Genesis 26 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 And there was a famine in the lande besides the first famine that was in the dayes of Abraham. Wherefore Izhak went to Abimelech King of the Philistims vnto Gerar.
1 There was a famine in the land, in addition to the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar.
2 For the Lord appeared vnto him, and sayde, Goe not downe into Egypt, but abide in the land which I shall shewe vnto thee.
2 Yahweh appeared to him, and said, “Don’t go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about.
3 Dwell in this lande, and I will be with thee, and will blesse thee: for to thee, and to thy seede I will giue all these countreys: and I will performe the othe which I sware vnto Abraham thy father.
3 Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For I will give to you, and to your offspring, all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
4 Also I wil cause thy seede to multiply as the starres of heauen, and will giue vnto thy seede all these countreys: and in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and will give all these lands to your offspring. In your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed,
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voyce and kept mine ordinance, my commandements, my statutes, and my Lawes.
5 because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my requirements, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
6 So Izhak dwelt in Gerar.
6 Isaac lived in Gerar.
7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife, and he sayd, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife, least, sayde he, the men of the place shoulde kill me, because of Rebekah: for she was beautifull to the eye.
7 The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife”, lest, he thought, “the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to look at.”
8 So after hee had bene there long time, Abimelech King of the Philistims looked out at a windowe, and loe, he sawe Izhak sporting with Rebekah his wife.
8 When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife.
9 Then Abimelech called Izhak, and sayde, Loe, shee is of a suertie thy wife, and why saydest thou, She is my sister? To whom Izhak answered, Because I thought this, It may be that I shall dye for her.
9 Abimelech called Isaac, and said, “Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die because of her.’”
10 Then Abimelech said, Why hast thou done this vnto vs? one of the people had almost lien by thy wife, so shouldest thou haue brought sinne vpon vs.
10 Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!”
11 Then Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man, or his wife, shall die the death.
11 Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”
12 Afterwarde Izhak sowed in that lande, and founde in the same yeere an hundreth folde by estimation: and so the Lord blessed him.
12 Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him.
13 And the man waxed mightie, and stil increased, till he was exceeding great,
13 The man grew great, and grew more and more until he became very great.
14 For he had flockes of sheepe, and heards of cattell, and a mightie housholde: therefore the Philistims had enuy at him.
14 He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him.
15 In so much that the Philistims stopped and filled vp with earth all the welles, which his fathers seruantes digged in his father Abrahams time.
15 Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth.
16 Then Abimelech sayde vnto Izhak, Get thee from vs, for thou art mightier then wee a great deale.
16 Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
17 Therefore Izhak departed thence and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
17 Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.
18 And Izhak returning, digged the welles of water, which they had digged in the dayes of Abraham his father: for the Philistims had stopped them after the death of Abraham, and hee gaue them the same names, which his father gaue them.
18 Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. He called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19 Izhaks seruantes then digged in the valley, and found there a well of liuing water.
19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water.
20 But the herdmen of Gerar did striue with Izhaks herdmen, saying, The water is ours: therefore called he the name of the well Esek, because they were at strife with him.
20 The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.
21 Afterwarde they digged another well, and stroue for that also, and he called the name of it Sitnah.
21 They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. So he called its name Sitnah.
22 Then he remoued thence, and digged an other well, for the which they stroue not: therefore called hee the name of it Rehoboth, and sayde, Because the Lord hath nowe made vs roome, we shall increase vpon the earth.
22 He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. So he called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
23 So he went vp thence to Beer-sheba.
23 He went up from there to Beersheba.
24 And the Lord appeared vnto him the same night, and sayde, I am the God of Abraham thy father: feare not, for I am with thee, and wil blesse thee, and will multiplie thy seede for my seruant Abrahams sake.
24 Yahweh appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.”
25 Then he builte an altar there, and called vpon the Name of the Lord, and there spred his tent: where also Izhaks seruauntes digged a well.
25 He built an altar there, and called on Yahweh’s name, and pitched his tent there. There Isaac’s servants dug a well.
26 Then came Abimelech to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friendes, and Phichol the captaine of his armie.
26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army.
27 To whom Izhak sayd, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate mee and haue put mee away from you?
27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?”
28 Who answered, Wee sawe certainely that the Lord was with thee, and wee thought thus, Let there be nowe an othe betweene vs, euen betweene vs and thee, and let vs make a couenant with thee.
28 They said, “We saw plainly that Yahweh was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and you, and let’s make a covenant with you,
29 If thou shalt do vs no hurt, as we haue not touched thee, and as we haue done vnto thee nothing but good, and sent thee away in peace: thou nowe, the blessed of the Lord, doe this.
29 that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You are now the blessed of Yahweh.”
30 Then hee made them a feast, and they dyd eate and drinke.
30 He made them a feast, and they ate and drank.
31 And they rose vp betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: then Izhak let them go, and they departed from him in peace.
31 They rose up some time in the morning, and swore an oath to one another. Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
32 And that same day Izhaks seruantes came and tolde him of a well, which they had digged, and said vnto him, We haue found water.
32 The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.”
33 So hee called it Shibah: therefore the name of the citie is called Beer-sheba vnto this day.
33 He called it “Shibah”. Therefore the name of the city is “Beersheba” to this day.
34 Nowe when Esau was fourtie yeere olde, he tooke to wife Iudith, the daughter of Beeri an Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon an Hittite also.
34 When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite.
35 And they were a griefe of minde to Izhak and to Rebekah.
35 They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abimelech
King of Gerar who took Sarah, was warned by God in a dream and returned her to Abraham, and made a covenant with Abraham at Beersheba; an Abimelech king of the Philistines at…
Cited in the guide: Genesis 20:2–3; Genesis 21:22–27; Genesis 26:1
Ahuzzath
Adviser of Abimelech who came with him and Phicol to Isaac at Beersheba to ask for a covenant.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 26:26
Basemath
Daughter of Elon the Hittite, whom Esau took as a wife at age forty; she and Judith brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah, while Genesis 36:2 calls Elon the Hittite's daughter,…
Cited in the guide: Genesis 26:34–35
Beeri
A Hittite named only as the father of Esau's wife Judith.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 26:34
Elon
A Hittite named as the father of Esau's wife Basemath in Genesis 26:34 and of Esau's wife Adah in Genesis 36:2.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 26:34; Genesis 36:2
Esau
Isaac's elder son, who traded his birthright for a bowl of stew.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 25–27; 36
Rebekah
Wife of Isaac and mother of the twins Jacob and Esau.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 24-27
Cross references (33)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Genesis 12:10; Genesis 25:11; Genesis 21:22–32; Genesis 20:1–2
- 2 Genesis 12:7; Genesis 18:1; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 12:1; Psalm 37:3
- 3 Genesis 28:15; Psalm 105:9; Genesis 22:16–18; Hebrews 11:9; Genesis 17:8
- 4 Acts 3:25; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 12:2–3; Galatians 3:8; Genesis 22:17–18
- 5 Matthew 7:24; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 22:16; James 2:21; Psalm 112:1–2
- 6 Genesis 20:1
- 7 Proverbs 29:25; Genesis 20:2; Genesis 12:13; Genesis 24:16; Genesis 20:12–13
- 8 Isaiah 62:5; Proverbs 5:18–19; Proverbs 7:6; Song of Songs 2:9; Judges 5:28
- 10 Genesis 12:18–19; Genesis 20:9–10
- 11 Psalm 105:15; Genesis 20:6; Proverbs 6:29; Zechariah 2:8
- 12 Mark 4:8; Genesis 26:3; Zechariah 8:12; 2 Corinthians 9:10–11; Genesis 24:1
- 13 Proverbs 10:22; Psalm 112:3; Genesis 24:35
- 14 Genesis 37:11; Job 1:3; Job 5:2; Proverbs 27:4; Proverbs 10:22
- 15 Genesis 21:30; Genesis 21:25
- 16 Exodus 1:9
- 18 Zechariah 13:2; Psalm 16:4; Genesis 21:31; Hosea 2:17; Numbers 32:38
- 19 John 4:10–11; John 7:38; Song of Songs 4:15
- 20 Genesis 21:25
- 21 Ezra 4:6
- 22 Genesis 17:6; Exodus 1:7; Psalm 118:5; Genesis 41:52; Genesis 28:3
- 23 Genesis 46:1; Judges 20:1; Genesis 21:31
- 24 Genesis 15:1; Exodus 3:6; Genesis 17:7; Acts 7:32; Genesis 24:12
- 25 Genesis 13:18; Psalm 116:17; Genesis 12:7–8; Genesis 35:1; Genesis 33:20
- 26 Genesis 21:22–32; Genesis 20:3
- 27 Genesis 26:16; Judges 11:7; Acts 7:35; Acts 7:9; Acts 7:27
- 28 Genesis 21:22–23; Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 61:9; Genesis 21:31–32; Joshua 3:7
- 29 Genesis 24:31; Genesis 21:22; Genesis 12:2; Psalm 115:15; Genesis 22:17
- 30 Genesis 19:3; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:18; Genesis 31:54; 1 Peter 4:9
- 31 1 Samuel 30:15; Genesis 25:33; Genesis 21:31–32; 1 Samuel 20:16–17; Genesis 31:44
- 32 Proverbs 10:4; Matthew 7:7; Proverbs 13:4; Genesis 26:25; Proverbs 2:4–5
- 33 Genesis 21:31; Genesis 26:28
- 34 Genesis 36:2; Genesis 36:13; Exodus 34:16; Genesis 24:3; Genesis 28:9
- 35 Genesis 27:46–28:2; Genesis 28:8; Genesis 6:2
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all this land: and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham thy father obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts, my commandments, my righteousness, and my laws." This patriarch neither had another wife, nor any concubine, but was content with the twin-children …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… kept my precepts, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." And again in another oracle He says, "I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake." So that we must understand how chastely Abraham acted, because imprudent men, who seek some …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
That which He promised to Abraham, saying, "In thy seed shall all nations be blessed." What is the faithfulness of God?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)