Genesis 26:20

But there were some men there from Gerar, looking after their animals, and those men came and argued with the men that looked after Isaac’s animals. The men from Gerar said, “That water belongs to us.” So Isaac called that water-hole Esek. That name means they argue.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

In Context

19One day, Isaac’s workers dug a new water-hole in the valley, and they found fresh running water in that hole.

21After that, Isaac’s workers dug another water-hole, but the men from Gerar came and argued with them about that water-hole too. So Isaac called that water-hole Sitnah. That name means they are enemies.

Read all of Genesis 26

Cross References

Genesis 21:25But then Abraham also complained to Abimelek. He said, “I’ve got a problem. Some of your workers took one of my water-holes, and then they stopped my workers from getting any water there.”

Matthew Henry on Genesis 26:13-26

Isaac's Removal to Beersheba. ( b. c. 1804.) 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him: 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. 15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. 16 And… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 26:20