Genesis 21:31
◄  Genesis 21:31  ►
New International Version (©2011)
So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Then he named the place Beersheba (which means "well of the oath"), because that was where they had sworn the oath.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba, because the two of them swore an oath.

NET Bible (©2006)
That is why he named that place Beer Sheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
This is why that place is called Beersheba, because both of them swore an oath there.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Therefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they swore both of them.

American King James Version
Why he called that place Beersheba; because there they swore both of them.

American Standard Version
Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba. Because there they sware both of them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore that place was called Bersabee: because both of them did swear.

Darby Bible Translation
Therefore he called that place Beer-sheba, because there they had sworn, both of them.

English Revised Version
Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba: because there they swore both of them.

World English Bible
Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore there.

Young's Literal Translation
therefore hath he called that place 'Beer-Sheba,' for there have both of them sworn.

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.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 31. - Wherefore he called that place Beersheba. I.e. "the well of the oath," φρέαρ ὁρκισμοῦ (LXX., Gesenius, Furst, Rosenmüller), or the well of the seven (Keil), rather than the seven wells (Lange); discovered by Robinson in Bir-es-seba, in the Wady-es-seba, twelve miles to the south of Hebron, with two deep wells of excellent water. "The great well has an internal diameter at the mouth of twelve feet six inches, or a circumference of nearly forty feet. The shaft is formed of excellent masonry to a great depth until it reaches the rock, and at this juncture a spring trickles perpetually. Around the mouth of the well is a circular course of masonry, topped by a circular parapet of about a foot high; and at a distance of ten or twelve feet are stone troughs placed in a concentric circle with the well, the sides of which have deep indentions made by the wear of ropes on the upper edges The second well, about 200 yards farther south, is not more than five feet in diameter, but is formed of equally good masonry, and furnishes equally good water" (vide 'Byeways in Palestine,' by James Finn, M.R.A.S., p. 190). Because there they aware both of them.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Wherefore he called that place Beersheba,.... Either Abraham or Abimelech, or both, called it so; or it may be read impersonally, "therefore the place was called Beersheba" (t), for two reasons, one implied, the other expressed; one was, because of the seven lambs before mentioned; so the Targum of Jonathan,"and therefore he called the well the well of seven lambs;''"Beer" signifying a well, and "sheba" seven; the other, and which is more certain, being expressed, is as follows:

because there they sware both of them; by the living God, to keep the covenant inviolably they had made between them.

(t) "vocatus", V. L. Calvin, Piscator.

Genesis 21:31 Parallel Commentaries

Genesis 21:31 NIV
Genesis 21:31 NLT
Genesis 21:31 ESV
Genesis 21:31 NASB
Genesis 21:31 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Covenant at Beersheba
…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. 32Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. …

Genesis 21:14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.
Genesis 21:32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines.
Genesis 26:31 Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they went away peacefully.
Genesis 26:33 He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba.
Genesis 46:1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
Joshua 15:28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
1 Kings 19:3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
Amos 5:5 do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing."