So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down.
Parallel translations
- WEB Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.
- KJV And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
- BSB So Isaac left that place and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.
- NKJV Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
- NASB So Isaac departed from there and camped in the Valley of Gerar, and settled there.
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
Isaac peaceably departs and settles in the valley of Gerar.
Overview
Rather than contend with Abimelech, Isaac withdraws, modeling a meekness that trusts God to make room for him. His relocation continues the pattern of the sojourning patriarchs who lived as strangers awaiting God's promise. This peaceable spirit anticipates the gentleness later perfectly displayed in Christ.
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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 26:17 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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