Genesis 14:23

Genesis 14:23

 

That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

 

a. NLT: That I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

 

b. ASV: That I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

 

c. Young’s Literal Translation: from a thread even unto a shoe-latchet I take not of anything which thou hast, that thou say not, I -- I have made Abram rich; [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

 

d. Amplified Bible: That I would not take a thread or a shoelace or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

 

e. Septuagint: [that] I will not take from all thy goods from a string to a shoe-latchet, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.

 

f. Stone Edition of the CHUMASH, Rabbinic Commentary: If so much as a thread to a shoestrap; or if I shall take anything of yours! So you shall not say, ‘It is I who made Abram rich.’

1. “That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine,…”

 

a. That [I will] not [Strong: 518 'im eem: a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, + more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, + save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more, none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when, whereas, whether, while, + yet.]

 

1). This is the content of the vow Abram made to the Lord. We can safely say it was probably made during the decision to go rescue Lot and his family. It probably included giving of the tithe as well as the refusal of taking any of the goods to himself. All on the basis of the Most High God giving Abram victory over his enemies. There may have been a formal covenant made, but if not it at least consisted of this binding vow. 

 

b. [take from a] thread [Strong: 2339 chuwt khoot : from an unused root probably meaning to sew; a string; by implication, a measuring tape:--cord, fillet, line, thread.]

 

c. even to [Strong: 5704 `ad ad properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.]

d. [a] shoelatchet [Strong: 5275  na`al nah'-al or (feminine) na;alah {nah-al-aw'};: from 5274; properly, a sandal tongue; by extens. a sandal or slipper (sometimes as a symbol of occupancy, a refusal to marry, or of something valueless):--dryshod, (pair of) shoe((-latchet), -s).]

 

e). latchet [Strong: 8288 srowk ser-oke';  from 8308; a thong (as laced or tied):--((shoe-)) latchet.]

 

d. [and] that [I will] not] [Strong: 518 'im eem: a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, + more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, + save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more, none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when, whereas, whether, while, + yet.]

 

e. take [Strong: 3947 laqach law-kakh': a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.]

f. any [thing] [Strong: 3605 kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

g. that [is thine] [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]

2. “…lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:”

 

a. lest [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

b. [thou should] say [Strong: 559 'amar aw-mar': a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

 

b. I [Strong: 589 'aniy an-ee' contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X which, X who.]

c. made…rich [Strong: 6238 `ashar aw-shar': a primitive root; properly, to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively, make) rich:--be(-come, en-, make, make self, wax) rich, make (1Kings 22:48 marg).]

 

d. Abram [Strong: 87 'Abram ab-rawm': contracted from 48; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham:--Abram.]

 

1). It seems apparent that the goods that Abram brought back would significantly increase his worth, and by all rights Abram was entitled to it because of his victory. His attempt to bargain with Abram I believe came from an ungodly boldness. I can’t help but see a contempt that Abram has for this king. It has already been reported in Genesis 13:13 that “…the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” It was this I believe fueled Abram’s contempt. Basically Abram said that he in no way would give opportunity for this person to say I helped Abram get his wealth.