Genesis 14:23

23 quod a filo subteminis usque ad corrigiam caligae non accipiam ex omnibus quae tua sunt ne dicas ego ditavi Abram

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 dixit autem rex Sodomorum ad Abram da mihi animas cetera tolle tibi
22 qui respondit ei levo manum meam ad Dominum Deum excelsum possessorem caeli et terrae
23 quod a filo subteminis usque ad corrigiam caligae non accipiam ex omnibus quae tua sunt ne dicas ego ditavi Abram
24 exceptis his quae comederunt iuvenes et partibus virorum qui venerunt mecum Aner Eschol et Mambre isti accipient partes suas
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.