The Meaning of Genesis 21:26 Explained

Genesis 21:26

KJV: And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

YLT: and Abimelech saith, 'I have not known who hath done this thing, and even thou didst not declare to me, and I also, I have not heard save to-day.'

Darby: And Abimelech said, I do not know who has done this, neither hast thou told me of it, neither have I heard of it but to-day.

ASV: And Abimelech said, I know not who hath done this thing. Neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to-day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Abimelech  said,  I wot  not who hath done  this thing:  neither  didst thou tell  me, neither  yet heard  I [of it], but  to day. 

What does Genesis 21:26 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 21:22-34 - Abraham And Abimelech Covenant
Abimelech was impressed with Abraham's growing prosperity. He felt that it could not be explained on merely natural grounds. "God is with thee in all that thou doest." He sought, therefore, to secure the well-being of himself and his kingdom by forming an amicable treaty. Abraham immediately indicated that, while willing to meet him, they must first have a clear understanding about a certain injustice which he had suffered. As our Lord taught afterward, he showed Abimelech his fault as between them alone, Matthew 18:15. The matter was easily adjusted by the king's frank disavowal of his servants' action. In lieu of written documents the seven lambs would be a perpetual sign and token of Abraham's claim to the well, henceforth known as "the well of the oath." The tamarisk was the second of these natural title-deeds. Wherever the religious man dwells he should pray, and leave behind him trees and wells. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 21

1  Isaac is born, and circumcised
6  Sarah's joy
8  Isaac is weaned
9  Hagar and Ishmael sent away
15  Hagar in distress
17  The angel relieves and comforts her
23  Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba

What do the individual words in Genesis 21:26 mean?

And said Abimelech not I do know who has done - the thing this and you not did tell me and I had heard [of it] until today
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִ֥י עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וְגַם־ אַתָּ֞ה לֹא־ הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֗י וְגַ֧ם אָנֹכִ֛י שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בִּלְתִּ֥י הַיּֽוֹם

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ  Abimelech 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king of Gerar in Abraham’s time.
יָדַ֔עְתִּי  I  do  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
עָשָׂ֖ה  has  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדָּבָ֣ר  the  thing 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
הִגַּ֣דְתָּ  did  tell 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לִּ֗י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי  had  heard  [of  it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בִּלְתִּ֥י  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
הַיּֽוֹם  today 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 21:26?

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