The Meaning of Genesis 13:7 Explained

Genesis 13:7

KJV: And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

YLT: and there is a strife between those feeding Abram's cattle and those feeding Lot's cattle; and the Canaanite and the Perizzite are then dwelling in the land.

Darby: And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land.

ASV: And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And there was a strife  between the herdmen  of Abram's  cattle  and the herdmen  of Lot's  cattle:  and the Canaanite  and the Perizzite  dwelled  then in the land. 

What does Genesis 13:7 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 13:7 mean?

And there was strife between the shepherds of livestock Abram's and between of livestock of Lot And the Canaanite and the Perizzites at that time dwelt in the land
וַֽיְהִי־ רִ֗יב בֵּ֚ין רֹעֵ֣י מִקְנֵֽה־ אַבְרָ֔ם וּבֵ֖ין מִקְנֵה־ ל֑וֹט וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י אָ֖ז יֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּאָֽרֶץ

וַֽיְהִי־  And  there  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
רִ֗יב  strife 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רִיב 
Sense: strife, controversy, dispute.
בֵּ֚ין  between 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
רֹעֵ֣י  the  shepherds 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: רָעָה  
Sense: shepherd (subst).
מִקְנֵֽה־  of  livestock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
אַבְרָ֔ם  Abram's 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָם  
Sense: original name of Abraham.
וּבֵ֖ין  and  between 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
מִקְנֵה־  of  livestock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
ל֑וֹט  of  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.
וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙  And  the  Canaanite 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כִּנְעָן 
Sense: descendant of inhabitant of Canaan n.
וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י  and  the  Perizzites 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פְּרִזִּי  
Sense: a people who inhabited southern Canaan prior to the conquest.
אָ֖ז  at  that  time 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אָז  
Sense: then, at that time.
יֹשֵׁ֥ב  dwelt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בָּאָֽרֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.