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.

GENESIS 26:18KJV
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Genesis 26:18 (KJV)

What does Genesis 26:18 mean?

Genesis 26:18 describes how Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug during his father Abraham’s time, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death, and Isaac gave them the same names his father had used. This shows Isaac restoring what his father had established and honoring Abraham’s legacy.

In this verse, the focus is on Isaac’s actions after Abraham’s death, as he faces opposition from the Philistines who had blocked the wells. The wells were crucial for survival in that region, so reopening them was both practical and symbolic. By naming the wells as Abraham did, Isaac connects himself to his father’s promises and heritage, continuing the family’s presence in the land.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 26:18

  • The word for “digged” is חָפַר (ḥāpar), which means to dig or excavate. This word emphasizes the physical effort Isaac made to restore what had been lost.
  • “Wells” is בְּאֵר (be’er), meaning a well or pit, highlighting the importance of water sources in the arid environment and the value of reclaiming them.
  • “Stopped” is סָתַם (sātam), meaning to stop up or block. This word shows the deliberate action of the Philistines in making the wells unusable, which was a hostile act.
  • The word for “called” is קָרָא (qārā’), which means to call or name. Isaac’s act of naming the wells as Abraham did is a way of reclaiming both the land and his family’s identity.

Why Genesis 26:18 matters

  • Genesis 26:18 clarifies that Isaac was not just finding new water sources but deliberately restoring what had been lost, showing respect for his father’s legacy.
  • The verse highlights the ongoing tension between Isaac’s family and the Philistines, providing context for the challenges Isaac faced in maintaining his place in the land.
  • By naming the wells after Abraham’s original names, the verse connects Isaac’s actions to the broader story of God’s promises to Abraham, underlining the continuity of the covenant through generations.

Where else these words appear

“stopped” Hebrew H5640 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 26:15 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.
  • 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:

“Isaac” Hebrew H3327 · used in 101 verses

  • Genesis 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
  • Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
  • Genesis 35:28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.