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.

GENESIS 26:15KJV
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Genesis 26:15 (KJV)

What does Genesis 26:15 mean?

Genesis 26:15 says that the Philistines filled up all the wells that Abraham’s servants had dug during Abraham’s lifetime, blocking them with dirt. This action made it difficult for Isaac, Abraham’s son, to access water and continue living in the land.

In this part of Genesis, the story focuses on Isaac living among the Philistines after Abraham’s death. The Philistines’ act of stopping up the wells is a sign of hostility and an attempt to push Isaac out or make life hard for him. Wells were essential for survival in this region, so filling them with earth was a serious move that threatened Isaac’s ability to stay and thrive.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 26:15

  • "wells" (בְּאֵרֹ֖ת, bĕ'ērōt): This word refers to water sources dug into the ground, crucial for life in the dry climate. The emphasis on wells highlights the importance of water and the seriousness of the Philistines’ actions.
  • "stopped" (סָתַם, satam): This verb means to block or plug up. It shows intentional harm, not just neglect, making clear the Philistines’ unfriendly intentions.
  • "filled" (מָלֵא, male): This word means to fill up completely. The Philistines didn’t just cover the wells; they made sure they were unusable by packing them with earth.
  • "earth" (עָפָר, ʿāphār): This word means dirt or soil. Using earth to fill the wells made it a labor-intensive task to reopen them, showing the depth of the opposition Isaac faced.

Why Genesis 26:15 matters

  • Genesis 26:15 shows the tension between Isaac and the Philistines, helping explain why Isaac later moves and re-digs the wells.
  • The verse highlights how valuable and contested water sources were in the ancient world, especially in a dry region like Canaan.
  • This detail connects Isaac’s story to Abraham’s, showing that the blessings and struggles of the father are passed down to the son, and that Isaac must reclaim what was lost.

Where else these words appear

“stopped” Hebrew H5640 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 26:18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
  • Lamentations 3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

“digged” Hebrew H2658 · used in 21 verses

  • Genesis 21:30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
  • Exodus 7:24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
  • Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

“wells” Hebrew H875 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 14:10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
  • Genesis 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
  • Numbers 21:17 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

“earth” Hebrew H6083 · used in 103 verses

  • Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
  • Job 4:19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
  • Psalms 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.