Genesis - 21:26



26 Abimelech said, "I don't know who has done this thing. Neither did you tell me, neither did I hear of it, until today."

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Genesis 21:26.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
And Abimelech said, I know not who hath done this thing. Neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to-day.
And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: and thou didst not tell me, and I heard not of it till to day.
And Abimelech said, I do not know who has done this, neither hast thou told me of it, neither have I heard of it but to-day.
And Abimelech said, I know not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but today.
and Abimelech saith, 'I have not known who hath done this thing, and even thou didst not declare to me, and I also, I have not heard save to-day.'
And Abimelech said, I know not who has done this thing; neither did you tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
But Abimelech said, I have no idea who has done this thing; you never gave me word of it, and I had no knowledge of it till this day.
And Abimelech responded, "I do not know who did this thing, but you also did not reveal it to me, nor have I heard of it, before today."
Et dixit Abimelech, Non novi quis fecerit hoc, neque etiam tu indicasti mihi, neque etiam ego audivi praeterquam hodie.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

I wot not who hath done this thing - The servants of Abimelech had committed these depredations on Abraham without any authority from their master, who appears to have been a very amiable man, possessing the fear of God, and ever regulating the whole of his conduct by the principles of righteousness and strict justice.

And Abimelech said, (l) I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I [of it], but to day.
(l) Wicked servants do many evils unknown to their masters.

And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing,.... He pleads ignorance; he knew nothing of it before, nor now which of his servants had done it; intimating, that if he could know who it was, he should severely reprimand him for it:
neither didst thou tell me: signifying that he was to blame he did not complain of it sooner; and at least he had no reason to blame him, since he had never informed him before of it, and therefore could not expect to be redressed:
neither yet heard of it but today: he had not heard of it from others, as the Targum of Jonathan rightly adds, by way of explanation, but that very day, and very probably not till the moment he had it from Abraham himself.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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