Genesis 13:6-16

6 And so there was not enough pasture land for the two of them to stay together, because they had too many animals.
7 So quarrels broke out between the men who took care of Abram's animals and those who took care of Lot's animals. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were still living in the land.)
8 Then Abram said to Lot, "We are relatives, and your men and my men shouldn't be quarreling.
9 So let's separate. Choose any part of the land you want. You go one way, and I'll go the other."
10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole Jordan Valley, all the way to Zoar, had plenty of water, like the Garden of the Lord or like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord had destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.) 1
11 So Lot chose the whole Jordan Valley for himself and moved away toward the east. That is how the two men parted.
12 Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled among the cities in the valley and camped near Sodom,
13 whose people were wicked and sinned against the Lord.
14 After Lot had left, the Lord said to Abram, "From where you are, look carefully in all directions.
15 I am going to give you and your descendants all the land that you see, and it will be yours forever. 2
16 I am going to give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them all; it would be as easy to count all the specks of dust on earth!

Genesis 13:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 13

This chapter gives an account of the return of Abram from Egypt to the land of Canaan, and to the same place in it he had been before, Ge 13:1-4 and of a strife between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot, and the occasion of it, Ge 13:5-7 which was composed by the prudent proposal of Abram, Ge 13:8,9 upon which they parted; Abram continued in Canaan, and Lot chose the plain of Jordan, and dwelt near Sodom, a place infamous for wickedness, Ge 13:10-13 after which the Lord renewed to Abram the grant of the land of Canaan to him, and to his seed, Ge 13:14-17 and then he removed to the plain of Mamre in Hebron, and there set up the worship of God, Ge 13:18.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 13.10Genesis 2.10.
  • 2. 13.15Acts 7.5.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. garden of the lord: [a reference to the Garden of Eden.]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.