Genesis 21:30
◄  Genesis 21:30  ►
New International Version (©2011)
He replied, "Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well."

New Living Translation (©2007)
Abraham replied, "Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well."

English Standard Version (©2001)
He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
He replied, "You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand so that this act will serve as my witness that I dug this well."

International Standard Version (©2012)
He replied, "You are to accept from me these seven ewe lambs as a witness that I have dug this well."

NET Bible (©2006)
He replied, "You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof that I dug this well."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Abraham answered, "Accept these lambs from me so that they may be proof that I dug this well."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shall you take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have dug this well.

American King James Version
And 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.

American Standard Version
And he said, These seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said: Thou shalt take seven ewe lambs at my hand: that they may be a testimony for me, that I dug this well.

Darby Bible Translation
And he said, That thou take the seven ewe-lambs of my hand, that they may be a witness to me that I have dug this well.

English Revised Version
And he said, These seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, For these seven ewe-lambs shalt thou take from my hand, that they may be a witness to me, that I have digged this well.

World English Bible
He said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well."

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'For -- the seven lambs thou dost accept from my hand, so that it becometh a witness for me that I have digged this well;'

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 he said,.... That is, Abraham replied to Abimelech:

for these seven ewe lambs shall thou take of my hand; as a present from him, to be retained as his own:

that they may be a witness to me that I have digged this well: these were to be a testimony that the well that had been taken away from Abraham was one that he had dug, and was his property, and which Abimelech acknowledged by his acceptance of these seven lambs; and very probably Abraham received a note from the hand of Abimelech, owning his reception of the seven lambs, and his title to the well, which these were a witness of.

Genesis 21:30 Parallel Commentaries

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The Covenant at Beersheba
…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. 31Why he called that place Beersheba; because there they swore both of them. …

Genesis 21:28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock,
Genesis 21:29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?"
Genesis 26:15 So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
Genesis 31:48 Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." That is why it was called Galeed.