Genesis 21:27

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Avraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Avimelekh, and the two of them made a covenant.

Berean Standard Bible:

So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.

American Standard Version:

And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and they two made a covenant.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Abraham^{H85} took^{H3947} sheep^{H6629} and oxen^{H1241}, and gave^{H5414} them unto Abimelech^{H40}; and both of them^{H8147} made^{H3772} a covenant^{H1285}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 21:27

Genesis 21:27 is part of the narrative concerning the life of Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, as recounted in the Hebrew Bible. This verse occurs within the context of a larger story that reflects several key themes and historical contexts:

**Themes:**

1. **Covenant-Making:** The act of making a covenant was a significant religious and social practice in the ancient Near East. It involved a solemn agreement between two parties, often sealed with a sacrifice or exchange of goods. In this case, Abraham and Abimelech are formalizing a treaty, which would typically include mutual obligations and promises of peace and cooperation.

2. **Diplomacy and Peaceful Resolution:** The verse follows an incident where there was a dispute over a well that Abraham's servants had dug, which Abimelech's men had seized. Instead of escalating the conflict, Abraham chose to resolve the matter diplomatically by making a covenant with Abimelech, demonstrating a preference for peace.

3. **Righteousness and Trust:** Abraham's actions reflect his character as a man of faith and integrity. By entering into a covenant with Abimelech, he establishes a relationship based on trust and righteousness, which aligns with the broader biblical theme of God's people living in harmony with their neighbors.

**Historical Context:**

1. **Patriarchal Period:** The events described in Genesis, including this verse, are set in the context of the early second millennium BCE, during the Patriarchal Period. This era is characterized by the lives and migrations of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

2. **Nomadic Lifestyle:** Abraham was a Semitic nomad, and his lifestyle would have involved moving with his herds and flocks to find pasture and water. The conflict over the well reflects the practical concerns of a nomadic life in the ancient Near East.

3. **Interactions with Neighboring Peoples:** The story depicts interactions between the Hebrew patriarchs and the indigenous peoples of Canaan, such as Abimelech, who is identified as a Philistine king. These interactions often involved negotiations over resources and territory.

4. **Philistines:** The Philistines were a seafaring people who settled on the coastal plain of Canaan during the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. While the historical accuracy of their portrayal in Genesis is debated, the narrative reflects the types of encounters that would have occurred between different groups in the region.

In summary, Genesis 21:27 reflects themes of covenant-making, diplomacy, and righteous living within the historical context of the Patriarchal Period, highlighting the interactions between the early Hebrews and their neighbors in the ancient Near East.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H85
   There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
   Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
   Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
   Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6629
   There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צֹאן
   Transliteration: tsôʼn
   Pronunciation: tsone
   Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).
   
4. Strong's Number: H1241
   There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּקָר
   Transliteration: bâqâr
   Pronunciation: baw-kawr'
   Description: from בָּקַר; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd; beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H40
   There are 1102 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: ʼĂbîymelek
   Pronunciation: ab-ee-mel'-ek
   Description: from אָב and מֶלֶךְ; father of (the) king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites; Abimelech.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8147
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
   Transliteration: shᵉnayim
   Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
   Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3772
   There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּרַת
   Transliteration: kârath
   Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
   Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1285
   There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּרִית
   Transliteration: bᵉrîyth
   Pronunciation: ber-eeth'
   Description: from בָּרָה (in the sense of cutting (like בָּרָא)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league.