Genesis 21:30

30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”

Genesis 21:30 in Other Translations

30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

30 He said, "These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well."

30 Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.”

30 Abraham said, "It means that when you accept these seven sheep, you take it as proof that I dug this well, that it's my well."

30 And he said, These seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

30 Abraham answered, "Accept these lambs from me so that they may be proof that I dug this well."

30 He replied, "You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand so that this act will serve as my witness that I dug this well."

30 Abraham replied, "Accept the seven lambs from me. They will be a witness that I dug this well."

Genesis 21:30 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:30

And he said
That is, Abraham replied to Abimelech: for these seven ewe lambs shall thou take of my hand;
as a present from him, to be retained as his own: that they may be a witness to me that I have digged this well:
these were to be a testimony that the well that had been taken away from Abraham was one that he had dug, and was his property, and which Abimelech acknowledged by his acceptance of these seven lambs; and very probably Abraham received a note from the hand of Abimelech, owning his reception of the seven lambs, and his title to the well, which these were a witness of.

Genesis 21:30 In-Context

28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock,

29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”

30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”

31 So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.

32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines.

Cross References

• 1. Ge 31:44,47,48,50,52; Jos 22:27,28,34; Joshua 24:27; Isaiah 19:20; Malachi 2:14
• 2. ver 25; Genesis 26:25,32