Genesis 14:23

23 Wenn vom Faden bis zum Schuhriemen, ja, wenn ich irgend etwas nehme von dem, was dein ist...!Auf daß du nicht sagest: Ich habe Abram reich gemacht.

Genesis 14:23 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 14:23

That I will not [take] from a thread even to a shoelatchet,
&c.] That is, from a thread used in sewing garments to, a shoelatchet, or the string which fastens the shoes to the foot, the least belonging to that; or from the hair lace of the head, to the shoelatchet of the foot; that is, he would take nothing of his from head to foot: the meaning is, that he would not take that which was of the least value and importance that could be conceived of, and which is more clearly expressed by what follows:

and that I will not take anything that [is] thine;
the least thing that belonged to him, or to any of his subjects, for this reason:

lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich;
lest he should upbraid him with it afterwards, and say, that all his riches were owing to him; whereas God had promised to bless him, and make him rich and great, as he had begun to do, and still would more and more; and in whom his trusted, and to whom he was desirous all the glory of his greatness and riches should be ascribed.

Genesis 14:23 In-Context

21 Und der König von Sodom sprach zu Abram: Gib mir die Seelen, und die Habe nimm für dich.
22 Und Abram sprach zu dem König von Sodom: Ich hebe meine Hand auf zu Jehova, zu Gott, dem Höchsten, der Himmel und Erde besitzt:
23 Wenn vom Faden bis zum Schuhriemen, ja, wenn ich irgend etwas nehme von dem, was dein ist...!Auf daß du nicht sagest: Ich habe Abram reich gemacht.
24 Nichts für mich! Nur was die Knaben verzehrt haben, und das Teil der Männer, die mit mir gezogen sind: Aner, Eskol und Mamre, die mögen ihr Teil nehmen!
The Elberfelder Bible is in the public domain.