Genesis 21:30

He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Abraham replies to Abimelech, explaining the purpose of the seven ewe lambs he set apart. This exchange occurs during their treaty negotiations at a well site that will subsequently be named Beersheba.

The words — The verb תִּקַּח (ti.Kach) commands "you will take," while the preposition בַּעֲבוּר (ba.'a.Vur) defines the lambs' function as a legal witness. The particle כִּי (ki) introduces the explanatory clause confirming that Abraham personally dug the well.

The thread — The text records physical markers or exchanges functioning as witnesses in Genesis 31:52, Genesis 31:44, and Joshua 22:27. These passages establish a pattern where tangible items secure mutual agreements.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that legal and covenantal commitments require visible, verifiable proof. It asks a reader to acknowledge that promises made between parties must be anchored in concrete reality rather than mere words.

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

וַיֹּ֕אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said כִּ֚יkithat אֶת־'et-<obj.>שֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'seven כְּבָשֹׂ֔תke.va.Sotewe-lambs תִּקַּ֖חti.Kachyou will take מִיָּדִ֑יmi./ya.D/ifrom/ hand/ my בַּעֲבוּר֙ba./'a.Vurin/order that תִּֽהְיֶה־tih.yeh-it may becomeלִּ֣יl/ifor <the>/ meלְעֵדָ֔הle./'e.Dah<into>/ a witness כִּ֥יkifor חָפַ֖רְתִּיcha.Far.tiI dug אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַבְּאֵ֥רha./be.'Erthe/ well הַזֹּֽאת׃ha./Zot<the>/ this

King James Version

And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

Cross-references

Genesis 31:52 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.
Genesis 31:44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”
Joshua 22:27 Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.’ Then in the future, your descendants cannot say to ours, ‘You have no share in the LORD!’
Joshua 24:27 And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.”