The Meaning of Genesis 13:4 Explained

Genesis 13:4

KJV: Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

YLT: unto the place of the altar which he made there at the first, and there doth Abram preach in the name of Jehovah.

Darby: to the place of the altar that he had made there at the first. And there Abram called on the name of Jehovah.

ASV: unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Unto the place  of the altar,  which he had made  there at the first:  and there Abram  called  on the name  of the LORD. 

What does Genesis 13:4 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 13:4 mean?

to the place of the altar which he had made there at first And called Abram on the name of Yahweh
אֶל־ מְקוֹם֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ אֲשֶׁר־ עָ֥שָׂה שָׁ֖ם בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֥א אַבְרָ֖ם בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה

מְקוֹם֙  the  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ  of  the  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
עָ֥שָׂה  he  had  made 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה  at  first 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
וַיִּקְרָ֥א  And  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אַבְרָ֖ם  Abram 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָם  
Sense: original name of Abraham.
בְּשֵׁ֥ם  on  the  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.