Genesis 26:33

33 He named the well "Vow." That is how the city of Beersheba got its name.

Genesis 26:33 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 26:33

And he called it Sheba
Which, according to Jerom, signifies "fulness", as if it had its name from the abundance of water in it; but rather it signifies an "oath", and was so called from the oath, which he and Abimelech had just took to one another; and these circumstances meeting together, the taking of the oath, and the account of the well, therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day;
that is, the well of the oath: it had been so called by Abraham an hundred years ago or more; but now upon this occasion it was renewed and confirmed, and so continued until the times of Moses, and many ages after.

Genesis 26:33 In-Context

31 Early next morning each man made his promise and sealed it with a vow. Isaac said good-bye to them, and they parted as friends.

32 On that day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which they had dug. They said, "We have found water."

33 He named the well "Vow." That is how the city of Beersheba got its name.

34 When Esau was forty years old, he married two Hittites, Judith the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath the daughter of Elon.

35 They made life miserable for Isaac and Rebecca.

Footnotes

• [a] beersheba: [This name in Hebrew means "Well of the Vow" or "Well of Seven" (see also 21.31).]