Genesis 13 · Verse 6

Genesis 13:6

And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
Genesis 13:6, King James Version

Genesis 13:6 in other translations

BSBBut the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist.
WEBThe land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together.
ASVAnd the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
YLTand the land hath not suffered them to dwell together, for their substance hath been much, and they have not been able to dwell together;
DARBYAnd the land could not support them, that they might dwell together, for their property was great; and they could not dwell together.
BBESo that the land was not wide enough for the two of them: their property was so great that there was not room for them together.
WebsterAnd the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

What does Genesis 13:6 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Their substance was great - As their families increased, it was necessary their flocks should increase also, as from those flocks they derived their clothing, food, and drink. Many also were offered in sacrifice to God. They could not dwell together - 1. Because their flocks were great. 2. Because the Canaanites and the Perizzites had already occupied a considerable part of the land. 3. Because there appears to have been envy between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. To prevent disputes among them, that might have ultimately disturbed the peace of the two families, it was necessary that a separation should take place.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 13:5-9

Riches not only afford matter for strife, and are the things most commonly striven about; but they also stir up a spirit of contention, by making people proud and covetous. Mine and thine are the great make-bates of the world. Poverty and labour, wants and wanderings, could not separate Abram and Lot; but riches did so. Bad servants often make a great deal of mischief in families and among neighbours, by their pride…

Read the full comment on Genesis 13:5-9 →

Genesis 13:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
נָשָׂ֥אna.Sa'it supportedH5375
אֹתָ֛ם'o.Tam<obj.> themH853
הָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzthe landH776
לָשֶׁ֣בֶתla.She.vetto dwellH3427
יַחְדָּ֑וyach.DavtogetherH3162
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
הָיָ֤הha.Yahit wasH1961
רְכוּשָׁם֙re.khu.Shampossession[s] theirH7399
רָ֔בRavmuchH7227
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
יָֽכְל֖וּya.khe.Luthey were ableH3201
לָשֶׁ֥בֶתla.She.vetto dwellH3427
יַחְדָּֽו\׃yach.DavtogetherH3162

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 13:6

  • Genesis 36:6-7

    And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

  • Luke 12:17-18

    And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

    He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

  • 1 Timothy 6:9

    But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
36:6,7; Ec 5:10,11; Lu 12:17,18; 1Ti 6:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 13:5

    And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

  • Genesis 13:6

    And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

  • Genesis 13:7

    And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

Read all of Genesis 13

Genesis 13:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y la tierra no podía darles para que habitasen juntos: porque su hacienda era mucha, y no podían morar en un mismo lugar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le pays ne pouvait les porter pour qu’ils habitent ensemble; car leur bien était grand, et ils ne pouvaient habiter ensemble.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und das Land ertrug es nicht, daß sie beisammen wohnten; denn ihre Habe war groß, und sie konnten nicht beisammen wohnen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nec poterat eos capere terra, ut habitarent simul: erat quippe substantia eorum multa, et nequibant habitare communiter.