Genesis 26:6 kjv
And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
Genesis 26:6 nkjv
So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.
Genesis 26:6 niv
So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
Genesis 26:6 esv
So Isaac settled in Gerar.
Genesis 26:6 nlt
So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
Genesis 26 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1-4 | "Go from your country... And I will make of you a great nation... So Abram went..." | Abram's initial call to leave and obey. |
| Gen 12:10-20 | "Now there was a famine... So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there..." | Abraham's similar famine situation, but different action with negative results. |
| Gen 20:1-18 | "Abraham journeyed from there... and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar." | Abraham's prior sojourn in Gerar, mirroring divine protection there. |
| Gen 26:2 | "The Lord appeared to him and said, 'Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell you.'" | The direct divine command Isaac obeyed. |
| Gen 26:3 | "Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you..." | God's promise conditioned on obedience. |
| Gen 28:15 | "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go..." | God's promise to Jacob, mirroring care for His servants in foreign lands. |
| Gen 39:2-3 | "The Lord was with Joseph... he was a successful man." | God's presence and blessing in challenging environments. |
| Ex 13:21 | "The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud... and by night in a pillar of fire..." | God's direct guidance and provision for His people. |
| Num 14:24 | "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit... I will bring into the land..." | Obedience rewarded by entering the promised land. |
| Deut 8:2-3 | "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way... to humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart..." | God tests His people's obedience in wilderness journeys. |
| Deut 28:1-2 | "If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God... all these blessings shall come upon you..." | Blessings for obedience to God's commands. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law... that you may prosper wherever you go." | Emphasizes obedience as key to prosperity and divine favor. |
| Psa 23:4 | "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." | Trust in God's presence and protection amidst danger. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." | Spiritual principle of trusting God's direction over human wisdom. |
| Isa 30:1-3 | "Woe to the rebellious children... who go down to Egypt and have not asked My counsel..." | Prophetic warning against relying on worldly alliances (like Egypt) instead of God. |
| Jer 42:10-17 | "If you will still dwell in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down... But if you say, 'No, but we will go to the land of Egypt...' " | God's command to stay in the land, warning against Egypt, echoing Isaac's decision. |
| Heb 11:8-9 | "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called... By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country..." | The faith of patriarchs in dwelling as sojourners under divine guidance. |
| Heb 11:13 | "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." | The patriarchs lived by faith as transients, not seeking permanent earthly homes apart from God's promise. |
| Jam 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | The New Testament emphasis on practical obedience to God's word. |
| 1 Pet 1:13-15 | "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind... as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts..." | Call to spiritual preparedness and obedience, resembling God's holiness. |
| Rev 22:14 | "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." | Ultimate blessing associated with doing God's commandments. |
Genesis 26 verses
Genesis 26 6 Meaning
Genesis 26:6 records Isaac's immediate act of obedience to the Lord's specific command not to go down to Egypt during a famine but to remain in the land God directed. This verse highlights Isaac's trust and compliance, settling in Gerar as a demonstration of faith in God's provision and protection rather than seeking worldly refuge.
Genesis 26 6 Context
Genesis chapter 26 opens during a severe famine in the land, the second one since Abraham's time. This situation naturally tempted Isaac to seek refuge in Egypt, a common source of grain due to the predictable Nile floods. However, before Isaac could depart, the Lord explicitly appeared to him in verse 2, giving a direct command: "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell you." God then reiterated the Abrahamic covenant promises—land, numerous descendants, and blessings for all nations through him—specifically linking their fulfillment to Isaac's obedience to this command (vv. 3-5). Genesis 26:6 serves as Isaac's immediate response to this divine instruction. Rather than seeking what appeared to be practical security in Egypt, he demonstrated faith by settling in Gerar, a Philistine city-state situated in the Negeb, within the broader geographical bounds of the promised land but not under his direct control. This decision sets the stage for the rest of the chapter, detailing Isaac's experiences and God's continued faithfulness and protection despite local opposition and dangers in Gerar.
Genesis 26 6 Word analysis
- So (וַיֵּשֶׁב, wa-yyē·šeḇ): This Hebrew particle is a waw-consecutive, meaning "and he did," but functions here to show the immediate result or consequence of the preceding divine command. It highlights Isaac's prompt and direct obedience without hesitation. This stands in contrast to situations where human decision-making might lead one away from God's will.
- Isaac (יִצְחָק, Yiṣ·ḥāq): The name means "he laughs" or "laughter," reflecting the joyous but also incredulous reaction to his birth. As the sole heir of the covenant promises through Abraham, his actions and location are paramount to the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for Israel and ultimately, through Christ, for all humanity.
- dwelt (וַיֵּשֶׁב, wa-yyē·šeḇ): From the root יָשַׁב (yashab), meaning "to sit, remain, reside, dwell, settle." Here, it signifies more than a temporary stop; it implies making a settled home, choosing a permanent place of residence in compliance with the divine directive. This commitment to 'dwell' contrasts with simply 'sojourning' or passing through. It implies establishing his base of operations, raising his family, and living out his life in Gerar, rather than returning to his accustomed places.
- in (בְּ, bə): A common preposition, indicating location.
- Gerar (גְּרָר, gə·rārd): A Philistine city in the Negeb, significant in the patriarchal narratives. It was where Abraham also had dealings with King Abimelech (Gen 20). Geographically, Gerar was not Egypt, fulfilling the negative command. The choice to "dwell in Gerar" over Egypt implies a trust in God's providence even in a foreign land and under gentile rule, affirming God's sovereignty extends beyond what is perceived as "Israelite" territory. It was also within the greater territory God had promised to Abraham.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- So Isaac dwelt: This phrase emphasizes Isaac's volition and direct response to God. It indicates immediate action taken by Isaac, aligning his will with the divine instruction. It signals an obedient transition from consideration (of Egypt) to direct settlement in the designated land. This direct linkage of action to divine word underscores Isaac's faith.
- dwelt in Gerar: This pinpoints the specific place of Isaac's obedience. Not the familiar Beersheba, and critically, not Egypt. By dwelling in Gerar, Isaac committed to remaining within the land that God designated, even though it meant navigating life among foreign peoples and facing potential dangers, which unfold in the subsequent verses. This demonstrates a deep-seated trust that God's protection and provision were sufficient even in what might seem an insecure or challenging environment, as opposed to relying on the worldly security of Egypt.
Genesis 26 6 Bonus section
- Recurrent Famines as Divine Tests: The recurring famines throughout Genesis (Abraham in Gen 12, Isaac in Gen 26, Jacob and Joseph in Gen 41-47) serve not merely as historical incidents but as divinely orchestrated tests of faith for the patriarchs. Each famine presented a critical juncture, requiring a decision that revealed their dependence on God versus reliance on their own judgment or external powers. Isaac's response sets a high standard of obedience.
- Echoes of Abraham in Gerar: The fact that Isaac settles in Gerar echoes his father Abraham's experiences in the same region (Gen 20). This repetition of location underscores God's consistent sovereignty and protection over His chosen line, even in the very same places where previous challenges arose. It signifies a continued divine pattern of working within the parameters of His promises to Abraham.
- Avoiding "Egypt": A Timeless Spiritual Principle: The divine injunction to Isaac, "Do not go down to Egypt," transcends its immediate historical context to become a timeless spiritual principle. "Egypt" often symbolizes the world, its allurements, and its false securities. God frequently calls His people to refrain from seeking refuge in worldly systems or solutions when faced with hardship, instead urging them to trust in His direct provision and remain in the "land" of His covenant promise, relying on His presence alone. This verse thus stands as an example of choosing faith in the midst of worldly pressures.
Genesis 26 6 Commentary
Genesis 26:6 serves as a pivotal verse, encapsulating Isaac's pivotal decision of faith and obedience. Faced with a life-threatening famine, the natural inclination would be to migrate to Egypt, a known haven from scarcity due to the Nile's predictable floods, a path Abraham himself took (though without explicit divine command, and resulting in peril). However, Isaac received a clear, explicit word from God: "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell you" (v. 2). His response, simply stated as "So Isaac dwelt in Gerar," demonstrates unreserved submission. This was not a passive decision, but an active, faithful choice to trust God's protective and providing hand in an unfamiliar and potentially hostile foreign territory, Gerar, which was still within the broad scope of the promised land. Isaac chose reliance on God's covenant promises over human foresight and worldly security. His obedience established a powerful precedent within the patriarchal line, highlighting that God's blessing is directly contingent on adherence to His word, often requiring a counter-cultural path.