King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac [was] sporting with Rebekah his wife.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But one day, after he had lived there a long time, Avimelekh king of the P'lishtim happened to be looking out of a window when he spotted Yitz'chak caressing Rivkah his wife.
Berean Standard Bible:
When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.
American Standard Version:
And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it came to pass, when he had been there a long{H748} time{H3117}, that Abimelech{H40} king{H4428} of the Philistines{H6430} looked out{H8259} at{H1157} a window{H2474}, and saw{H7200}, and, behold, Isaac{H3327} was sporting{H6711} with Rebekah{H7259} his wife{H802}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 62:5
- For [as] a young man marrieth a virgin, [so] shall thy sons marry thee: and [as] the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Song of Solomon 2:9
- My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
Proverbs 5:18
- Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Proverbs 5:19
- [Let her be as] the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
Proverbs 7:6
- ¶ For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
Judges 5:28
- The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot [so] long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
Ecclesiastes 9:9
- Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 26:8
Genesis 26:8 is a verse set within the broader context of the life of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and his family. This verse specifically captures a moment in the historical narrative where Isaac and his wife Rebekah are dwelling in the land of the Philistines, in Gerar. The Philistines were a group of people who inhabited the coastal areas of what is now modern-day Israel and the Gaza Strip. They are frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as antagonists to the Israelites.
In this verse, the king of the Philistines, Abimelech, observes Isaac and Rebekah from a window. The term "sporting" is interpreted in various ways, ranging from a playful interaction to a more intimate act of caressing or fondling. The King's voyeuristic observation is significant because it leads to a subsequent interaction where Isaac, fearing for his safety due to Rebekah's beauty, lies about his relationship with Rebekah, claiming she is his sister rather than his wife. This lie mirrors a similar situation experienced by his father, Abraham, with Sarah in Egypt and also with Abimelech in an earlier incident (Genesis 12 and 20).
The themes present in this verse include the complex dynamics between the Israelites and their neighbors, the recurring motif of deception for self-preservation, and the ever-present concern for the safety and virtue of the matriarchs in the face of foreign rulers. It also touches on the themes of marriage, fidelity, and the domestic life of the patriarchs. The verse reflects the vulnerability of the patriarchal family in a foreign land, the cultural norms regarding hospitality and the protection of guests, and the moral dilemmas faced by the patriarchs when their safety is threatened.
In summary, Genesis 26:8 provides a snapshot of family life and the broader socio-political tensions of the time, highlighting the recurring theme of deception in the face of danger and the delicate relations between the chosen family of the patriarchs and the surrounding nations. This moment sets the stage for further interactions between Isaac and Abimelech, ultimately leading to a covenant between them, reinforcing the theme of God's protection over His people despite their occasional lapses in faith.
*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: H748
There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָרַךְ
Transliteration: ʼârak
Pronunciation: aw-rak'
Description: a primitive root; to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively); defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-) long, [phrase] (out-, over-) live, tarry (long). - 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: 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. - 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: 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: H8259
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁקַף
Transliteration: shâqaph
Pronunciation: shaw-kaf'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle); appear, look (down, forth, out). - Strong's Number: H1157
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּעַד
Transliteration: bᵉʻad
Pronunciation: beh-ad'
Description: from עַד with prepositional prefix; in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc.; about, at by (means of), for, over, through, up (-on), within. - Strong's Number: H2474
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַלּוֹן
Transliteration: challôwn
Pronunciation: khal-lone'
Description: a window (as perforated); window. - 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. - Strong's Number: H3327
There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִצְחָק
Transliteration: Yitschâq
Pronunciation: yits-khawk'
Description: from צָחַק; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִשְׂחָק. - Strong's Number: H6711
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָחַק
Transliteration: tsâchaq
Pronunciation: tsaw-khak'
Description: a primitive root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport; laugh, mock, play, make sport. - Strong's Number: H7259
There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רִבְקָה
Transliteration: Ribqâh
Pronunciation: rib-kaw'
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to clog by tying up the fetlock; fettering (by beauty); Ribkah, the wife of Isaac; Rebekah. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.