26 27 Bonus section
- Isaac's directness and firmness in this interaction represent a notable moment of spiritual growth for him. Earlier in the chapter, he had resorted to deceit concerning Rebekah (Gen 26:7), much like his father Abraham. His bold confrontation here, likely bolstered by God's recent reaffirmation of His presence (Gen 26:24), indicates a maturation in his trust and reliance on God.
- The Philistines' "hate" was not merely personal distaste but an active socio-political opposition arising from their fear and envy of Isaac's rapidly expanding power and influence, which they recognized as coming from the Lord (Gen 26:16, 28). This shows how divine blessing on believers can paradoxically evoke hostility from the world, necessitating clear, God-empowered responses.
- This verse sets the stage for Abimelech's subsequent explanation (Gen 26:28), where he explicitly admits recognizing that God is with Isaac. Isaac's pointed question therefore served its purpose, compelling a truthful admission and creating a context for potential reconciliation or a peace treaty founded on acknowledging divine favor.
Genesis 26 27 Commentary
Genesis 26:27 presents Isaac not as a naive or passive figure, but as a discerning man who confronts past injustice with wisdom. Having experienced God's manifest blessing and protection through trials, Isaac directly challenges Abimelech's motives. His question is sharp and forthright, calling attention to the Philistines' prior actions of hatred and expulsion, which were clear signs of deep animosity fueled by envy of God's blessing on Isaac. This confrontation is crucial: it clears the air, compels the visitors to acknowledge their past wrongs, and lays the groundwork for any future interaction on a basis of truth rather than pretense. Isaac’s words highlight the tension between the divinely blessed people of God and a world that often resents such blessing, even when God's favor makes His people prosperous. It serves as a model of seeking truth and integrity even when dealing with those who have previously caused harm.