The Meaning of Genesis 13:8 Explained

Genesis 13:8

KJV: And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

YLT: And Abram saith unto Lot, 'Let there not, I pray thee, be strife between me and thee, and between my shepherds and thy shepherds, for we are men -- brethren.

Darby: And Abram said to Lot, I pray thee let there be no contention between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen, for we are brethren.

ASV: And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we are brethren.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Abram  said  unto Lot,  Let there be  no  strife,  I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen  and thy herdmen;  for we  [be] brethren. 

What does Genesis 13:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 13:1-13 - Abram And Lot Part
The patriarch, like a restored backslider, made his way back to the old spot, on the highlands of Bethel, where his first tent and altar had stood. Through his wanderings hitherto there had been a depressing element of worldliness in his camp, through the presence of Lot, who, like many more, was swept along by his uncle's religion, but had little of his own. Feeling that separation was inevitable, and that God would surely care for him, Abram offered Lot his choice. See Psalms 16:5. The younger man chose according to the sight of his eyes. In his judgment he gained the world-but see 2 Peter 2:7-8. The world is full of Lots-shallow, impulsive, doomed to be revealed by their choice and end. "Let there be no strife!" Blessed are the peacemakers! Wherever the interests of peace can be conserved through the sacrifice of your own interests, be prepared to forfeit the advantage, but stand like a rock when God's truth is in balance. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 13

1  Abram and Lot return with great riches out of Egypt
6  Strife arises between Abram's herdsmen and those of Lot
8  Abram allows Lot to choose his part of the country,
10  and Lot goes toward Sodom
14  God renews his promise to Abram
18  He moves to Hebron, and there builds an altar

What do the individual words in Genesis 13:8 mean?

So said Abram to Lot no please let there be strife between me and you and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen for men brothers we [are]
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־ ל֗וֹט אַל־ נָ֨א תְהִ֤י מְרִיבָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ וּבֵ֥ין רֹעַ֖י וּבֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־ אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  So  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אַבְרָ֜ם  Abram 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָם  
Sense: original name of Abraham.
ל֗וֹט  Lot 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֹוט  
Sense: son of Haran and Abraham’s nephew who settled in Sodom and was delivered from its destruction by God.
אַל־  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
נָ֨א  please 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
תְהִ֤י  let  there  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מְרִיבָה֙  strife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְרִיבָה  
Sense: strife, contention.
בֵּינִ֣י  between  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ  and  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
וּבֵ֥ין  and  between 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
רֹעַ֖י  my  herdsmen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: רָעָה  
Sense: shepherd (subst).
רֹעֶ֑יךָ  your  herdsmen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רָעָה  
Sense: shepherd (subst).
אֲנָשִׁ֥ים  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אַחִ֖ים  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
אֲנָֽחְנוּ  we  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common plural
Root: אֲנַחְנוּ  
Sense: we (first pers.