Genesis 21:28
New International Version
Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock,

New Living Translation
But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves.

English Standard Version
Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart.

Berean Standard Bible
Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock,

King James Bible
And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

New King James Version
And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

New American Standard Bible
But Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

NASB 1995
Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

NASB 1977
Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Amplified Bible
Then Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock,

Christian Standard Bible
Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock.

American Standard Version
And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Abraham set seven ewes of sheep by themselves.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abraam set seven ewe-lambs by themselves.

Contemporary English Version
Abraham separated seven female lambs from his flock of sheep,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock.

English Revised Version
And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Abraham set apart seven female lambs from the flock.

Good News Translation
Abraham separated seven lambs from his flock,

International Standard Version
Then Abraham set aside seven ewe lambs,

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Abraham set seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves.

Literal Standard Version
and Abraham sets seven lambs of the flock by themselves.

Majority Standard Bible
Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock,

New American Bible
Abraham also set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock,

NET Bible
Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves.

New Revised Standard Version
Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock.

New Heart English Bible
Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Abraham set seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves.

World English Bible
Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Young's Literal Translation
and Abraham setteth seven Lambs of the flock by themselves.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Covenant at Beersheba
27So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29and Abimelech asked him, “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”…

Cross References
Genesis 21:27
So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.

Genesis 21:29
and Abimelech asked him, "Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?"

Genesis 21:30
He replied, "You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well."


Treasury of Scripture

And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

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Genesis 21
1. Isaac is born, and circumcised.
6. Sarah's joy.
8. Isaac is weaned.
9. Hagar and Ishmael sent away.
15. Hagar in distress.
17. The angel relieves and comforts her.
23. Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba.














(28) Seven ewe lambs.--The word in Hebrew for swearing is a passive verb, literally signifying "to be sevened," that is, done or confirmed by seven. In this ancient narrative we see a covenant actually thus made binding. Seven ewe lambs are picked out and placed by themselves, and by accepting these Abimelech bound himself to acknowledge and respect Abraham's title to the well. Apparently this manner of ratifying an oath was unknown to the Philistines, as Abimelech asks, "What mean these seven ewe lambs?" but it is equally possible that this question was dictated by the rules of Oriental courtesy. When Abraham had picked out the lambs, it became Abimelech's duty to ask what was the purpose of the act, which was then explained, and as soon as the lambs were accepted, the ratification was complete,

Verses 28-30. - And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves (designing by another covenant to secure himself against future invasion of Isis rights). And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, - that this peculiar kind of oath never occurs again in Old Testament history is no proof of the mythical character of the narrative (Bohlen); on the contrary, "that the custom existed in primitive Hebrew times is shown by the word נִשְׁבַּע, which had early passed into the language, and which would be inexplicable without the existence of such a custom" (Havernick) - that I have digged this well.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֗ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

separated
וַיַּצֵּ֣ב (way·yaṣ·ṣêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5324: To take one's stand, stand

seven
שֶׁ֛בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

ewe lambs
כִּבְשֹׂ֥ת (kiḇ·śōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 3535: Ewe lamb

from the flock,
הַצֹּ֖אן (haṣ·ṣōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock


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OT Law: Genesis 21:28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 21:27
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