Genesis 26:16
New International Version
Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”

New Living Translation
Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.”

English Standard Version
And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.”

King James Bible
And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

New King James Version
And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.”

NASB 1995
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.”

NASB 1977
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too mighty for us.”

Amplified Bible
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from here, because you are far too powerful for us.”

Christian Standard Bible
And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Leave us, for you are much too powerful for us.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Leave us, for you are much too powerful for us.”

American Standard Version
And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

Contemporary English Version
Finally, Abimelech said, "Isaac, I want you to leave our country. You have become too powerful to stay here."

English Revised Version
And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Finally, Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us! You've become more powerful than we are."

Good News Translation
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Leave our country. You have become more powerful than we are."

International Standard Version
Then Abimelech ordered Isaac, "Move away from us! You've become more powerful than we are."

Majority Standard Bible
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, ?Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.?

NET Bible
Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Leave us and go elsewhere, for you have become much more powerful than we are."

New Heart English Bible
Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go from us, for you are much mightier than we are."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abimelech said to Isaac, Go from us: for thou art much mightier than we.

World English Bible
Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abimelech says to Isaac, “Go from us; for you have become much mightier than we”;

Young's Literal Translation
And Abimelech saith unto Isaac, 'Go from us; for thou hast become much mightier than we;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abimelech will say to Isaak, Go from us: for thou wert strong above us exceedingly.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Insomuch that Abimelech himself said to Isaac: Depart from us, for thou art become much mightier than we.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It reached a point where Abimelech himself said to Isaac, “Move away from us, for you have become very much more powerful than we.”

New American Bible
So Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us; you have become far too numerous for us.”

New Revised Standard Version
And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abimeleck said to Isaac, Go away from among us; for you are much mightier than we.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abimelek said to Isaaq, “Go from our presence because you have become much stronger than we are.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abimelech said unto Isaac: 'Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abimelech said to Isaac, Depart from us, for thou art become much mightier than we.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Isaac's Prosperity
15So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham. 16Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.” 17So Isaac left that place and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.…

Cross References
Exodus 1:9-10
“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

Genesis 21:25-31
But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized, / Abimelech replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.” / So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. ...

Genesis 13:6-9
But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist. / And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land. / So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen. ...

Genesis 31:52-53
This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me. / May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

Numbers 22:3-4
and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. / So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,

Judges 11:7
Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress?”

1 Samuel 26:19
Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

2 Samuel 24:24
“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

1 Kings 21:20
When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 16:10
Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.

Psalm 105:14-15
He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf: / “Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!”

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.

Isaiah 26:11
O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!

Jeremiah 12:6
Even your brothers—your own father’s household—even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.

Matthew 8:34
Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.


Treasury of Scripture

And Abimelech said to Isaac, Go from us; for you are much mightier than we.

Go.

mightier.

Exodus 1:9
And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

Jump to Previous
Abimelech Abim'elech Isaac Mightier Move Powerful Stronger
Jump to Next
Abimelech Abim'elech Isaac Mightier Move Powerful Stronger
Genesis 26
1. Isaac, because of famine, sojourns in Gerar, and the Lord blesses him.
7. He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife.
12. He grows rich, and the Philistines envy his prosperity.
18. He digs wells.
23. God appears to him at Beersheba, and blesses him;
26. and Abimelech makes a covenant with him.
34. Esau's wives.














Then Abimelech
Abimelech is a title used for Philistine kings, similar to "Pharaoh" in Egypt. The name means "my father is king" in Hebrew, indicating a royal lineage or authority. Historically, the Philistines were a significant presence in the region, often interacting with the patriarchs. Abimelech's interactions with both Abraham and Isaac suggest a continuity of diplomatic relations and tensions between the Philistines and the Hebrew patriarchs.

said to Isaac
Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, is a central figure in the Genesis narrative. His name means "he laughs," reflecting the joy and surprise of his birth to elderly parents. Isaac's life is marked by a continuation of the covenant promises given to Abraham. The dialogue between Abimelech and Isaac highlights the ongoing fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham's descendants numerous and influential.

Leave us
This phrase indicates a request for separation. In the context of ancient Near Eastern culture, such a request could stem from fear, jealousy, or a desire to maintain peace. Isaac's prosperity and growing influence likely threatened the Philistines, prompting Abimelech to ask for his departure. This reflects a recurring biblical theme where God's blessing on His people often leads to tension with surrounding nations.

for you are much too powerful for us
The Hebrew root for "powerful" here is "atzam," which can mean strong, mighty, or numerous. Isaac's wealth and influence had grown significantly, as described earlier in the chapter, where he reaped a hundredfold and became very wealthy. This prosperity is a testament to God's blessing and faithfulness to His covenant. Historically, such growth would naturally cause concern among neighboring peoples, who might fear economic or military domination.

Verse 16. - And Abimelech said unto Isaac (almost leading to the suspicion that the Philistine monarch had instigated the outbreak of hostilities amongst his people), Go from us (a royal command rather than a friendly advice); for thou art much mightier than we. The same apprehension of the growing numbers and strength of Isaac's descendants in Egypt took possession of the heart of Pharaoh, and led to their enslavement (vide Exodus 1:9).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Abimelech
אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ (’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 40: Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name

said
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Isaac,
יִצְחָ֑ק (yiṣ·ḥāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3327: Isaac -- 'he laughs', son of Abraham and Sarah

“Depart from
לֵ֚ךְ (lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

us,
מֵֽעִמָּ֔נוּ (mê·‘im·mā·nū)
Preposition-m | first person common plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you are much
מְאֹֽד׃ (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

too powerful
עָצַֽמְתָּ־ (‘ā·ṣam·tā-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6105: To bind fast, close, powerful, numerous, to crunch the bones

for us.”
מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of


Links
Genesis 26:16 NIV
Genesis 26:16 NLT
Genesis 26:16 ESV
Genesis 26:16 NASB
Genesis 26:16 KJV

Genesis 26:16 BibleApps.com
Genesis 26:16 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 26:16 Chinese Bible
Genesis 26:16 French Bible
Genesis 26:16 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 26:16 Abimelech said to Isaac Go from us (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 26:15
Top of Page
Top of Page