^26:20the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled⁴⁸ with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water belongs to us!” So Isaac⁴⁹ named the well⁵⁰ Esek⁵¹ because they argued with him about it.⁵²^26:21His servants⁵³ dug another well, but they quarreled over it too, so Isaac named it⁵⁴ Sitnah.⁵⁵^26:22Then he moved away from there and dug another well. They did not quarrel over it, so Isaac⁵⁶ named it⁵⁷ Rehoboth,⁵⁸ saying, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we will prosper in the land.”

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Footnotes

48 The Hebrew verb translated “quarreled” describes a conflict that often has legal ramifications.
49 Heb “and he”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
50 Heb “and he called the name of the well.”
51 The name Esek means “argument” in Hebrew. The following causal clause explains that Isaac gave the well this name as a reminder of the conflict its discovery had created. In the Hebrew text there is a wordplay, for the name is derived from the verb translated “argued.”
52 The words “about it” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
53 Heb “they”; the referent (Isaac’s servants) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
54 Heb “and he called its name.” The referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
55 The name Sitnah (שִׂטְנָה, sitnah) is derived from a Hebrew verbal root meaning “to oppose; to be an adversary” (cf. Job 1:6). The name was a reminder that the digging of this well caused “opposition” from the Philistines.
56 Heb “and he”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
57 Heb “and he called its name.”
58 The name Rehoboth (רְהֹבוֹת, rehovot) is derived from a verbal root meaning “to make room.” The name was a reminder that God had made room for them. The story shows Isaac’s patience with the opposition; it also shows how God’s blessing outdistanced the men of Gerar. They could not stop it or seize it any longer.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek because they argued with him. Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also, so he named it Sitnah. He moved from there and dug another, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth and said, “For now the Lord has made space for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”

NLTNew Living Translation

But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours.” And he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. And they dug another well, and they quarreled over it also. And he called its name Sitnah. Then he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. And he called its name Rehoboth, and said, “Now Yahweh has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

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