Genesis 21:29
 Genesis 21:29 
New International Version (©2011)
and Abimelek asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?"

New Living Translation (©2007)
Abimelech asked, "Why have you set these seven apart from the others?"

English Standard Version (©2001)
And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Abimelech said to Abraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
And Abimelech said to Abraham, "Why have you separated these seven ewe lambs?"

International Standard Version (©2012)
so Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set aside?"

NET Bible (©2006)
Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?"

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Abimelech asked him, "What is the meaning of these seven female lambs you have set apart?"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?

American King James Version
And Abimelech said to Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?

American Standard Version
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Abimelech said to him: What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set apart?

Darby Bible Translation
And Abimelech said to Abraham, What mean these seven ewe-lambs, these which thou hast set by themselves?

English Revised Version
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abimelech said to Abraham, What mean these seven ewe-lambs, which thou hast set by themselves?

World English Bible
Abimelech said to Abraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves mean?"

Young's Literal Translation
And Abimelech saith unto Abraham, 'What are they -- these seven lambs which thou hast set by themselves?'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Abraham took care to have his title to the well allowed, to prevent disputes in future. No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. Abraham, being now in a good neighbourhood, stayed a great while there. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession of his religion. There he called on the name of the Lord, as the everlasting God; probably in the grove he planted, which was his place of prayer. Abraham kept up public worship, in which his neighbours might join. Good men should do all they can to make others so. Wherever we sojourn, we must neither neglect nor be ashamed of the worship of Jehovah.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Abimelech said unto Abraham,.... Observing what he had done, and not knowing the design of it:

what mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? he understood what the sheep and oxen were for, that they were presents to him, at least some of them, and the rest were for the solemnizing and ratifying the covenant between them; but what these were for he could not devise.

Genesis 21:29 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Covenant at Beersheba
28And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29And Abimelech said to Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves? 30And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shall you take of my hand, that they may be a witness to me, that I have dig this well. …

Genesis 21:28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock,
Genesis 21:30 He replied, "Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well."