The Meaning of Genesis 13:11 Explained

Genesis 13:11

KJV: Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

YLT: and Lot chooseth for himself the whole circuit of the Jordan; and Lot journeyeth from the east, and they are parted -- a man from his companion;

Darby: And Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan; and Lot went toward the east. And they separated the one from the other:

ASV: So Lot chose him all the Plain of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then Lot  chose  him all the plain  of Jordan;  and Lot  journeyed  east:  and they separated themselves  the one  from the other. 

What does Genesis 13:11 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 13:11 mean?

And chose for himself Lot - all the plain of Jordan and journeyed Lot east And they separated the one from the other
וַיִּבְחַר־ ל֣וֹ ל֗וֹט אֵ֚ת כָּל־ כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּסַּ֥ע ל֖וֹט מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיִּפָּ֣רְד֔וּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵעַ֥ל אָחִֽיו

וַיִּבְחַר־  And  chose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
ל֣וֹ  for  himself 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
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.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כִּכַּ֣ר  the  plain 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כִּכָּר  
Sense: round.
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן  of  Jordan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
וַיִּסַּ֥ע  and  journeyed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
ל֖וֹט  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.
מִקֶּ֑דֶם  east 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶדֶם 
Sense: east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime.
וַיִּפָּ֣רְד֔וּ  And  they  separated 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: פָּרַד  
Sense: to separate, divide.
אִ֖ישׁ  the  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אָחִֽיו  the  other 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.