Genesis 13:14

¶ And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Abram {H87}, after {H310} that Lot {H3876} was separated {H6504} from him, Lift up {H5375} now thine eyes {H5869}, and look {H7200} from the place {H4725} where thou art northward {H6828}, and southward {H5045}, and eastward {H6924}, and westward {H3220}:

ADONAI said to Avram, after Lot had moved away from him, "Look all around you from where you are, to the north, the south, the east and the west.

After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west,

And Jehovah said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward:

Commentary

Genesis 13:14 marks a pivotal moment in the life of Abram (later Abraham), where God reiterates and expands upon His covenant promises. This verse follows directly after the peaceful but necessary separation of Abram from his nephew, Lot, due to the inability of their growing herds to coexist in the same land.

Context

The preceding verses (Genesis 13:7-11) describe the discord between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen. In an act of remarkable generosity and faith, Abram offered Lot the first choice of land. Lot chose the fertile plain of Jordan, gravitating towards Sodom. Once Lot had departed, God immediately spoke to Abram, reinforcing His commitment to him alone. This separation was not a setback but a divine preparation for the unfolding of God's specific plan for Abram and his descendants.

Key Themes

  • Reaffirmation of God's Promise: This verse is a powerful restatement of the land promise first given to Abram in Genesis 12. God's promises are unwavering, even when circumstances change or challenges arise.
  • Divine Initiative: The phrase "And the LORD said unto Abram" highlights that this renewed promise is entirely God's initiative. He speaks to Abram precisely "after that Lot was separated from him," indicating divine timing and purpose.
  • Vastness of the Promised Land: The command to "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward" emphasizes the immense scope of the territory God was promising. It was a visual confirmation of the breadth of the inheritance.
  • Separation for Purpose: Lot's departure cleared the way for God's singular focus on Abram. Sometimes, necessary separations can precede significant blessings or clearer divine direction.

Linguistic Insights

The imperative "Lift up now thine eyes, and look" suggests a comprehensive survey of the land, not just a casual glance. It invites Abram to visually apprehend the vastness of God's intended gift. The phrase "from the place where thou art" implies a specific vantage point, likely a high elevation in Canaan, from which Abram could literally survey the horizons in all four directions. This physical act of looking served to embed the promise deeply in Abram's mind and heart.

Reflection and Application

Genesis 13:14 offers profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us that God is faithful to His promises, often reaffirming them during times of transition or difficulty. Just as Abram was invited to "look" and envision the promise, we are called to fix our eyes on God's word and His future plans for us. Sometimes, God uses moments of separation or apparent loss to clear the path for a greater, more specific blessing. This verse encourages us to trust God's timing and His sovereignty, knowing that He has a vast and good inheritance for those who walk in faith with Him. The promise of the land continues into the next verse, Genesis 13:15, which explicitly states the land will be given to Abram and his seed forever.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 49:18 (6 votes)

    ¶ Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them [on thee], as a bride [doeth].

  • Deuteronomy 3:27 (6 votes)

    Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold [it] with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

  • Genesis 28:14 (5 votes)

    And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

  • Isaiah 60:4 (5 votes)

    Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at [thy] side.

  • Genesis 13:10 (4 votes)

    ¶ And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.