Genesis 26:28 kjv

And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

Genesis 26:28 nkjv

But they said, "We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you,

Genesis 26:28 niv

They answered, "We saw clearly that the LORD was with you; so we said, 'There ought to be a sworn agreement between us'?between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you

Genesis 26:28 esv

They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you,

Genesis 26:28 nlt

They replied, "We can plainly see that the LORD is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let's make a covenant.

Genesis 26 verses

Genesis 26 28 Meaning

Genesis 26:28 states the Philistine officials, Abimelech, Ahuzzath, and Phicol, directly confessed to Isaac their undeniable perception of the Lord's tangible favor and presence with him. Due to this recognition, they proposed initiating a binding, solemn oath and formal covenant with Isaac to ensure peace and mutual respect between their peoples, desiring to secure a non-aggression pact.

Genesis 26 28 Context

Genesis chapter 26 chronicles Isaac's sojourn in Gerar during a famine, much like his father Abraham's experiences. Initially, God reiterates the covenant promises of land, descendants, and blessing to Isaac, emphasizing His presence and command not to go down to Egypt (Gen 26:2-5). Despite God's blessing, Isaac experiences conflict with the Philistines of Gerar due to envy over his extraordinary prosperity. They stopped up his wells, forced him to leave Gerar, and contended with him over new wells he dug. This sustained harassment led Isaac to finally withdraw to Beersheba (Gen 26:22-23), where the Lord reappeared to him, reaffirming the covenant promises and his protection (Gen 26:24). It is after Isaac built an altar and settled there (Gen 26:25) that Abimelech, along with his advisor Ahuzzath and army commander Phicol, travel to Beersheba to meet Isaac. This verse, Gen 26:28, represents their crucial acknowledgement of God's visible blessing on Isaac despite their previous hostility, leading them to seek peace and a formal agreement.

Genesis 26 28 Word Analysis

• And they said: (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyo'mru) Indicates a direct statement, signifying their immediate communication of their purpose.
• We saw clearly: (רָאֹה רָאִינוּ - ra'oh ra'inu)
  • This is an infinitive absolute followed by the finite verb from the same root ("seeing, we saw"). This Hebrew grammatical construction provides intense emphasis, signifying certainty, undeniable clarity, and direct perception. They aren't guessing or speculating; they have truly and unmistakably witnessed it. It implies sustained observation and evidence over time.
• that the Lord: (כִּי־יְהוָה - ki-YHWH)
  • YHWH (often rendered "LORD" in capital letters) is the special covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and self-existent nature. This is significant because the Philistines, though pagan, acknowledged not just a generic deity, but Israel's God, YHWH, was actively involved with Isaac. This implies an unwilling testimony to the true God's power.
• was with you: (הָיָה עִמָּךְ - hayah immakh)
  • This phrase indicates God's active presence, favor, blessing, protection, and effective help. It's not just a philosophical concept but a tangible, observable reality in Isaac's life and prosperity (as described in Gen 26:12-14, 24).
• so we said, "Let there now be an oath: (וַנֹּאמֶר תְּהִי־נָא אָלָה - vanno'mer tehi-na alah)
  • "So we said" (וַנֹּאמֶר - vanno'mer) implies this is a direct consequence of their clear observation.
  • "Let there now be an oath" (tehi-na alah) is a strong imperative, an earnest request. An alah (אָלָה) is a solemn oath, often accompanied by imprecations or curses upon the oath-taker if the terms are violated. It signifies a serious, binding commitment, far more than a mere handshake agreement.
• between us, between us and you: (בֵּינֹתֵינוּ בֵּינֵינוּ וּבֵינֶיךָ - beinoteinu beineinu uveineikha)
  • This repetition further emphasizes the desire for a specific, formalized relationship and mutual accountability between the parties. It is precise in defining who the agreement is between.
• and let us make a covenant with you." (וְנִכְרְתָה בְרִית אִתָּךְ - venikreta berit ittakh)
  • "Make a covenant": The Hebrew idiom is "cut a covenant" (כרת ברית - karat berit). This term signifies the solemn, ritualistic nature of covenant making in the ancient Near East, which often involved cutting animals and walking between the halves (as seen in Gen 15:17), symbolizing the fate of those who broke the covenant. It implies a blood covenant, deeply serious and binding, bringing the parties into a formal, binding relationship, promising peace and non-aggression.
  • "with you": Reaffirms that Isaac is the vital partner they seek to align with, implicitly acknowledging God's unique relationship with him.

Genesis 26 28 Bonus Section

• Polemics: This Philistine declaration implicitly serves as a polemic against the notion that their own gods (e.g., Dagon, Baal-zebub) were sovereign. Their acknowledgment of YHWH's hand, despite their polytheistic background, subtly elevates YHWH above their local deities. They were compelled by tangible evidence to recognize a greater power than their own pantheon.
• Reversal of Roles: Typically, the stronger party imposes a covenant on the weaker. Here, the Philistines, previously holding geographical power over Isaac and even driving him away, initiate the request for a covenant with Isaac, who represents the seemingly weaker, migrant party. This reversal underscores that God's presence transformed Isaac into the truly powerful party, compelling Abimelech to seek peace on Isaac's terms, or at least on terms favorable to Isaac's security.

Genesis 26 28 Commentary

Genesis 26:28 is a pivotal verse highlighting God's active hand in the life of His servant, Isaac. The Philistine leaders, through direct observation and experience, came to an undeniable conclusion: Isaac was extraordinarily blessed because the Lord was actively with him. Their previous animosity, driven by envy over Isaac's prosperity, yielded to this compelling reality. The "we saw clearly" emphasizes that God's favor was not subtle but undeniably evident, impacting Isaac's ventures in such a way that it necessitated a response from his adversaries.

This recognition led them to seek a covenant of peace. This wasn't a benevolent gesture but a pragmatic one, motivated by their clear understanding that contending with Isaac was contending with the Lord Himself. They, the aggressors in the recent past, were now initiating the peace overture, underscoring Isaac's divinely granted ascendancy. The request to "cut a covenant" signifies their desire for a serious, unbreakable, reciprocal non-aggression pact, acknowledging that Isaac (and the God with him) held the upper hand. The very pagans were compelled by God's manifest presence to establish peace.

This verse exemplifies that God's faithfulness to His covenant promises (e.g., Gen 26:3, 24) is so potent it becomes visible to outsiders, even adversaries. It serves as a powerful testament to the impact of living a life obviously blessed by God, which can disarm enemies and promote peace where there was strife.

• Practical Example: A believer's consistent integrity and unexplainable peace or provision amidst trials may lead colleagues or neighbors, who do not share their faith, to inquire about the source of their strength or stability, tacitly acknowledging a divine influence at work in their life.