Genesis 26:2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you.

◄ Genesis 26:2 ►

New International Version
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.

New Living Translation
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you.

English Standard Version
And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you.

King James Bible
And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

New King James Version
Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you.

New American Standard Bible
And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.

NASB 1995
The LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.

NASB 1977
And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.

Amplified Bible
The LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I will tell you.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land that I tell you about;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land that I tell you about;

American Standard Version
And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

Contemporary English Version
because the LORD had appeared to Isaac and said: Isaac, stay away from Egypt! I will show you where I want you to go.

English Revised Version
And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Don't go to Egypt. Stay where I tell you.

Good News Translation
The LORD had appeared to Isaac and had said, "Do not go to Egypt; stay in this land, where I tell you to stay.

International Standard Version
That's when the LORD appeared to Isaac. "You are not to go down to Egypt," he said. "Instead, you are to settle down in an area within this land where I'll tell you.

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you.

NET Bible
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; settle down in the land that I will point out to you.

New Heart English Bible
And God appeared to him, and said, "Do not go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD appeared to him, and said, Go not down into Egypt: dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of.

World English Bible
Yahweh appeared to him, and said, “Don’t go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And YHWH appears to him and says, “Do not go down toward Egypt, dwell in the land concerning which I speak to you,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah appeareth unto him, and saith, 'Go not down towards Egypt, tabernacle in the land concerning which I speak unto thee,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will be seen to him, and will say, Thou shalt not go down to Egypt: dwell in the land which I shall say to thee.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord appeared to him and said: Go not down into Egypt, but stay in the land that I shall tell thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord appeared to him, and he said: “Do not descend into Egypt, but rest in the land that I will tell you,

New American Bible
The LORD appeared to him and said: Do not go down to Egypt, but camp in this land wherever I tell you.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the LORD appeared to him, and said, Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH appeared to him and said to him, “Do not go down to Egypt. Dwell in the land that I shall tell you:

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD appeared unto him, and said: 'Go not down unto Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord appeared to him and said, Go not down to Egypt, but dwell in the land, which I shall tell thee of.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

God's Promise to Isaac
1Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you. 3Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 12:1
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.

Genesis 15:1
After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Genesis 22:1-2
Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. / “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Genesis 28:13-15
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. / Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Genesis 31:3
Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

Genesis 35:1
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

Exodus 3:2-6
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. / So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” / When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. ...

Exodus 6:2-8
God also told Moses, “I am the LORD. / I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them. / I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners. ...

Exodus 33:1
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’

Numbers 12:6-8
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. / But this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. / I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

Deuteronomy 1:8
See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.”

Deuteronomy 31:23
Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”

Joshua 1:1-9
Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, / “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel. / I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses. ...

1 Kings 3:5
One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD appeared to him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell you of:

appeared.

Genesis 12:7
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 18:1,10-20
And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; …

dwell.

Genesis 12:1
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Psalm 37:3
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

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Genesis 26

1. Isaac, because of famine, sojourns in Gerar, and the Lord blesses him.
7. He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife.
12. He grows rich, and the Philistines envy his prosperity.
18. He digs wells.
23. God appears to him at Beersheba, and blesses him;
26. and Abimelech makes a covenant with him.
34. Esau's wives.

Berean Study Bible

The LORD appeared
The Hebrew word for "appeared" is "ra'ah," which means to see or to be visible. This indicates a divine revelation, a theophany where God makes His presence known to Isaac. In the context of the patriarchal narratives, such appearances are significant, underscoring God's personal relationship and covenant with the patriarchs. This divine encounter reassures Isaac of God's guidance and presence, a continuation of the promises made to Abraham.

to Isaac
Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, is the second patriarch in the lineage through which God promised to bless all nations. His life is marked by a continuation of the covenantal promises given to Abraham. The mention of Isaac here emphasizes the personal nature of God's covenant, as it is not just a general promise but one that is passed down through specific individuals chosen by God.

and said
The act of God speaking is a profound moment in the biblical narrative. The Hebrew word "amar" is used here, which means to say or declare. This highlights the authority and intentionality of God's communication. God's words are not mere suggestions but divine commands that carry the weight of His sovereign will.

Do not go down to Egypt
Egypt, in the biblical narrative, often represents a place of refuge but also a place of potential spiritual danger. Historically, Egypt was a powerful and prosperous nation, often seen as a place to turn to in times of famine or distress. However, God's command to Isaac not to go there signifies a call to trust in God's provision rather than seeking security in worldly powers. This directive echoes the broader biblical theme of reliance on God rather than human strength or wisdom.

Settle in the land
The Hebrew word "shakan" means to dwell or reside. This command to settle signifies a call to stability and trust in God's promise. The land is not just a physical location but a symbol of God's covenantal promise to Abraham and his descendants. By instructing Isaac to settle, God reaffirms His commitment to the covenant and the land as a place of blessing.

where I tell you
This phrase underscores the importance of obedience to God's specific guidance. The land where God directs Isaac to settle is not chosen by Isaac's own wisdom or understanding but by divine instruction. This highlights the theme of faith and obedience, trusting in God's plan even when it may not align with human logic or desire. It is a call to live by faith, trusting in God's promises and timing.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) The Lord appeared unto him.--Only once besides does Jehovah manifest himself to Isaac (Genesis 26:24), and sixty years had now passed since the revelations recorded in Genesis 22. Excepting to Abraham, it was only at rare and distant intervals that God spake to the patriarchs. The greater part of their lives was spent under the control of the same ordinary Providence as that which governs our actions now; but on special occasions God was pleased to confirm their faith in Him in a way not necessary now that we have had made known to us the whole counsel of God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - And the Lord (Jehovah, i.e. the God of the covenant and of the promise) appeared unto him, - only two Divine manifestations are mentioned as having been granted to the patriarch. Either the peaceful tenor of Isaac s life rendered more theophanies in his case unnecessary; or, if others were enjoyed by him, the brief space allotted by the historian to the record of his life may account for their omission from the narrative. Though commonly understood as having occurred in Gerar (Keil, Lange, Murphy), this appearance, is perhaps better regarded as having taken place at Lahai-roi, and as having been the cause of Isaac's turning aside into the land of the Philistines (Calvin) - and said, Go not down into Egypt - whither manifestly he had been purposing to migrate, as his father had done on the occasion of the earlier dearth (Genesis 12:10). Jacob in the later famine was instructed to go down to Egypt (Genesis 46:3, 4); Abraham in the first scarcity was left at liberty to think and act for himself. Dwell in the land which I will tell thee of (i.e. Philistia, as appears from the preceding verse).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

appeared
וַיֵּרָ֤א (way·yê·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

to
אֵלָיו֙ (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

[Isaac] and said,
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

go down
תֵּרֵ֣ד (tê·rêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to Egypt.
מִצְרָ֑יְמָה (miṣ·rā·yə·māh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

Settle
שְׁכֹ֣ן (šə·ḵōn)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7931: To settle down, abide, dwell

in the land
בָּאָ֔רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

where
אֲשֶׁ֖ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I tell you.
אֹמַ֥ר (’ō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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OT Law: Genesis 26:2 Yahweh appeared to him and said Don't (Gen. Ge Gn)