Genesis Chapter 13
Showing all 18 verses for Genesis Chapter 13.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. "
"Abram left Egypt and headed north into the Negev (the southern desert region of Canaan), taking his wife, everything he owned, and his nephew Lot with him."
Abram returns from a difficult detour still carrying his family and his wealth with him. Setbacks don't have to strip you of everything; you can come out of a hard chapter still carrying what truly matters, ready to continue the journey.
"And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. "
"Abram had become very wealthy - he had large herds, plus silver and gold."
Abram's wealth is described plainly, without shame, as part of his story. Material blessing isn't something to feel awkward about when it comes honestly; receive what God provides with the same straightforward gratitude this verse shows.
"And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; "
"He travelled by stages from the Negev back to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where he had camped before."
Abram deliberately retraces his steps back to a place he'd worshipped before. When you've drifted through a hard season, consider returning to the practices and places that once anchored your faith, rather than assuming you have to find something entirely new.
"Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. "
"He returned to the spot where he had built an altar earlier, and there Abram worshipped the LORD again."
Abram returns specifically to the altar he'd built earlier and calls on God's name again there. Some spiritual practices are worth returning to again and again over a lifetime; don't discard a meaningful habit of faith just because life took you elsewhere for a while.
"And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. "
"Lot, who was travelling with Abram, also owned flocks, herds and tents of his own."
Lot's own wealth, mentioned right alongside Abram's, sets up the coming tension. Shared blessing between people who are close can sometimes create friction rather than only harmony; be alert to that possibility rather than assuming abundance always makes relationships easier.
"And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. "
"The land could not support both of them living in the same place - they owned too much to stay together."
The land simply can't sustain both households together anymore. Growth sometimes requires a healthy separation, not because the relationship failed, but because both parties need room to flourish. Don't treat every parting of ways as evidence something went wrong.
"And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. "
"Arguments broke out between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen. On top of that, the Canaanites and Perizzites were already living in the land at the time."
Conflict breaks out not between Abram and Lot directly, but between their workers competing for resources. Notice how tension between the people under your care or influence can reflect unresolved tension at a higher level; address root causes, not just the visible symptoms.
"And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. "
"Abram said to Lot, "Please, let's not have this conflict between us or between our herdsmen - we're family.""
Abram moves quickly to prevent conflict, naming their family bond as the reason it matters. Let the value of a relationship, not just the principle of being right, be what motivates you to resolve conflict quickly and generously.
"Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. "
"Abram said, "Isn't the whole land available to you? Let's separate. If you go left, I'll go right; if you go right, I'll go left.""
Abram, the elder with every right to choose first, offers Lot the choice instead. Real generosity sometimes means giving up your rightful claim, your seniority, or your privilege, for the sake of peace and someone else's flourishing.
"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. "
"Lot looked around and saw the whole Jordan valley - it was well watered everywhere, like the garden of Eden, like the land of Egypt, all the way to Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)"
Lot's eyes are drawn to what looks most fertile and appealing, without weighing what else might be there. Be careful about decisions made purely on what looks good on the surface; ask what else, unseen for now, might be part of that same choice.
"Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. "
"So Lot chose the whole Jordan plain for himself and travelled east. The two men parted ways."
Lot chooses for himself, and the two men part ways. Choosing what seems best for you isn't wrong in itself, but pay attention to what you might be prioritising over relationship, character, or long-term wisdom when you do.
"Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. "
"Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the plain, pitching his tent near Sodom."
Lot pitches his tent 'towards Sodom,' inching closer to a place of real danger, one step at a time. Notice how a series of small, seemingly reasonable moves can gradually bring you closer to something you'd never choose outright all at once.
"But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. "
"The people of Sodom were extremely wicked - seriously offensive in the LORD's eyes."
The text quietly flags Sodom's wickedness right after Lot's choice, a warning the reader sees that Lot may not have weighed. Consider the character of the environments you're choosing to move towards, not just their apparent comfort or opportunity.
"And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: "
"After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram, "Look up now, and look in every direction - north, south, east and west.""
God speaks to Abram specifically after Lot leaves, as if timing the encouragement for exactly when Abram might feel most alone. Trust that God often meets you with reassurance precisely in the moments right after a loss or a hard goodbye.
"For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. "
""All the land you can see, I will give to you and to your descendants forever.""
God renews His promise of land generously, right after Abram gave up the better-looking portion to Lot. Generosity towards others rarely leaves you worse off in God's economy; trust that what you give up in kindness is not truly lost.
"And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. "
""I will make your descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth - if anyone could count every grain of dust, then your descendants could be counted too.""
God compares Abram's future descendants to the dust of the earth, uncountable. When your own future feels uncertain or small, remember how far beyond Abram's own imagination God's actual plan for him turned out to be.
"Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. "
""Get up and walk through the land, from end to end, because I am giving it to you.""
God tells Abram to physically walk the land as an act of receiving the promise. Sometimes faith means taking a tangible step towards what God has promised, not just believing it quietly in your heart; let your actions match your trust.
"Then Abram removed his tent, and came and in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the great trees of Mamre, in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD."
Abram settles near Hebron and again builds an altar there. Wherever you eventually settle, in a place, a relationship, or a season, let worship be part of how you mark and establish that new chapter, the way Abram consistently did.