Verse

Genesis 26:28

ESV They said, "We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you,
NIV They answered, "We saw clearly that the Lord was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you
NASB They said, 'We have seen plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said, ‘An oath must now be taken by us,’ that is, by you and us. So let us make a covenant with you,
CSB They replied, "We have clearly seen how the Lord has been with you. We think there should be an oath between two parties—between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you:
NLT They replied, 'We can plainly see that the Lord is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant.
KJV And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
NKJV But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you,

What does Genesis 26:28 mean?

In response to a surprise visit from King Abimelech, Isaac reacts with defensiveness and suspicion. After all, the king had sent Isaac away due to his growing wealth and power (Genesis 26:12–16). Isaac concluded that the king hated him. This probably also stems from the king's anger at catching Isaac in a dangerous lie (Genesis 26:6–11). The people of the region, despite Isaac's willingness to move, had also given him much grief over wells in the Valley of Gerar (Genesis 26:18–22).

Now the king reveals he has come to Isaac to make peace, not war. He wants to make a treaty with Isaac, much as a prior king, also named Abimelech, had made a treaty with Abraham at Beersheba. Why this sworn pact or covenant? The king says they have seen plainly that the Lord has been with Isaac. The king understands that Isaac's God is powerful and that He has used that power to bless Isaac. Abimelech believed in God and hoped to benefit by being allied with God's man Isaac.
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