The Meaning of Genesis 26:14 Explained

Genesis 26:14

KJV: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

YLT: and he hath possession of a flock, and possession of a herd, and an abundant service; and the Philistines envy him,

Darby: And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great number of servants; and the Philistines envied him.

ASV: And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great household. And the Philistines envied him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For he had possession  of flocks,  and possession  of herds,  and great store  of servants:  and the Philistines  envied  him. 

What does Genesis 26:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 26:1-17 - Isaac Is Blessed And Grows Rich
There was no harm in Isaac's going to Gerar, as he had a distinct command to that effect, Genesis 26:2-3. But he does not seem to have been strong enough to stand the test of residence there. He might have received into his soul that sufficient grace which is always within the reach of tempted men; but, like so many of us, he looked down and not up. What could have been more reassuring than the promises of the divine presence and blessing! But he was guilty of incredible meanness to the woman who had come so far to be his wife, and of deceit to Abimelech. Notice how the sins of the fathers repeat themselves in the children! It was a disappointing lapse from the glorious height on which he had stood when he yielded himself to God's call on Mount Moriah! But we have experienced the same contrasts within ourselves. Now on the mount of transfiguration, asking to live there, and then in the valley, quarreling for pre-eminence. But, notwithstanding all, God's loving-kindness does not fail. See Genesis 26:12. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 26

1  Isaac, because of famine, sojourns in Gerar, and the Lord blesses him
7  He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife
12  He grows rich, and the Philistines envy his prosperity
18  He digs wells
23  God appears to him at Beersheba, and blesses him;
26  and Abimelech makes a covenant with him
34  Esau's wives

What do the individual words in Genesis 26:14 mean?

For he had - possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and of servants many so envied him the Philistines
וַֽיְהִי־ ל֤וֹ מִקְנֵה־ צֹאן֙ וּמִקְנֵ֣ה בָקָ֔ר וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה רַבָּ֑ה וַיְקַנְא֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים

וַֽיְהִי־  For  he  had 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ל֤וֹ  - 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
מִקְנֵה־  possessions 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
צֹאן֙  of  flocks 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
וּמִקְנֵ֣ה  and  possessions 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
בָקָ֔ר  of  herds 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּקָר  
Sense: cattle, herd, oxen, ox.
וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה  and  of  servants 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֲבֻדָּה  
Sense: service, household servants.
רַבָּ֑ה  many 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
וַיְקַנְא֥וּ  so  envied 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָנָא  
Sense: to envy, be jealous, be envious, be zealous.
פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים  the  Philistines 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.