Genesis 13
Expanded Bible
Abram and Lot Separate
13 So Abram, his wife, and Lot ·left [L came up from] Egypt, taking everything they owned, and traveled ·to southern Canaan [L into the Negev; C a somewhat desolate area]. 2 Abram was very rich in cattle, silver, and gold.
3 He ·left [L went by stages from] ·southern Canaan [L the Negev] and went back to Bethel where ·he had camped before [L his tent had been], between Bethel and Ai [12:8], 4 and where he had built an altar [L at first]. So he ·worshiped [L called on the name of] the Lord there.
5 During this time Lot was traveling with Abram, and Lot also had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 Abram and Lot had so many ·animals [L possessions] that the land could not support both of them together, 7 so Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen began to argue. The Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at this time.
8 Abram said to Lot, “There should be no arguing between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, because we are ·brothers [relatives]. 9 We should separate. ·The whole land is [L Is not the whole land…?] there in front of you. If you go to the left, I will go to the right. If you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
10 Lot looked all around and saw the whole Jordan ·Valley [or plain; region] and that there was much water there. It was like the Lord’s garden [C the garden of Eden], like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zoar [C name meaning “small,” in the vicinity of Sodom and Gomorrah; 14:2, 17; 19:23–24]. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah [19:1–29].) 11 So Lot chose to move east and live in the Jordan Valley [13:10]. In this way Abram and Lot separated. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived among the cities in the Jordan Valley [13:10], ·very near to [L he moved his tent near] Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were very evil and were always sinning against the Lord.
14 After Lot ·left [L had separated from him], the Lord said to Abram, “Look all around you—to the north and south and east and west. 15 All this land that you see I will give to you and your ·descendants [L seed] forever. 16 I will make your ·descendants [L seed] as many as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust on the earth, he could count your ·people [L seed]. 17 Get up! Walk through ·all [L the length and width of] this land because I am now giving it to you.”
18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great ·trees [L oaks; or terebinths] of Mamre [C an area near Hebron, named after an Amorite leader; 14:13, 24] at the city of Hebron [C nineteen miles south of Jerusalem]. There he built an altar to the Lord.
Genesis 13
New International Version
Abram and Lot Separate
13 So Abram went up from Egypt(A) to the Negev,(B) with his wife and everything he had, and Lot(C) went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy(D) in livestock(E) and in silver and gold.
3 From the Negev(F) he went from place to place until he came to Bethel,(G) to the place between Bethel and Ai(H) where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar.(I) There Abram called on the name of the Lord.(J)
5 Now Lot,(K) who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.(L) 7 And quarreling(M) arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites(N) and Perizzites(O) were also living in the land(P) at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot,(Q) “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me,(R) or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.(S) 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”(T)
10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain(U) of the Jordan toward Zoar(V) was well watered, like the garden of the Lord,(W) like the land of Egypt.(X) (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom(Y) and Gomorrah.)(Z) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan,(AA) while Lot(AB) lived among the cities of the plain(AC) and pitched his tents near Sodom.(AD) 13 Now the people of Sodom(AE) were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.(AF)
14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.(AG) 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring[a] forever.(AH) 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.(AI) 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land,(AJ) for I am giving it to you.”(AK)
18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre(AL) at Hebron,(AM) where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.(AN)
Footnotes
- Genesis 13:15 Or seed; also in verse 16
Genesis 13
New King James Version
Abram Inherits Canaan
13 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and (A)Lot with him, (B)to the [a]South. 2 (C)Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey (D)from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the (E)place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram (F)called on the name of the Lord.
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. 6 Now (G)the land was not able to [b]support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was (H)strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (I)The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
8 So Abram said to Lot, (J)“Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 (K)Is not the whole land before you? Please (L)separate from me. (M)If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all (N)the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord (O)destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) (P)like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward (Q)Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot (R)dwelt in the cities of the plain and (S)pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom (T)were exceedingly wicked and (U)sinful against the Lord.
14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot (V)had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—(W)northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see (X)I give to you and (Y)your [c]descendants forever. 16 And (Z)I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
18 (AA)Then Abram moved his tent, and went and (AB)dwelt by [d]the terebinth trees of Mamre, (AC)which are in Hebron, and built an (AD)altar there to the Lord.
Footnotes
- Genesis 13:1 Heb. Negev
- Genesis 13:6 Lit. bear
- Genesis 13:15 Lit. seed
- Genesis 13:18 Heb. Alon Mamre
Genesis 13
New Life Version
Abram and Lot Go Different Ways
13 So Abram left Egypt and went to the Negev, with his wife and all that belonged to him. And Lot went with him. 2 Now Abram was very rich in cattle, silver and gold. 3 He traveled from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 where he had made an altar. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, had flocks and cattle and tents of his own. 6 There was not enough land to feed all the animals while they lived together. They owned so many things that they were not able to stay together. 7 There was fighting between those who cared for Abram’s animals and those who cared for Lot’s animals. The Canaanite and the Perizzite were living in the land at that time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no fighting between you and me or between the men who take care of our animals, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land in front of you? Let each of us go a different way. If you go to the left, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
10 Lot looked and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose all the Jordan valley for himself. And as Lot traveled east, they went apart from each other. 12 Abram made his home in the land of Canaan. Lot made his home in the cities of the valley and moved his tents as far as Sodom, 13 whose men were sinful, sinning against the Lord.
14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had left him, “Raise your eyes and look from where you are to the north and south and east and west. 15 For I will give all the land that you see to you and to your children and to your children’s children forever. 16 I will make your family after you like the dust of the earth. So if anyone could number the dust of the earth, then he could number your children’s children. 17 Rise up and walk far and wide upon the land. For I will give it to you.” 18 Then Abram moved his tent and came to live among the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to the Lord.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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