And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
Parallel translations
- WEB Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
- KJV And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
- BSB Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock,
- NASB But Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
- NLT But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves.
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 sets seven ewe lambs apart from the flock. This act will serve as a witness to his claim on the well.
Overview
Abraham separates seven lambs as a deliberate sign within the covenant ceremony. The number seven, associated with completeness and oath-taking, points to the place-name Beersheba that follows. The careful arrangement shows Abraham securing a public, lasting testimony to his rights, ensuring the dispute is settled with clarity and honor.
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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 21:28 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
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