Bible Strands
Genesis 26:25
So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there. His servants also dug a well there.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — After the Lord appears to Isaac at night in Genesis 26:24 to reaffirm the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac responds to that divine encounter at the location. The words — וַ/יִּ֧בֶן (va/i.Yi.ven) = he built; מִזְבֵּ֗חַ (miz.Be.ach) = an altar; וַ/יִּקְרָא֙ (va/i.yik.Ra') = he called; בְּ/שֵׁ֣ם (be./Shem) = on the name of; יְהוָ֔ה (Yah.weh) = Yahweh; וַ/יֶּט\־ (va/i.yet-) = he pitched. The text records Isaac building an altar, calling on Yahweh's name, and pitching his tent at that specific location. The thread — This pattern of responding to a divine appearance with altar construction and tent relocation appears in Genesis 12:7-8 and Genesis 13:18. The act of calling on the name of the LORD is later expressed by the psalmist in Psalm 116:17. Why it lands — The text states Isaac's physical actions immediately follow God's promise. It asks the reader to recognize that covenant faithfulness is demonstrated through tangible obedience and worship at the place of divine encounter.
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 he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.
Cross-references
- Genesis 13:18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
- Psalms 116:17 I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.
- Genesis 12:7 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.
- Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.
- Genesis 13:4 to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
- Genesis 22:9 When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.
- Genesis 33:20 There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
- Genesis 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
- Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner.