Genesis 13:8

8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.

Genesis 13:8 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives!
The Message Bible (MSG)
8 Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we're family.
American Standard Version (ASV)
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we are brethren.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
8 Abram said to Lot, "Please, let's not have any more quarrels between us or between our herders. After all, we're relatives.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
8 Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let's not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not argue with each other. The people who take care of your herds and those who take care of mine shouldn't argue with one another. After all, we're part of the same family.

Genesis 13:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 13:8

And Abram said unto Lot
Being either an ear witness himself of the contentions of their servants, or having it reported to him by credible persons, he applied himself to Lot, in order to make peace, being a wise and good man; and though he was senior in years, and superior in substance, and higher in the class of relation, and upon all accounts the greatest man, yet he makes the proposal first, and lays a scheme before Lot for their future friendship, and to prevent quarrels, and the mischievous consequences of them: let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee;
there had been none yet, but it was very likely there would, if the dissension should go on between their servants; they could not well avoid interesting themselves in it, when it related to their respective properties; and there must be a right and wrong in such cases to be looked into and adjusted, which might occasion a difference between them; and this Abram was desirous of preventing, and therefore bespeaks his kinsman in this loving, affectionate, and condescending language: and [or] between my herdmen and thy herdmen;
as he understood there was, and which, if not timely put an end to, might be of bad consequence to them both, especially as to their peace and comfort, giving this excellent reason to enforce his request: for we [be] brethren;
or "men brethren we [be]" F21; we are men, let us act like such, the rational and humane part; they were brethren being men, so by nature all are brethren; by natural relation, Lot being the son of his brother Haran; brethren in religion, of the same faith in the one true and living God, and worshippers of him; and therefore on all accounts, by the ties of nature, relation, and religion, they were obliged to seek and cultivate peace and love.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (wnxna Myxa Myvna) "viri fratres vos", Pagninus Montanus, Drusius, Schmidt.

Genesis 13:8 In-Context

6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.
7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.
9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

Cross References 3

  • 1. S Genesis 11:27
  • 2. Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 20:3
  • 3. Genesis 19:9; Exodus 2:14; Numbers 16:13; Psalms 133:1
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