Genesis 26:18
New International Version
Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.

New Living Translation
He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

English Standard Version
And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them.

Berean Standard Bible
Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. And he gave these wells the same names his father had given them.

King James Bible
And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

New King James Version
And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them.

New American Standard Bible
Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them.

NASB 1995
Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them.

NASB 1977
Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, but the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he called them by the same names by which his father had called them.

Amplified Bible
Now Isaac again dug [and reopened] the wells of water which had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, because the Philistines had filled them up [with dirt] after the death of Abraham; and he gave the wells the same names that his father had given them.

Christian Standard Bible
Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. He gave them the same names his father had given them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Isaac reopened the water wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. He gave them the same names his father had given them.

American Standard Version
And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

Contemporary English Version
where he cleaned out those wells that the Philistines had stopped up. Isaac also gave each of the wells the same name that Abraham had given to them.

English Revised Version
And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He dug out the wells that had been dug during his father Abraham's lifetime. The Philistines had filled them in after Abraham's death. He gave them the same names that his father had given them.

Good News Translation
He dug once again the wells which had been dug during the time of Abraham and which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham's death. Isaac gave the wells the same names that his father had given them.

International Standard Version
Isaac re-excavated some wells that his father had first dug during his lifetime, because the Philistines had filled them with sand after Abraham's death. Isaac renamed those wells with the same names that his father had called them.

Majority Standard Bible
Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. And he gave these wells the same names his father had given them.

NET Bible
Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug back in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after Abraham died. Isaac gave these wells the same names his father had given them.

New Heart English Bible
Isaac dug again the wells which the servants of his father Abraham had dug. For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Isaac digged again the wells of water which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Isaac turns back, and digs the wells of water which they dug in the days of his father Abraham, which the Philistines have stopped after the death of Abraham, and he calls to them names according to the names which his father called them.

Young's Literal Translation
and Isaac turneth back, and diggeth the wells of water which they digged in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines do stop after the death of Abraham, and he calleth to them names according to the names which his father called them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Isaak will dwell, and he will dig the wells of waters which they digged in the days of Abraham his father; and the Philistines will stop them after Abraham died: and he will call them the names after the names which his father called them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he digged again other wells, which the servants of his father Abraham had digged, and which, after his death, the Palestines had of old stopped up: and he called them by the same names by which his father before had called them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Again, he dug up other wells, which the servants of his father Abraham had dug, and which, after his death, the Philistines had formerly obstructed. And he called them by the same names that his father had called them before.

New American Bible
Isaac reopened the wells which his father’s servants had dug back in the days of his father Abraham and which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham’s death; he gave them names like those that his father had given them.

New Revised Standard Version
Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Isaac digged again the wells of water which had been dug by the servants of his father in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had polluted them after the death of Abraham; and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Isaaq returned and dug the wells of waters that the workers of his father had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and the Philistines polluted them after Abraham was dead, and he called them names according to the names that his father had called them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham; and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Isaac dug again the wells of water, which the servants of his father Abraam had dug, and the Phylistines had stopped them, after the death of his father Abraam; and he gave them names, according to the names by which his father named them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Isaac's Prosperity
17So Isaac left that place and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. And he gave these wells the same names his father had given them. 19Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of fresh water there.…

Cross References
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 13:7-9
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. / Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Genesis 12:7-9
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. / From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD. / And Abram journeyed on toward the Negev.

Genesis 21:22-24
At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. / Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.” / And Abraham replied, “I swear it.”

Genesis 26:15-17
So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham. / Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.” / So Isaac left that place and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.

Exodus 17:1-7
Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert of Sin, moving from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. / So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?” / But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” ...

Numbers 20:2-13
Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron. / The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! / Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? ...

2 Kings 3:16-20
and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ / This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. ...

2 Chronicles 26:10
Since he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns. And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields.

Nehemiah 9:25
They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.

Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

John 4:5-14
So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. / Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. / When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” ...

John 7:37-39
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. / Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” / He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Matthew 10:13-14
If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you. / And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

Luke 6:48
He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.


Treasury of Scripture

And Isaac dig again the wells of water, which they had dig in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

in the days.

and he.

Genesis 21:31
Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

Numbers 32:38
And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.

Psalm 16:4
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

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Abraham Death Died Digged Diggeth Dug Isaac Names Philistines Stop Stopped Time Turneth Water Water-Holes Wells
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Abraham Death Died Digged Diggeth Dug Isaac Names Philistines Stop Stopped Time Turneth Water Water-Holes Wells
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.














Isaac reopened the wells
The act of reopening wells signifies a return to the blessings and provisions that God had previously established through Abraham. In Hebrew, the word for "wells" is "be'er," which not only refers to physical wells but also symbolizes sources of life and sustenance. Isaac's actions demonstrate a commitment to reclaiming the spiritual and physical heritage left by his father, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and restoring the blessings of past generations.

that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham
This phrase highlights the continuity of God's covenantal promises from Abraham to Isaac. The wells, originally dug by Abraham, represent the foundational work of faith and obedience. The Hebrew word for "dug" is "ḥāpar," which implies effort and perseverance. Abraham's initial efforts to establish these wells reflect his faith in God's provision, and Isaac's reopening of them signifies a reaffirmation of that faith and the ongoing fulfillment of God's promises.

which the Philistines had stopped up
The Philistines' actions in stopping up the wells symbolize opposition and spiritual warfare. Historically, the Philistines were often in conflict with the Israelites, representing forces that seek to hinder God's work. The Hebrew word for "stopped up" is "sātham," meaning to block or obstruct. This act of obstruction serves as a reminder of the challenges believers face in maintaining their spiritual inheritance and the need for vigilance and perseverance in overcoming such obstacles.

after Abraham’s death
The timing of the Philistines' actions, occurring after Abraham's death, underscores the vulnerability that can arise when a spiritual leader passes away. It serves as a cautionary note about the importance of raising up new leaders who will continue the work and protect the legacy of faith. This phrase also highlights the transition of responsibility from one generation to the next, emphasizing the need for each generation to actively engage in preserving and advancing the faith.

He gave them the same names his father had given them
By giving the wells the same names, Isaac honors his father's legacy and acknowledges the significance of the past. In Hebrew culture, names carry deep meaning and identity. The act of naming the wells as Abraham did signifies a respect for the original purpose and blessing associated with them. It reflects a desire to maintain continuity with God's promises and to affirm the identity and mission established by the previous generation. This action serves as an inspiration for believers to cherish and uphold the spiritual heritage they have received.

(18-22) Isaac digged again the wells . . . --This activity of Isaac called forth anew the opposition of the Philistines, His first well was in the wady of Gerar, and was the more valuable because it was not the mere remains of the water of the torrent, but was fed by a spring, as we learn from its being called "a well of living water." But though Isaac had a right to these wells by reason of the old covenant between his father and the king, yet when his claim was resisted he abandoned the well, but in token of displeasure called it Esek, contention. When compelled to resign his next well he called it by a harsher name--Sitnah, enmity; for their opposition was developing into bitter persecution. And now, wearied with the strife, he withdrew far away, and the Philistines, having gained their end, followed him no farther. In quiet, therefore, he again dug a well, and called it Rehoboth, wide open spaces. It has been identified with one in the wady Ruhaibeh now stopped up, but originally twelve feet in diameter and cased with hewn stone. It lies to the south of Beer-sheba, at a distance of 8? leagues, and about forty miles; away from Gerar.

Verse 18. - And Isaac digged again - literally, returned and digged, i.e. re-dug (cf. 2 Kings 20:5) - the wells of water, which they (the servants of Abraham) had digged in the days Of Abraham his father; - from which it appears that Abraham had digged other wells besides that of Beersheba (Genesis 21:31) - for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: - which was a violation of the league into which Abimelech had entered with the patriarch (vide Genesis 21:23) - and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them - and with which Isaac was sufficiently acquainted.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

reopened
וַיָּ֨שָׁב (way·yā·šāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

the wells
בְּאֵרֹ֣ת (bə·’ê·rōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 875: A pit, a well

that
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had been dug
חָֽפְרוּ֙ (ḥā·p̄ə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2658: To pry into, to delve, to explore

in the days
בִּימֵי֙ (bî·mê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of his father
אָבִ֔יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

Abraham,
אַבְרָהָ֣ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

which the Philistines
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

had stopped up
וַיְסַתְּמ֣וּם (way·sat·tə·mūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5640: To stop up, to repair, to keep secret

after
אַחֲרֵ֖י (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֑ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

died.
מ֣וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

And he gave
וַיִּקְרָ֤א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

[these wells]
לָהֶן֙ (lā·hen)
Preposition | third person feminine plural
Strong's Hebrew

the same names
שֵׁמ֔וֹת (šê·mō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8034: A name

his father
אָבִֽיו׃ (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

had given them.
קָרָ֥א (qā·rā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read


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OT Law: Genesis 26:18 Isaac dug again the wells of water (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 26:17
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