Genesis 26:16

16 Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”

Genesis 26:16 in Other Translations

KJV
16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
ESV
16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we."
NLT
16 Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.”
MSG
16 Finally, Abimelech told Isaac: "Leave. You've become far too big for us."
CSB
16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Leave us, for you are much too powerful for us."

Genesis 26:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 26:16

And Abimelech said unto Isaac, go from us
Which was either said by way of advice, consulting Isaac's good, and the peace of his own kingdom; or else by way of command, enjoining him to depart, having a secret envy to him himself, or at least was jealous of his growing power and wealth: for thou art much mightier than we;
in riches or goods, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; or in number; his family being greatly increased, his servants numerous, many being born of them in his house; Abraham had three hundred and eighteen trained servants in his house, ( Genesis 14:14 ) ; how many Isaac had is not certain; they must be a large number for Abimelech to fear anything from them. Some choose to interpret the words, thou hast increased, or thou hast got much from us, and by us; and therefore it is high time for thee to be gone from us.

Genesis 26:16 In-Context

14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.
15 So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
16 Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”
17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled.
18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 27; Judges 11:7
  • 2. Exodus 1:9; Psalms 105:24-25
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