And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
Parallel translations
- WEB Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
- BSB But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,
- NKJV Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized.
- NASB But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized.
- NLT Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from Abraham’s servants.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Abraham complains to Abimelech about a well his servants had seized. He raises a legitimate grievance before sealing the covenant.
Overview
Before finalizing the treaty, Abraham honestly addresses a dispute over a vital water source, essential for survival in that land. His willingness to raise the matter openly reflects the integrity the covenant requires. The episode shows that genuine peace is built on truthful resolution of grievances rather than on suppressed resentment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gen 26:15–22For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
- Gen 29:8And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.
- Gen 13:7And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
- Judg 1:15And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
- Prov 25:9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
- Exod 2:15–17Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
- Prov 27:5Open rebuke is better than secret love.
- Prov 17:10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
- Matt 18:15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 21:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.