The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek,† because they contended with him.
THE SURROUNDING PASSAGE
Genesis 26:20 in context
Genesis 26:17–23
17
Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.
18
Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. He called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19
Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water.
20
Selected verse
The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek,† because they contended with him.
21
They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. So he called its name Sitnah.
22
He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. So he called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
Source notes
Notes from World English Bible Updated
- “Esek” means “contention”.
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