Genesis Chapter 13

Updated: September 14, 2025

Abram and Lot Part Ways

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

2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 5And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

8And 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. 9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Lot Pitches Toward Sodom

10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

14And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

Abram and Lot Part Ways

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

2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 He went on his journeys from the South even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on the name of Yahweh. 5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together: for their substance was great, so that they could not live together. 7 There was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in the land at that time.

8 Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are relatives. 9 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.”

Lot Proceeds toward Sodom

10 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. 11 So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

14 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, 15 for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your seed may also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth; for I will give it to you.” 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.

Abram and Lot Part Ways

1 So Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negev—he and his wife and all his possessions—and Lot was with him. 2 And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.

3 From the Negev he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel, until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been pitched, 4 to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5 Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist. 7 And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.

8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Lot Proceeds toward Sodom

10 And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company.

12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

14 After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, 15 for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever. a

16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Get up and walk around the land, through its length and breadth, for I will give it to you.”

18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks b of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.

Footnotes:

15 a Cited in Galatians 3:16
18 b Or Terebinths  or Great Trees

Abram and Lot Part Ways

1And Abram goeth up from Egypt (he and his wife, and all that he hath, and Lot with him) towards the south;

2and Abram is exceedingly wealthy in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3And he goeth on his journeyings from the south, even unto Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the commencement, between Bethel and Hai -- 4unto the place of the altar which he made there at the first, and there doth Abram preach in the name of Jehovah. 5And also to Lot, who is going with Abram, there hath been sheep and oxen and tents; 6and the land hath not suffered them to dwell together, for their substance hath been much, and they have not been able to dwell together; 7and there is a strife between those feeding Abram's cattle and those feeding Lot's cattle; and the Canaanite and the Perizzite are then dwelling in the land.

8And Abram saith unto Lot, 'Let there not, I pray thee, be strife between me and thee, and between my shepherds and thy shepherds, for we are men -- brethren. 9Is not all the land before thee? be parted, I pray thee, from me; if to the left, then I to the right; and if to the right, then I to the left.'

Lot Pitches Toward Sodom

10And Lot lifteth up his eyes, and seeth the whole circuit of the Jordan that it is all a watered country (before Jehovah's destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, as Jehovah's garden, as the land of Egypt,) in thy coming toward Zoar, 11and Lot chooseth for himself the whole circuit of the Jordan; and Lot journeyeth from the east, and they are parted -- a man from his companion; 12Abram hath dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot hath dwelt in the cities of the circuit, and tenteth unto Sodom; 13and the men of Sodom are evil, and sinners before Jehovah exceedingly.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

14And Jehovah said unto Abram, after Lot's being parted from him, 'Lift up, I pray thee, thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; 15for the whole of the land which thou are seeing, to thee I give it, and to thy seed -- to the age. 16And I have set thy seed as dust of the earth, so that, if one is able to number the dust of the earth, even thy seed is numbered; 17rise, go up and down through the land, to its length, and to its breadth, for to thee I give it.' 18And Abram tenteth, and cometh, and dwelleth among the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and buildeth there an altar to Jehovah.

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The F.O.G Commentary

Genesis 13 – When Uncle and Nephew Need Some Space

What’s this chapter about?

Abraham and Lot have gotten too successful for their own good – their flocks and herds are so massive they can’t share the same land anymore. What follows is one of the most gracious conflict resolutions in all of Scripture, where Abraham shows us what it looks like to trust God’s promises even when it costs us personally.

The Full Context

Genesis 13 picks up right where the previous chapter left off – Abraham has just returned from his embarrassing detour to Egypt, where his lack of faith nearly cost him everything. Now back in the Promised Land with his nephew Lot, Abraham faces a new challenge: success. Both men have become incredibly wealthy during their time in Egypt, accumulating vast herds of livestock, servants, and possessions. What should be a blessing has become a problem.

This chapter serves as a crucial hinge point in Abraham’s story within the broader narrative of Genesis. After the failure in Egypt, God is giving Abraham another chance to demonstrate faith and obedience. The chapter also sets up the separation between Abraham’s lineage (which will become Israel) and Lot’s descendants (who will become Israel’s problematic neighbors). The way Abraham handles this family conflict reveals the kind of character God is developing in the father of many nations – generous, trusting, and willing to take risks based on divine promises rather than human calculations.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew text of Genesis 13 is packed with wordplay and significance that English translations can’t quite capture. When the text says Abraham was “very rich” (verse 2), the Hebrew uses the word kaved, which literally means “heavy.” Abraham wasn’t just wealthy – he was weighed down by his possessions. The same root word is used throughout the Old Testament to describe God’s glory (kavod), suggesting that Abraham’s material blessing is a reflection of divine favor.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase “the land could not support them” uses the Hebrew verb nasa, which means “to lift up” or “to bear.” It’s the same word used when priests “bear” the sins of the people. The land literally couldn’t bear the weight of their combined blessings – a beautiful picture of how God’s abundance can create unexpected challenges.

But here’s where it gets really interesting. When conflict arises between the herdsmen, the Hebrew word for “strife” is riv – the same word used for legal disputes. This wasn’t just arguing over grazing rights; it was heading toward a formal legal battle that could have torn the family apart permanently.

Abraham’s response reveals his character through careful word choice. When he suggests they separate, he uses the Hebrew root parad, which can mean both “to divide” and “to be fruitful.” Abraham sees this separation not as loss but as an opportunity for multiplication – exactly what God had promised him.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

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To ancient Near Eastern readers, this story would have been absolutely shocking. In their world, the elder family member always got first choice of land. The younger person waited to receive whatever the patriarch decided to give them. Abraham’s offer to let Lot choose first would have seemed like madness to ancient audiences.

Did You Know?

Archaeological evidence shows that water rights and grazing territories were the source of most conflicts in the ancient world. Legal documents from this period reveal that families regularly went to war over far less than what Abraham willingly gave up. His generosity would have seemed almost supernatural to ancient readers.

The original audience would also have caught the geographic irony that later readers miss. When Lot “lifted up his eyes” and saw the Jordan valley, he was looking toward what would become Sodom and Gomorrah. The Hebrew phrase suggests he was attracted by the immediate visual appeal – the land looked “like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.” For readers who knew how this story ended, Lot’s choice based on appearances would have been deeply unsettling.

Most significantly, ancient readers would have understood that Abraham was taking an enormous risk. In a world where possession was nine-tenths of the law, giving someone else first pick of the best land meant you might end up with nothing. Abraham’s willingness to do this demonstrated either foolishness or extraordinary faith in divine promises.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s what puzzles me about this passage: Why does Abraham seem so confident about letting Lot choose first? He’s just come back from Egypt where his lack of faith nearly destroyed everything. You’d think he’d be more cautious, more protective of what God had promised him.

But maybe that’s exactly the point. Abraham’s failure in Egypt taught him something crucial about trying to help God’s promises along through human scheming. Now he’s willing to trust that God’s promises don’t depend on Abraham’s ability to secure the best land deals.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Notice that God doesn’t speak to Abraham until after he’s already made this generous choice. It’s only after Abraham demonstrates faith through action that God reaffirms and expands his promises. Sometimes God waits to see our character before revealing the next part of his plan.

The text also raises questions about Lot’s character. He doesn’t seem to hesitate or even thank Abraham for this incredible generosity. He just takes the best land and moves toward Sodom. The Hebrew suggests he “chose for himself” – a phrase that often carries negative connotations in Scripture, implying selfishness or spiritual shortsightedness.

How This Changes Everything

This chapter reveals a profound principle about how God’s kingdom works: generosity creates space for God to work miracles. Abraham’s willingness to give up what seemed like his rightful claim opened the door for God to give him something far greater than he could have secured through human effort.

Right after Abraham makes this costly choice, God speaks to him again with an expanded promise. Not only will Abraham inherit the land, but his descendants will be like the dust of the earth – innumerable. God tells him to walk through the land “for I will give it to you.” The timing isn’t coincidental. Abraham’s generous heart positioned him to receive God’s generous promises.

“Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is let go of what we think we deserve so God can give us what he knows we need.”

This principle echoes throughout Scripture and into our own lives. When we hold our possessions, opportunities, and rights with open hands, we create space for God to work in ways that our grasping never could accomplish. Abraham’s willingness to “lose” the best land led to him gaining an eternal inheritance.

The chapter also establishes Abraham as a peacemaker – a crucial quality for someone called to bless all nations. His approach to conflict resolution becomes a model: acknowledge the problem honestly, take responsibility for finding a solution, and prioritize relationships over personal advantage.

Key Takeaway

True faith isn’t measured by how tightly we hold onto God’s promises, but by how generously we’re willing to let go of our rights when relationships are at stake. Abraham discovered that God’s blessings multiply when we create space for others to flourish alongside us.

Genesis Chapter 13

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