Bible Strands

Genesis 21:23

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Abraham addresses Abimelech and Phicol immediately after they acknowledge God’s presence in his endeavors. He demands a public oath before God to secure a binding agreement regarding his offspring and the territory he occupies.

The words — תִּשְׁקֹר (tish.Kor) literally means "you will deal falsely," paired with הִשָּׁבֵעָה (hi.Sha.ve.'ah), "swear," to establish a conditional oath. The phrase וְעַתָּה (ve.'a.Tah), "and therefore," directly links this demand to the preceding recognition of divine favor.

The thread — This treaty structure mirrors the oath request in Joshua 2:12, where a resident leader seeks sworn protection for her household. It also reflects the covenant pattern seen in Genesis 20:14 and Abraham’s prior refusal of material gain in Genesis 14:22.

Why it lands — The text requires a concrete, sworn commitment to reciprocal loyalty rather than vague goodwill. It asks the reader to see that covenant relationships depend on explicit guarantees and mutual accountability before God.

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

וְעַתָּ֗הve./'a.Tahand/ thereforeהִשָּׁ֨בְעָהhi.Sha.ve.'a/hswear/ !לִּ֤יl/ito <the>/ meבֵֽאלֹהִים֙ve./lo.Himby/ Godהֵ֔נָּהHe.nahhereאִם־'im-ifתִּשְׁקֹ֣רtish.Koryou will deal falselyלִ֔יL/ito/ meוּלְנִינִ֖יu./le./ni.N/iand/ to/ posterity/ myוּלְנֶכְדִּ֑יu./le./nekh.D/iand/ to/ progeny/ myכַּחֶ֜סֶדka./Che.sedaccording to the/ loyaltyאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whichעָשִׂ֤יתִי'a.Si.tiI have doneעִמְּךָ֙'i.me./Khawith/ youתַּעֲשֶׂ֣הta.'a.Sehyou will doעִמָּדִ֔י'i.ma.D/iwith/ meוְעִם־ve./'im-and/ withהָאָ֖רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ landאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whichגַּ֥רְתָּהGar.tahyou have sojournedבָּֽהּ׃Ba/hin <the>/ it

King James Version

Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

Cross-references