What Does Genesis 21:28 Mean in the King James?

And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Genesis 21:28 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The seven lambs carry the sound of an oath: in Hebrew, “seven” and “swear” share the root ⁨שבע⁩.

THE MEANING

This verse shows a promise taking visible form: the lambs are set apart from the flock, distinct enough to serve as witnesses. The number itself echoes an oath, bringing separation, sign, and sworn agreement into one image.

THE ROOT

שֶׁבַע

shevaʿ

GROWS FROM

שׁבע

Seven; the same consonants also form the Hebrew word for swearing an oath.

⁨שֶׁבַע⁩ (shevaʿ, seven) shares its three consonants with ⁨נִשְׁבַּע⁩ (nishbaʿ, swore). In this scene, the seven lambs are set apart as a witness, and the name Beersheba soon gathers “seven” and “oath” into one sound.

ALSO GROWS

shavuaʿ: A week, a period of seven days.

שָׁבוּעַ

The week carries the number seven into a span of time.

nishbaʿ: Swore, took an oath.

נִשְׁבַּע

This is the oath word that echoes the seven lambs in the agreement over the well.

Beʾer-sheva: Beersheba; “well of seven” and, by the verse’s wordplay, “well of the oath.”

בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע

The place-name binds the number and the sworn agreement together.

THE PATTERN

A visible sign gives an otherwise unseen covenant a witness.

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Genesis 9:13 · KJVThe bow makes the covenant visible as a sign that can be seen again.

And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

Genesis 21:30 · KJVThe lambs set apart in this verse become a visible witness to the agreement over the well.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Luke 22:20 · KJVThe cup gives the covenant a visible sign and names what it witnesses.

THE THREAD

Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.

Genesis 21:31 · KJV

Beersheba carries the same ⁨שבע⁩ sound that links seven with swearing an oath. The next verse names the lambs’ role as witness, joining the number, the sign, and the oath in one image.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us