Keraia
Genesis 26

Genesis 26:5

God’s Promise to Isaac · Genesis 26:1–5
Read Genesis 26

Translations

Modern
…because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Traditional
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Literal
…because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Latin
…eo quod obedierit Abraham voci meæ, et custodierit præcepta et mandata mea, et cæremonias legesque servaverit.

Original

Hebrew
English
…because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Notes

Genesis 26:2–5

The Lord assured Isaac that the covenant promises (compare 12:2–3; 15:5–8; 17:3–8; 22:15–18; 28:13–14) would pass to him because Abraham faithfully listened to God and obeyed all his requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions. These terms were later used in Deuteronomy to describe God’s full legal covenant with Israel.

An Israelite would immediately think of the complete Torah when hearing these words and be prompted to obey God’s law as Abraham did, though Abraham had only a few commands from the Lord. Through these words, the text emphasizes that Abraham would have obeyed the later commands if he had had them, because he was an obedient servant of the Lord.

Genesis 26:1–35

This section pauses Jacob’s story to focus on Isaac. Isaac’s success and wealth in chapter 26 show that God’s blessing had passed to him (compare 25:11), even though he sometimes failed to trust God.

Parallels

Genesis 12:1–9

People

Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people

Glossary

Abimelech Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Gerar History of Israel Jacob’s Ladder Nathanael Obedience Patriarchs, Period of the Philistia, Philistines Rebecca, Rebekah Righteousness

Topics

Abraham: Piety of Blessing: Temporal, from God Children: Share Benefits of Covenant Privileges Guaranteed to Parents God: Providence of Intercession: Intercessional Influence of the Righteous Isaac: The Miraculous Son of Abraham: Abrahamic Covenant Confirmed In Isaac: The Miraculous Son of Abraham: Prophecies Concerning The Jews: Promises Respecting Made to Isaac