King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Now the P'lishtim had stopped up and filled with dirt all the wells his father's servants had dug during the lifetime of Avraham his father.
Berean Standard Bible:
So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.
American Standard Version:
Now all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
For all the wells{H875} which his father's{H1} servants{H5650} had digged{H2658} in the days{H3117} of Abraham{H85} his father{H1}, the Philistines{H6430} had stopped{H5640} them, and filled{H4390} them with earth{H6083}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 21:30
- And he said, For [these] seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
Genesis 21:25
- And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 26:15
Genesis 26:15 is a verse set within the broader narrative of Isaac's life, specifically during a period when he is residing in the land of the Philistines, in Gerar. The verse reads, "For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth."
This verse reflects several important themes and historical contexts:
1. **Conflict over Resources**: The act of the Philistines stopping up the wells that Abraham's servants had dug represents a conflict over water rights, a precious commodity in the ancient Near East. This conflict underscores the importance of water in the region and the tensions that could arise between different groups over access to such a vital resource.
2. **Legacy and Inheritance**: The wells symbolize the legacy of Abraham, Isaac's father, and the inheritance that Isaac is meant to receive. By filling in these wells, the Philistines are not only impeding Isaac's access to water but also challenging his claim to the land and the heritage of his father.
3. **Divine Promises**: The broader narrative within which this verse is situated is one of divine promise. God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:7, Genesis 15:18-21). Isaac's experience with the Philistines is part of the story of how God's promises are tested and ultimately fulfilled, despite human opposition.
4. **Historical Context**: The Philistines were a seafaring people who settled on the coastal plain of what is now Israel and the Gaza Strip during the Iron Age. They were frequently in conflict with the Israelites, and their presence in the land reflects the historical reality of the time, where various peoples vied for control of territory and resources.
5. **Faith and Perseverance**: Isaac's response to the Philistines' actions (which can be seen in the subsequent verses) demonstrates his faith and perseverance. He re-digs the wells and continues to seek reconciliation with the Philistines, which mirrors the broader biblical theme of faithfulness in the face of adversity.
In summary, Genesis 26:15 captures a moment of tension between Isaac and the Philistines over wells that were part of Isaac's inheritance from his father Abraham. It highlights themes of resource conflict, legacy, divine promise, historical rivalry, and the importance of faith and perseverance in the face of challenges. This verse is part of the larger narrative of the patriarchs and their journey to establish themselves in the land that God had promised to them.
*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: H875
There are 255 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּאֵר
Transliteration: bᵉʼêr
Pronunciation: be-ayr'
Description: from בָּאַר; a pit; especially a well; pit, well. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H2658
There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָפַר
Transliteration: châphar
Pronunciation: khaw-far'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to pry into; by implication, to delve, to explore; dig, paw, search out, seek. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - 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. - Strong's Number: H6430
There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
Transliteration: Pᵉlishtîy
Pronunciation: pel-ish-tee'
Description: patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine. - Strong's Number: H5640
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָתַם
Transliteration: çâtham
Pronunciation: saw-tham'
Description: or שָׂתַם; (Numbers 24:15), a primitive root; to stop up; by implication, to repair; figuratively, to keep secret; closed up, hidden, secret, shut out (up), stop. - Strong's Number: H4390
There are 240 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָלֵא
Transliteration: mâlêʼ
Pronunciation: maw-lay'
Description: or מָלָא; (Esther 7:5), a primitive root; to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively); accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly. - Strong's Number: H6083
There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָפָר
Transliteration: ʻâphâr
Pronunciation: aw-fawr'
Description: from עָפַר; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud; ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.