The Meaning of Genesis 14:13 Explained

Genesis 14:13

KJV: And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

YLT: And one who is escaping cometh and declareth to Abram the Hebrew, and he is dwelling among the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner, and they are Abram's allies.

Darby: And one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. And he dwelt by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol, and the brother of Aner. And these were Abram's allies.

ASV: And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew: now he dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were confederate with Abram.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And there came  one that had escaped,  and told  Abram  the Hebrew;  for he dwelt  in the plain  of Mamre  the Amorite,  brother  of Eshcol,  and brother  of Aner:  and these [were] confederate  with Abram. 

What does Genesis 14:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 14:13-24 - Abram And Melchizedek
Recently discovered monuments confirm this narrative of the confederacy of the kings, but do not tell of their overthrow. Abram might fairly have left Lot to reap as he had sown, but his soul yearned over his weak and entrapped relative, and he set himself to deliver him. Men of faith and prayer are still able to rescue those who are taken captive by the devil at his will. Faith subdues kingdoms. The moment of success is always one of danger. The king of Sodom insidiously proposed that they should share the spoils! But how could Abram live as a pensioner on God's care, if he feathered his nest with the tainted wealth of Sodom? A previous interview had taken place, which made Abram strong. Melchizedek was king and priest of the tribe which held Jerusalem. Read Hebrews 7:1-28. He brought bread and wine, and a fresh revelation of the character of God, on which Abram rested his soul. What had he to do with Sodom, who was the child of such a Father? Christ always anticipates Satan. See Luke 22:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 14

1  The battle of four kings against the king of Sodom and his allies
12  Lot is taken prisoner
14  Abram rescues him
17  Melchizedek blesses Abram, who gives him tithes
21  Abram restores the rest of the spoil to the king of Sodom

What do the individual words in Genesis 14:13 mean?

And came one who had escaped and told Abram the Hebrew For he dwelt by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner and these owned a covenant with Abram
וַיָּבֹא֙ הַפָּלִ֔יט וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאַבְרָ֣ם הָעִבְרִ֑י וְהוּא֩ שֹׁכֵ֨ן בְּאֵֽלֹנֵ֜י מַמְרֵ֣א הָאֱמֹרִ֗י אֲחִ֤י אֶשְׁכֹּל֙ וַאֲחִ֣י עָנֵ֔ר וְהֵ֖ם בַּעֲלֵ֥י בְרִית־ אַבְרָֽם

וַיָּבֹא֙  And  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַפָּלִ֔יט  one  who  had  escaped 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פָּלִיט 
Sense: refugee, fugitive, escaped one.
וַיַּגֵּ֖ד  and  told 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לְאַבְרָ֣ם  Abram 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָם  
Sense: original name of Abraham.
הָעִבְרִ֑י  the  Hebrew 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עִבְרִי  
Sense: a designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites adj.
וְהוּא֩  For  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
שֹׁכֵ֨ן  dwelt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
בְּאֵֽלֹנֵ֜י  by  the  oaks 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֵלֹון  
Sense: tree, great tree, terebinth.
מַמְרֵ֣א  of  Mamre 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַמְרֵא 
Sense: an Amorite who allied himself with Abram.
הָאֱמֹרִ֗י  the  Amorite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱמֹרִי  
Sense: one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt.
אֲחִ֤י  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
אֶשְׁכֹּל֙  of  Eshcol 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶשְׁכֹּול 
Sense: an area of Hebron, the valley of Eshcol.
וַאֲחִ֣י  and  brother 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
עָנֵ֔ר  of  Aner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנֵר 
Sense: one of the Amorite chiefs who aided Abraham in the pursuit of the 4 invading kings.
וְהֵ֖ם  and  these 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
בַּעֲלֵ֥י  owned 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בָּעַל 
Sense: owner, husband, lord.
בְרִית־  a  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
אַבְרָֽם  with  Abram 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָם  
Sense: original name of Abraham.