Genesis 21:23

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me, my children, or my descendants. Show to me and the land where you have lived the same kindness I have shown to you.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה לִּ֤י בֵֽאלֹהִים֙ הֵ֔נָּה אִם־תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר לִ֔י וּלְנִינִ֖י וּלְנֶכְדִּ֑י כַּחֶ֜סֶד אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֤יתִי עִמְּךָ֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה עִמָּדִ֔י וְעִם־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־גַּ֥רְתָּה בָּֽהּ׃

Transliteration

And-now hiššābəʿâ to-me in-ʾĕlōhîm here if-tišqōr to-me and-to-nînî and-to-nekdî as-the-ḥesed ʾăšer-ʿāśîtî with-you taʿăśeh with-me and-with-the-ʾāreṣ ʾăšer-gartâ in-it.

Grammar Details

• *wə-*: conjunction - and
• *ʿattâ*: adverb - now
• *hiššābəʿâ*: niphal imperative, masculine singular - swear
• *lî*: preposition with 1st person singular suffix - to me
• *bē-*: preposition - in/by
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: masculine plural noun (used as singular) - God
• *hēnnâ*: adverb - here
• *ʾim*: conditional particle - if
• *tišqōr*: qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you will deal falsely
• *lə-*: preposition - to
• *nînî*: masculine singular noun with 1st person singular suffix - my offspring
• *nekdî*: masculine singular noun with 1st person singular suffix - my grandson
• *ka-*: preposition - as/according to
• *ha-*: definite article - the
• *ḥesed*: masculine singular noun - kindness/loyalty
• *ʾăšer*: relative pronoun - which/that
• *ʿāśîtî*: qal perfect, 1st person singular - I have done
• *ʿimməkā*: preposition with 2nd masculine singular suffix - with you
• *taʿăśeh*: qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you will do
• *ʿimmādî*: preposition with 1st person singular suffix - with me
• *ʿim*: preposition - with
• *hā-*: definite article - the
• *ʾāreṣ*: feminine singular noun - land
• *gartâ*: qal perfect, 2nd masculine singular - you have sojourned
• *bāh*: preposition with 3rd feminine singular suffix - in it

Word Meanings

• *hiššābəʿâ*: swear/take an oath
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: God/gods/divine beings (here used as singular)
• *hēnnâ*: here/in this place
• *tišqōr*: deal falsely/lie/deceive/break faith
• *nînî*: my offspring/my descendants
• *nekdî*: my grandson/my posterity
• *ḥesed*: kindness/loyalty/faithfulness/covenant loyalty
• *ʿāśîtî*: I have done/I have shown
• *taʿăśeh*: you will do/you will show
• *gartâ*: you have sojourned/you have lived as an alien

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Now therefore swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my grandson. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have sojourned.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  now therefore swear{H7650} unto me here{H2008} by God{H430} that thou wilt not deal falsely{H8266} with me, nor with my son,{H5209} nor with my son's son:{H5220} but according to the kindness{H2617} that I have done{H6213} unto thee, thou shalt do{H6213} unto me, and to the land{H776} wherein thou hast sojourned.{H1481}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now therefore swear{H7650}{(H8734)} unto me here{H2008} by God{H430} that thou wilt not deal falsely{H8266}{(H8799)} with me, nor with my son{H5209}, nor with my son's son{H5220}: but according to the kindness{H2617} that I have done{H6213}{(H8804)} unto thee, thou shalt do{H6213}{(H8799)} unto me, and to the land{H776} wherein thou hast sojourned{H1481}{(H8804)}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Now therfore swere vnto me even here by God that thou wylt not hurt me nor my childern nor my childerns childern. But that thou shalt deale with me and the contre where thou art a straunger acordynge vnto the kyndnesse that I haue shewed the.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Therfore sweare now vnto me by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, ner my children, ner my childers children: but that thou shalt shewe vnto me (and to the londe wherin thou art a straunger) the same kyndnesse that I haue done vnto the.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Nowe therefore sweare vnto me here by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, nor my children, nor my childrens children: thou shalt deale with me, and with the countrey, where thou hast bene a stranger, according vnto the kindnesse that I haue shewed thee.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And nowe therefore, sweare vnto me euen here by God, that thou wylt not hurt me, nor my chyldren, nor my chyldrens children: but that thou shalt deale with me and the countrey where thou hast ben a straunger, accordyng vnto the kyndnesse that I haue shewed thee.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: [but] according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and now, swear to me by God here: thou dost not lie to me, or to my continuator, or to my successor; according to the kindness which I have done with thee thou dost with me, and with the land in which thou hast sojourned.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now, then, give me your oath, in the name of God, that you will not be false to me or to my sons after me, but that as I have been good to you, so you will be to me and to this land where you have been living.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Now swear to me right here in God’s name that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants. Show me, and the land where you are staying, the same loyalty that I have shown you.”

Referenced Verses

• Josh 2:12 : 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
• Gen 20:14 : 14 Then Abimelech brought sheep, cattle, male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah, his wife, to him.
• Gen 24:3 : 3 I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am living.
• Gen 26:28 : 28 They replied, "We have clearly seen that the LORD has been with you. So we said, 'There should now be an oath between us and you; let us make a covenant with you.'"
• Gen 31:44 : 44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.'
• Gen 31:53 : 53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.' So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.
• Deut 6:13 : 13 Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
• Gen 14:22-23 : 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 'I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 'that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich.”'
• 1 Sam 20:13 : 13 May the LORD punish Jonathan severely if I do not inform you and send you away in peace when my father intends to harm you. May the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.
• 1 Sam 20:17 : 17 And Jonathan had David swear again by his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
• 1 Sam 20:42 : 42 Jonathan said to David, 'Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying,
• 1 Sam 24:21-22 : 21 Now I know that you will surely be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 22 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or destroy my name from my father's family.
• 1 Sam 30:15 : 15 David asked him, "Can you lead me to this raiding party?" He answered, "Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor hand me over to my master, and I will lead you to them."
• Jer 4:2 : 2 Then you will swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; the nations will bless themselves in Him, and in Him they will glory.
• 2 Cor 1:23 : 23 I call God as my witness and stake my life on it: it was to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
• Heb 6:16 : 16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.