Bible Strands
Genesis 21:22
At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, address Abraham at the moment following the departure of Hagar and Ishmael. They speak to him directly to initiate a formal covenant regarding future conduct.
The words — בָּ/עֵ֣ת (ba./'Et) marks the precise temporal marker "at the time," while הַ/הִ֔וא (ha./Hiv') specifies "that very one," anchoring the conversation to a defined historical juncture.
The thread — The recognition of divine presence reappears when Abimelech and Phicol approach Isaac in Genesis 26:26-28, and Joshua 3:7 similarly uses the formula to establish God's active presence.
Why it lands — The text records a political acknowledgment of God's favor before the speaker infers divine blessing. It asks the reader to note how human agreements often begin with observable outcomes rather than theological speculation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
Cross-references
- Genesis 26:26 Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.
- Genesis 26:28 “We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you
- Joshua 3:7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.
- Genesis 20:2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
- Isaiah 8:10 Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”
- Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 1 Corinthians 14:25 and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
- Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Genesis 20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
- Genesis 30:27 But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”