Genesis 14:14
New International Version
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

New Living Translation
When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan.

English Standard Version
When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

Berean Standard Bible
And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

King James Bible
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

New King James Version
Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

New American Standard Bible
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

NASB 1995
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

NASB 1977
And when Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, and he led out his trained men, born in his house, 318 in number, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

Amplified Bible
When Abram heard that his nephew [Lot] had been captured, he armed and led out his trained men, born in his own house, [numbering] three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far [north] as Dan.

Christian Standard Bible
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.

American Standard Version
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.

Contemporary English Version
that his nephew Lot had been taken away. Three hundred and eighteen of Abram's servants were fighting men, so he took them and followed the enemy as far north as the city of Dan.

English Revised Version
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he armed his 318 trained men, born in his own household, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan.

Good News Translation
When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he called together all the fighting men in his camp, 318 in all, and pursued the four kings all the way to Dan.

International Standard Version
When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he gathered together 318 of his trained men, who had been born in his household, and they went out in pursuit as far as Dan.

Majority Standard Bible
And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

NET Bible
When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he mobilized his 318 trained men who had been born in his household, and he pursued the invaders as far as Dan.

New Heart English Bible
When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he mobilized his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them to Dan.

World English Bible
When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his three hundred eighteen trained men, born in his house, and pursued as far as Dan.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abram hears that his brother has been taken captive, and he draws out his trained servants, three hundred and eighteen, and pursues to Dan.

Young's Literal Translation
And Abram heareth that his brother hath been taken captive, and he draweth out his trained domestics, three hundred and eighteen, and pursueth unto Dan.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abram shall hear that his brother was carried away captive, and he will draw forth his trained, born in his house, eighteen and three hundred, and will pursue, even to Dan.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which when Abram had heard, to wit, that his brother Lot was taken, he numbered of the servants born in his house, three hundred and eighteen well appointed: and pursued them to Dan.

Catholic Public Domain Version
When Abram had heard this, namely, that his brother Lot had been taken captive, he numbered three hundred and eighteen of his own armed men and he went in pursuit all the way to Dan.

New American Bible
When Abram heard that his kinsman had been captured, he mustered three hundred and eighteen of his retainers, born in his house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

New Revised Standard Version
When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he armed his young men, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued the raiders as far as Dan.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abram heard that the son of his brother was captured and he armed his three hundred and eighteen young men born in his house and he pursued after them unto Dan.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abram having heard that Lot his nephew had been taken captive, numbered his own home-born servants three hundred and eighteen, and pursued after them to Dan.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abram Rescues Lot
13Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram. 14And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan. 15During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.…

Cross References
Hebrews 7:1-2
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, / and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

Hebrews 11:8-9
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Galatians 3:7-9
Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. / The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” / So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Romans 4:11-12
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. / And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Romans 4:16-17
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. / As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

Acts 7:2-4
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, / and told him, ‘Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you.’ / So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living.

James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

2 Peter 2:7-8
and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

Luke 19:9
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.

John 8:39
“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.

Isaiah 41:8
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—

Joshua 24:2-3
And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods. / But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac,

Nehemiah 9:7-8
You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. / You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites—to give it to his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous.

2 Chronicles 20:7
Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend?

1 Chronicles 1:27
and Abram (that is, Abraham).


Treasury of Scripture

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them to Dan.

his brother.

Genesis 11:27-31
Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot…

Genesis 13:8
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.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

armed.

Psalm 45:3-5
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty…

Psalm 68:12
Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

Isaiah 41:2,3
Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow…

trained.

Genesis 12:5,16
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came…

Genesis 15:3
And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Genesis 17:12,27
And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed…

Dan.

Deuteronomy 34:1
And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

Judges 18:29
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

Judges 20:1
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

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Abram Armed Band Born Brother's Captive Dan Draweth Eighteen Far Forth Heard Heareth Hearing House Household Hundred Kinsman Led Prisoner Pursued Pursuit Relative Servants Three Trained
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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.














And when Abram heard
The name "Abram" means "exalted father" in Hebrew, reflecting his role as a patriarch. This phrase marks a pivotal moment where Abram transitions from a passive recipient of God's promises to an active participant in God's plan. His immediate response upon hearing the news demonstrates his leadership and commitment to family, embodying the biblical principle of taking decisive action in times of crisis.

that his relative had been taken captive
The term "relative" refers to Lot, Abram's nephew. This familial connection underscores the importance of kinship and loyalty in the ancient Near Eastern culture. The capture of Lot symbolizes the vulnerability of God's people in a fallen world, yet it also sets the stage for divine intervention through Abram's actions.

he mobilized the 318 trained men
The number "318" is specific and significant, indicating a well-prepared and organized household. These "trained men" were likely skilled in combat, reflecting Abram's foresight in preparing for potential conflicts. This preparation aligns with the biblical theme of being ready to act in faith when called upon by God.

born in his household
This phrase highlights the patriarchal structure of Abram's household, where loyalty and service were cultivated among those born into his care. It emphasizes the strength and unity within Abram's community, which is a microcosm of the larger community of faith that God is building through Abram.

and they set out in pursuit
Abram's decision to pursue the captors demonstrates his courage and determination. The act of pursuit is a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to actively seek justice and righteousness, trusting in God's guidance and provision.

as far as Dan
"Dan" refers to a region in the northern part of ancient Israel. This geographical reference indicates the extent of Abram's pursuit, showcasing his commitment to rescuing Lot. It also foreshadows the future territorial boundaries of Israel, connecting Abram's actions to God's larger redemptive plan for His people.

(14) Abram . . . armed . . . --Heb., led forth, or literally, let them loose, let them pour forth, the verb indicating both their number and also their haste. The word for trained comes from the same root as the name Enoch, for which see note on Genesis 4:17. As Abram's cattle would often be exposed to danger from the Amalekites, who throughout the Biblical history appear as a race of inveterate plunderers, there is no reason to doubt that these men were trained and practised in the use of weapons. This large number of servants born in his house, and of an age capable of undergoing the fatigues of a rapid pursuit, added to the older men left to defend and take care of the cattle, proves that Abram was the chieftain of a powerful tribe.

Dan.--There is a city of this name in Gilead, mentioned in Deuteronomy 34:1, but this is probably the better known town at the source of the Jordan, also called Laish (Judges 18:29). For having swept the hill country on his march southwards, Chedorlaomer would now plunder the rich vale of the Jordan as his final exploit. Dan is about 140 miles from Hebron, where Abram began his march.

Verse 14. - And when Abram heard that his brother - so called as his brother's son, or simply as his relative (Genesis 42:8) - was taken captive, he - literally, and he - armed - literally, caused to pour forth, i.e. drew out in a body, from a toot signifying "to pour out" (Gesenius, Furst); from a root meaning to unsheath or draw out anything as from a scabbard, and hence equivalent to expedivit, he got ready (Onkelos, Saadias, Rosenmüller, Bush, 'Speaker's Commentary'). Kalisch connects both senses with the root. The LXX., Vulgate, and others translate "numbered," reading later יָּדֵּק for יָּרֵק his trained - literally, initiated, instructed, but not necessarily practiced in arms (Keil); perhaps only familiar with' domestic duties (Kalisch), since it is the intention of the writer to show that Abram conquered not by arms, but by faith - servants, born in his own house - i.e. the children of his own patriarchal family, and neither purchased nor taken in war - three hundred and eighteen - which implied a household of probably more than a thousand souls - and - along with these and his allies (vide Ver. 24) - pursued them - the victorious Asiatics - unto Dan - which is here substituted for its older name Laish, for which vide Joshua 19:47 (Ewald), though regarded by some as not the Laish Dan conquered by the Danites, but probably Dan-jaan, mentioned in 2 Samuel 24:6 (Havernick, Keil, Kalisch); against which, however, is the statement of Jose. phus ('Ant.,' 1:10), that this Dan was one of the sources of the Jordan. Murphy regards Dan as the original designation of the town, which was changed under the Sidonians to Laish (lion), and restored at the conquest. Clericus suggests that the Jordan fountain may have been styled Dan, "Judge," and the neighboring town Laish, and that the Danites, observing the coincidence of the former with the name of their own tribe, gave it to the city they had conquered. Alford is doubtful whether Dan-juan was really different from Laish.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And when Abram
אַבְרָ֔ם (’aḇ·rām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 87: Abram -- 'exalted father', the original name of Abraham

heard
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (way·yiš·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

his relative
אָחִ֑יו (’ā·ḥîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

had been captured,
נִשְׁבָּ֖ה (niš·bāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7617: To transport into captivity

he assembled
וַיָּ֨רֶק (way·yā·req)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7324: Arm, cast out, draw out, make empty, pour forth out

the 318
שְׁמֹנָ֤ה (šə·mō·nāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 8083: A cardinal number, eight, eighth

trained men
חֲנִיכָ֜יו (ḥă·nî·ḵāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2593: Trained, tried, experienced

born
יְלִידֵ֣י (yə·lî·ḏê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3211: Born

in his household,
בֵית֗וֹ (ḇê·ṯōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

and they set out in pursuit
וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף (way·yir·dōp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

as
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

far as Dan.
דָּֽן׃ (dān)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1835: Dan -- 'judge', a son of Jacob, also a place in Northern Israel


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OT Law: Genesis 14:14 When Abram heard that his relative was (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 14:13
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