The Meaning of Genesis 26:31 Explained

Genesis 26:31

KJV: And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

YLT: and rise early in the morning, and swear one to another, and Isaac sendeth them away, and they go from him in peace.

Darby: And they rose early in the morning, and swore one to another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

ASV: And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they rose up betimes  in the morning,  and sware  one  to another:  and Isaac  sent them away,  and they departed  from him in peace. 

What does Genesis 26:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 26:18-35 - Isaac's Wells And Covenant
It is interesting to follow Isaac in his well-digging. Let us also dig wells and set streams flowing, which will bless men long after we have gone home to heaven. The first well was Esek-strife. The second, Sitnah-hatred. The third, Rehoboth-room. Thus is human life, too often, till it ends with Sheba-oath or covenant. But even the outward repose to which life may attain, as the result of the struggles of earlier life, may be interrupted by anxiety and trial, caused by children or grandchildren. Esau's marriage brought endless trouble in its train. And grief of mind will sow life with thorns. Let children take care lest they give needless pain to those who love them. That which hurts tender and true hearts is not likely to carry with it the blessing of God. As soon as a wandering soul gets back to God even his enemies make peace with him; he is at least secure from their hurt. See Proverbs 16:7. [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 26:31 mean?

And they arose early in the morning and swore an oath one with another and sent them away Isaac and they departed from him in peace
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ לְאָחִ֑יו וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֣ם יִצְחָ֔ק וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ מֵאִתּ֖וֹ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם

וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ  And  they  arose  early 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁכַם  
Sense: to rise or start early.
בַבֹּ֔קֶר  in  the  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּ  and  swore  an  oath 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
אִ֣ישׁ  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
לְאָחִ֑יו  with  another 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֣ם  and  sent  them  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יִצְחָ֔ק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ  and  they  departed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
מֵאִתּ֖וֹ  from  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, Direct object marker, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּשָׁלֽוֹם  in  peace 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.