The Bible — World English Bible

Genesis 13

In brief

Genesis 13 tells of Abraham's return from Egypt to Canaan and his parting from his nephew Lot. Their herds have grown too large and the herdsmen quarrel. Abraham, though the elder, lets Lot choose: Lot takes the fine plain of the Jordan, near Sodom. Once Lot has left, God invites Abraham to lift up his eyes and promises him all the land he can see, for him and his descendants. Abraham settles at Hebron and builds an altar there.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-4Back to Bethel, where the altar had been built
  2. v. 5-9Too many herds: Abraham lets Lot choose
  3. v. 10-13Lot chooses the plain of the Jordan, near Sodom
  4. v. 14-18God renews the promise: lift up your eyes

1Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.

2Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

3He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,

4to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Yahweh’s name.

5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.

6The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together.

7There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time.

8Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives.

9Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.

11So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one other.

12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

13Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.

14Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,

15for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever.

16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.

17Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”

18Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.

Key verses

Verse 8-9
Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

Abraham proposes to part ways to keep peace between relatives and gives Lot the first choice. He prefers to give up an advantage rather than lose a brother.

Verse 10-13
Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one other. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.

Lot lifts up his eyes and chooses by what he sees: a well-watered plain, like a garden. He judges by appearance without looking at where it leads, and the text notes that the people of Sodom were wicked.

Verse 14-15
Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever.

Once Lot has gone, God tells Abraham to lift up his eyes and gives him all the land he sees. Lot had chosen what pleased him, and God gives Abraham far more.

Verse 18
Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.

Abraham moves his tent, settles at Hebron and builds an altar to the Lord. He stays faithful to worship in every place where he lives.

Bible verses to meditate on

Characters in this chapter

What the sermons say

Frequently asked questions about Genesis 13

Why did Abraham let Lot choose first?

Abraham was the elder and the heir of the promise, so he could have chosen first. Yet he put family peace before his own interest and gave Lot the first choice. God then renewed his promise to him, which shows that giving up your rights is not losing.

Why is Lot's choice a problem?

Lot chose by appearance, the green plain, without taking into account the reputation of the people of Sodom. The text notes that these people were wicked and great sinners before the Lord. This choice, made by sight, would lead Lot to live in the midst of Sodom, with the trials that followed.

What is the main message of Genesis 13?

Trust God rather than your own eyes. Lot chooses what looks best to him, while Abraham gives up his advantage and receives from God the promise of the whole land. The chapter invites us to prefer peace, to lift up our eyes to what God shows us and to keep on worshipping.

Articles quoting Genesis 13

← All chapters

World English Bible translation — public domain.