Genesis 21:31

31 Therefore he called that place Be'er-Sheva, because they both swore there.

Genesis 21:31 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:31

Wherefore he called that place Beersheba
Either Abraham or Abimelech, or both, called it so; or it may be read impersonally, "therefore the place was called Beersheba" F20, for two reasons, one implied, the other expressed; one was, because of the seven lambs before mentioned; so the Targum of Jonathan,

``and therefore he called the well the well of seven lambs;''
"Beer" signifying a well, and "sheba" seven; the other, and which is more certain, being expressed, is as follows; because there they sware both of them;
by the living God, to keep the covenant inviolably they had made between them.
FOOTNOTES:

F20 (arqy) "vocatus", V. L. Calvin, Piscator.

Genesis 21:31 In-Context

29 Avimelekh said to Avraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves mean?"
30 He said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well."
31 Therefore he called that place Be'er-Sheva, because they both swore there.
32 So they made a covenant at Be'er-Sheva. Avimelekh rose up with Pikhol, the captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Pelishtim.
33 Avraham planted a tamarisk tree in Be'er-Sheva, and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.