King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
Complete Jewish Bible:
against K'dorla'omer king of 'Elam, Tid'al king of Goyim, Amrafel king of Admah and Aryokh king of Elasar, four kings against the five.
Berean Standard Bible:
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
American Standard Version:
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
With Chedorlaomer{H3540} the king{H4428} of Elam{H5867}, and with Tidal{H8413} king{H4428} of nations{H1471}, and Amraphel{H569} king{H4428} of Shinar{H8152}, and Arioch{H746} king{H4428} of Ellasar{H495}; four{H702} kings{H4428} with five{H2568}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 14:9
**Genesis 14:9** is part of the account of the War of the Kings, an event in the life of the patriarch Abram (later named Abraham). The verse lists the four kings who allied to battle against five rebellious kings in the region of Sodom and Gomorrah.
**Themes:**
1. **Conflict and Alliance:** The verse highlights the political and military alliances of the time, showing how different rulers formed coalitions to extend their power or protect their interests.
2. **Divine Sovereignty:** This conflict sets the stage for God's protection of Abram and His chosen people, demonstrating the theme of divine sovereignty over human affairs.
3. **Rescue and Deliverance:** The larger narrative of Genesis 14, of which this verse is a part, leads to Abram's rescue of his nephew Lot, illustrating themes of loyalty, family, and divine deliverance.
**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** This event likely occurred during the early 2nd millennium BCE, though precise dating is difficult.
- **Geographical Context:** The kings mentioned come from regions corresponding to modern-day Iraq (Elam, Shinar), Turkey (Ellasar), and possibly the Hittite empire (Tidal, king of nations).
- **Cultural Context:** The text reflects the political dynamics of the ancient Near East, where city-states and small empires frequently warred and formed alliances.
- **Biblical Narrative:** This chapter is one of the few in Genesis that provides a glimpse into the broader international context of the time, rather than focusing solely on the patriarchs and their immediate families.
The verse and the surrounding chapter serve to establish Abram's role as a significant figure in the region, blessed by God and destined to become a great nation, as promised in previous chapters.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3540
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּדׇרְלָעֹמֶר
Transliteration: Kᵉdorlâʻômer
Pronunciation: ked-or-law-o'-mer
Description: of foreign origin; Kedorlaomer, an early Persian king; Chedorlaomer. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H5867
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵילָם
Transliteration: ʻÊylâm
Pronunciation: ay-lawm'
Description: or עוֹלָם; (Ezra 10:2; Jeremiah 49:36), probably from עָלַם; hidden, i.e. distant; Elam, a son of Shem and his descendants, with their country; also of six Israelites; Elam. - Strong's Number: H8413
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תִּדְעָל
Transliteration: Tidʻâl
Pronunciation: tid-awl'
Description: perhaps from דְּחַל; fearfulness; Tidal, a Canaanite; Tidal. - Strong's Number: H1471
There are 511 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גּוֹי
Transliteration: gôwy
Pronunciation: go'-ee
Description: rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as גֵּוָה (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts; Gentile, heathen, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H569
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַמְרָפֶל
Transliteration: ʼAmrâphel
Pronunciation: am-raw-fel'
Description: of uncertain (perhaps foreign) derivation; Amraphel, a king of Shinar; Amraphel. - Strong's Number: H8152
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁנְעָר
Transliteration: Shinʻâr
Pronunciation: shin-awr'
Description: probably of foreign derivation; Shinar, a plain in Babylonia; Shinar. - Strong's Number: H746
There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲרְיוֹךְ
Transliteration: ʼĂryôwk
Pronunciation: ar-yoke'
Description: of foreign origin; Arjok, the name of two Babylonians; Arioch. - Strong's Number: H495
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶלָּסָר
Transliteration: ʼEllâçâr
Pronunciation: el-law-sawr'
Description: probably of foreign derivation; Ellasar, an early country of Asia; Ellasar. - Strong's Number: H702
There are 383 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַרְבַּע
Transliteration: ʼarbaʻ
Pronunciation: ar-bah'
Description: masculine אַרְבָּעָה; from רָבַע; four; four. - Strong's Number: H2568
There are 273 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָמֵשׁ
Transliteration: châmêsh
Pronunciation: khaw-maysh'
Description: masculine חֲמִשָּׁה; a primitive numeral; five; fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece).