Font Size
Genesis 26:19-21
New English Translation
Genesis 26:19-21
New English Translation
19 When Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well with fresh flowing[a] water there, 20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled[b] with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water belongs to us!” So Isaac[c] named the well Esek[d] because they argued with him about it.[e] 21 His servants[f] dug another well, but they quarreled over it too, so Isaac named it[g] Sitnah.[h]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 26:19 tn Heb “living.” This expression refers to a well supplied by subterranean streams (see Song 4:15).
- Genesis 26:20 tn The Hebrew verb translated “quarreled” describes a conflict that often has legal ramifications.
- Genesis 26:20 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 26:20 sn The name Esek means “argument” in Hebrew. The following causal clause explains that Isaac gave the well this name as a reminder of the conflict its discovery had created. In the Hebrew text there is a wordplay, for the name is derived from the verb translated “argued.”
- Genesis 26:20 tn The words “about it” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Genesis 26:21 tn Heb “they”; the referent (Isaac’s servants) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 26:21 tn Heb “and he called its name.” The referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 26:21 sn The name Sitnah (שִׂטְנָה, sitnah) is derived from a Hebrew verbal root meaning “to oppose; to be an adversary” (cf. Job 1:6). The name was a reminder that the digging of this well caused “opposition” from the Philistines.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.