Genesis 26:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

Complete Jewish Bible:

ADONAI appeared to him and said, "Don't go down into Egypt, but live where I tell you.

Berean Standard Bible:

The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you.

American Standard Version:

And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the LORD{H3068} appeared{H7200} unto him, and said{H559}, Go not down{H3381} into Egypt{H4714}; dwell{H7931} in the land{H776} which I shall tell{H559} thee of:

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 12:7

  • And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Genesis 18:1

  • ¶ And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Genesis 17:1

  • ¶ And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 12:1

  • ¶ Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Psalms 37:3

  • Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Genesis 18:10

  • And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard [it] in the tent door, which [was] behind him.

Genesis 18:20

  • And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

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Commentary for Genesis 26:2

1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Guidance:** The verse emphasizes the theme of God's direct communication with His followers, providing them with specific instructions.
- **Trust and Obedience:** It calls for faith in God's plan, urging Isaac to trust in God's guidance rather than resorting to his own strategies, such as fleeing to Egypt during hardship.
- **Promise and Fulfillment:** The instruction to dwell in a specified land hints at the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, which extends to his son Isaac, regarding the inheritance of the land of Canaan.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Famine in Canaan:** At the time of Genesis 26:2, there was a famine in the land of Canaan, similar to the one experienced by Abraham, Isaac's father, which had previously driven the patriarch to Egypt.
- **Egypt as Refuge:** Egypt was known to be a place of refuge during times of famine due to the fertility of the Nile delta, which could support crops even during droughts.
- **Covenant with Abraham:** God had made a covenant with Abraham, promising him and his descendants the land of Canaan. This verse is part of God's reaffirmation of that covenant with Isaac, ensuring the continuation of the Abrahamic lineage and the eventual fulfillment of the promise.
- **Isaac's Faithfulness:** Isaac, as the son of Abraham, is being tested in his faithfulness to God's covenant, similar to how Abraham was tested. By staying in the land God directs him to, Isaac demonstrates his trust in God's provision and promise.

In summary, Genesis 26:2 reflects the themes of divine guidance and the importance of trust and obedience to God's commands. It is set against a historical backdrop of famine, where the inclination to seek sustenance in Egypt is countered by God's directive to remain in the Promised Land, thus reinforcing the covenantal relationship between God and the patriarchs of Israel.

*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: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  2. Strong's Number: H7200
    There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָאָה
    Transliteration: râʼâh
    Pronunciation: raw-aw'
    Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
  3. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  4. Strong's Number: H3381
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָרַד
    Transliteration: yârad
    Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
    Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
  5. Strong's Number: H4714
    There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
    Transliteration: Mitsrayim
    Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
    Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.
  6. Strong's Number: H7931
    There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁכַן
    Transliteration: shâkan
    Pronunciation: shaw-kan'
    Description: a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to שָׁכַב through the idea of lodging; compare סִכְלוּת, שָׁכַם); to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively); abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).
  7. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.