The Meaning of Genesis 21:31 Explained

Genesis 21:31

KJV: Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

YLT: therefore hath he called that place 'Beer-Sheba,' for there have both of them sworn.

Darby: Therefore he called that place Beer-sheba, because there they had sworn, both of them.

ASV: Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba. Because there they sware both of them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore he called  that place  Beersheba;  because there they sware  both of them. 

What does Genesis 21:31 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 21:31 mean?

Upon thus he called place that at Beersheba because there swore an oath the two of them
עַל־ כֵּ֗ן קָרָ֛א לַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע כִּ֛י שָׁ֥ם נִשְׁבְּע֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם

עַל־  Upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
כֵּ֗ן  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
קָרָ֛א  he  called 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
לַמָּק֥וֹם  place 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
הַה֖וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
בְּאֵ֣ר  at 
Parse: Preposition
שָׁ֑בַע  Beersheba 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּאֵר 
Sense: a city at the south edge of Israel.
כִּ֛י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נִשְׁבְּע֖וּ  swore  an  oath 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
שְׁנֵיהֶֽם  the  two  of  them 
Parse: Number, mdc, third person masculine plural
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.