Genesis 26:33 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 26:33 kjv
And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.
Genesis 26:33 nkjv
So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
Genesis 26:33 niv
He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba.
Genesis 26:33 esv
He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
Genesis 26:33 nlt
So Isaac named the well Shibah (which means "oath"). And to this day the town that grew up there is called Beersheba (which means "well of the oath").
Genesis 26 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 21:31 | So he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them swore an oath. | Abraham names Beersheba due to an oath. |
| Gen 26:28 | They said, "We see clearly that the LORD has been with you..." | Abimelech acknowledges God's favor on Isaac. |
| Gen 26:29 | "...Swear to us that you will not harm us..." | Basis of the covenant/oath made with Isaac. |
| Ex 17:15 | Moses built an altar and named it, “The LORD is my Banner.” | Naming a place reflecting a divine encounter. |
| Josh 9:20 | This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that no wrath... | The importance of upholding oaths/treaties. |
| 2 Sam 21:7 | The king spared Mephibosheth... because of the LORD's oath... | Illustrates the lasting power of an oath. |
| Deut 11:11-12 | "...a land of hills and valleys... A land the LORD your God cares for." | God's provision and care for His chosen land. |
| Gen 12:2-3 | "...I will bless you and make your name great, and you will be a blessing." | God's initial promise of blessing to Abraham. |
| Gen 13:14-17 | "Lift your eyes and look... all the land that you see I will give to you..." | God promises Abraham the land as an inheritance. |
| Gen 28:13-15 | "The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring." | God reiterates the land promise to Jacob. |
| Psa 37:22 | "For those blessed by him will inherit the land..." | Connection between divine blessing and land. |
| Gen 16:7 | The angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring in the wilderness... | God's provision of water in the wilderness. |
| Gen 24:11 | He made his camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water... | Wells as a crucial point for provision & encounter. |
| Ex 15:25 | There he made a statute and a rule for them...made the water sweet. | God making water potable for His people. |
| Num 21:16-18 | "...spring, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people... | A well dug by community leaders as a source. |
| Isa 12:3 | With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. | Spiritual metaphor for drawing God's grace. |
| Jn 4:13-14 | "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks.. will never be thirsty again." | Jesus offers "living water." |
| Rev 21:6 | "I will give to the thirsty a drink from the spring of the water of life without payment." | Ultimate divine provision of eternal life. |
| Gen 35:10 | God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." | Divine renaming symbolizing new identity/status. |
| 1 Sam 7:12 | Then Samuel took a stone and set it up... and called its name Ebenezer. | Naming a place to commemorate God's help. |
| Mt 1:21 | She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus... | The significance of names in God's plan. |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven... | Emphasizes the singular name of salvation. |
Genesis 26 verses
Genesis 26 33 meaning
Genesis 26:33 concludes the narrative segment of Isaac's sojourn in Gerar, specifically his interaction with Abimelech. The verse recounts Isaac naming a particular well "Shibah" as a confirmation of the treaty or oath sworn between himself and Abimelech and his people. This act of naming reaffirms and links this specific well, and by extension the location, to the pre-existing name Beersheba, highlighting its enduring significance as the "Well of the Oath" or "Well of Seven" until the author's present day. It underscores the culmination of a period of conflict and divine vindication for Isaac, leading to peaceful resolution and secured land rights.
Genesis 26 33 Context
Genesis chapter 26 chronicles Isaac's experiences during a famine, echoing some of his father Abraham's trials. God commands Isaac not to go to Egypt but to stay in the land, promising to bless him and confirm the covenant made with Abraham (Gen 26:1-5). Isaac settles in Gerar among the Philistines. Despite initial deception regarding Rebekah (similar to Abraham), Isaac prospers greatly (Gen 26:12-14), sparking the envy of the Philistines who fill up his wells (Gen 26:15). Isaac peaceably relocates, redigging wells his father dug, and enduring continued contention over water rights (Gen 26:17-21). He eventually moves to Rehoboth, then Beersheba, where the Lord reaffirms His presence and blessing (Gen 26:22-25). Following this divine reassurance, Abimelech, king of Gerar, along with his military commander and adviser, travels to Beersheba to make a covenant with Isaac (Gen 26:26-30). They recognize that the LORD is clearly with Isaac. After they have made an oath, Isaac’s servants find water in the well they had been digging (Gen 26:31-32). Genesis 26:33 is the culmination of these events, linking the discovery of water and the covenant made with Abimelech to the naming of the well "Shibah" and, consequently, the lasting name of the city, Beersheba.
Genesis 26 33 Word analysis
- And he called it: The Hebrew phrase vayyiqra otah (וַיִּקְרָא אֹתָהּ). Vayyiqra is from the verb qara (קָרָא), meaning "to call, to name." In biblical narratives, the act of naming is profoundly significant, often encapsulating the meaning or circumstances of a person, place, or event. Here, Isaac's naming establishes a clear link between the well, the preceding events (the oath, the water discovery), and the city.
- Shibah: The Hebrew Shiv’ah (שִׁבְעָה). This is a pivotal term. While primarily meaning "seven," it strongly connects to shavu’ah (שְׁבוּעָה), meaning "oath," and the verb nishma (נִשְׁבַּע) meaning "to swear, take an oath." The naming of this well "Shibah" by Isaac directly commemorates the oath taken with Abimelech, solidifying the 'oath' aspect of Beersheba. This isn't merely a count of seven but embodies the completed, affirmed, and secured covenant.
- therefore: The Hebrew ʿal-ken (עַל־כֵּן). This conjunction logically connects the naming of the well "Shibah" to the following statement about the city's name. It indicates that the reason for Beersheba's lasting name (or at least its affirmation) is specifically tied to this event of Isaac's oath and the well discovery.
- the name of the city: Hebrew shem ha’ir (שֵׁם הָעִיר). "Shem" is "name," and "ha'ir" is "the city." This specifies that the well's naming reinforces the enduring designation of the entire locality.
- is Beersheba: Hebrew Be’er Shava (בְּאֵֽר שָׁבַע). A composite name meaning "Well of Seven" or "Well of Oath." This name already existed, having been given by Abraham in Genesis 21:31 for a similar reason – an oath with an earlier Abimelech. Isaac's naming of his well "Shibah" here acts as a powerful reaffirmation or reinvigoration of the name and its significance, grounding the existing name in a fresh, covenantal context.
- to this day: The Hebrew ʿad-hayyom hazzeh (עַד־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה). This common biblical editorial note emphasizes the historical continuity and lasting significance of the event or name. It assures the audience that the place retains its name and associated meaning even in their contemporary time, thus authenticating the historical narrative.
Genesis 26 33 Bonus section
The repetition of the "Beersheba" narrative in Genesis 21 (Abraham) and Genesis 26 (Isaac) underscores several theological points. It portrays God's covenant promises as generational and unchanging, passing from father to son. Both Abimelechs recognize divine favor on the patriarchs, indicating God's observable presence in the lives of His people, influencing even external authorities. The phrase "to this day" functions as an eyewitness testimony, implying a continuous remembrance of God's intervention and the patriarchal inheritance. The 'seven' aspect of Shibah/Beersheba might also hint at completion or perfection (numerically 'seven' is significant in the Bible), symbolizing the completeness of the oath or the fullness of God's blessing that secures Isaac's rights. The successful digging of this particular well and the discovery of fresh water after so much conflict also serves as a direct, tangible sign of God's faithfulness in providing for Isaac and confirming his promised inheritance.
Genesis 26 33 Commentary
Genesis 26:33 highlights Isaac's peaceful and God-centered character, showing him confirming a name first established by Abraham, linking the patriarchs' experiences under divine promise. Isaac's naming of the well "Shibah" (oath/seven) following Abimelech's acknowledgement of God's blessing and the subsequent covenant, firmly entrenches Beersheba as a place of sworn agreement and divine validation. This is not merely a well's designation but a confirmation of God's presence, blessing, and a secure establishment in the promised land. The constant struggle for water in this arid region symbolizes the larger struggle for existence and right to the land, which God continuously secures for His chosen. It demonstrates that peace and prosperity are gifts from God, secured through covenant faithfulness rather than human might or incessant conflict. The enduring name "Beersheba" signifies the perpetual nature of God's covenant with His people, reinforced through generations.