Genesis 26 in the early church

79 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 26, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12 · 13 · 15 · 18 · 19 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 28 · 31 · 33 · 34

Genesis 26:1

Now 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:1–4Genesis, lines 799–823 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Gen 26:1–5City of God 16.36 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426

Genesis 26:2

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

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:2Fragments on Genesis, column 121 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 26:2Against Celsus 6.4 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 248
Gen 26:2Part 12 · Eutherius of Tyanaallusion, medium confidenceca. 431-440

Genesis 26:3

Stay 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:3Against the Jews 2 · Anonymousquotation, medium confidence3rd cent. (disputed)
Gen 26:3Fragments on Genesis, column 121 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 26:3–5Demonstration of the Gospel 1.6.7 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Gen 26:3–4Demonstration of the Gospel 2.1.8 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Gen 26:3Book of Rules 3 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Gen 26:3City of God 18.3 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426

Genesis 26:4

I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:4Dialogue with Trypho 120.1 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Gen 26:4Demonstration of the Gospel 8.1.4 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Gen 26:4Tractates on the Psalms 146.5 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
Gen 26:4Book of Rules 3 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Gen 26:4Against Faustus the Manichaean 12.41 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 26:4Against Faustus the Manichaean 13.5 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 26:4The Harmony of the Gospels 1.39 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 399–400
Gen 26:4–5Against the Letter of Parmenian 1.2 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 400
Gen 26:4Tractates on the Gospel of John 12.2 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 406–420
Gen 26:4City of God 18.3 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426

Genesis 26:5

because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:5Fragments on Genesis, column 121 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 26:5Demonstration 13.8 · Aphrahatallusion, medium confidence337-345
Gen 26:5Book of Rules 3 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380

Genesis 26:6

So Isaac settled in Gerar.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:6–22Genesis, lines 824–848 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.
Gen 26:6–11City of God 16.36 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426
Gen 26:6–11Chapter 8 · Prosper of Aquitaineallusion, high confidenceca. 432-433

Genesis 26:7

But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:7On the Dress of Women 2.2 · Tertullianallusion, high confidenceca. 197–206
Gen 26:7Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.5 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 26:7Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.46 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
Gen 26:7Against Lying 23 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 420

Genesis 26:8

When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:8The Instructor 1.5.21 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, high confidenceca. 190–200
Gen 26:8The Instructor 1.5.22 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 190–200
Gen 26:8Homilies on the Psalms 33.1 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-378
Gen 26:8Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.46 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400

Genesis 26:10

“What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:10The Conferences 13.11 · John Cassianallusion, medium confidenceca. 426–429

Genesis 26:12

Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:12Letter 66.7 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Gen 26:12–13Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 126 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence5th century (disputed)

Genesis 26:13

and he became richer and richer, until he was exceedingly wealthy.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:13Homily on Luke 11 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 233–250
Gen 26:13Homilies on Leviticus 12.2 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 26:13Homilies on Leviticus 16.7 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 26:13Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.204 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Gen 26:13Commentary on Matthew 13.15 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 246–248
Gen 26:13Commentary on Matthew 15.17 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 246–248
Gen 26:13Oration III Against the Arians 52 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 339–346
Gen 26:13Oration 26.3 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, medium confidenceca. 362–383
Gen 26:13Letter 119.10 · Jeromeallusion, low confidenceca. 370–419

Genesis 26:15

So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:15Homilies on Numbers 12.2 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 26:15Recognitions 3.61 · Anonymousallusion, low confidenceGreek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407
Gen 26:15–22On the Witch of Endor 21 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, high confidenceca. 324–337
Gen 26:15Letters 8, 9 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 357–378
Gen 26:15Homilies on the Psalms 7.8 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 360-378
Gen 26:15Letter 69.6 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Gen 26:15Poem 27, lines 607–647 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, medium confidenceca. 393–431

Genesis 26:18

Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. And he gave these wells the same names his father had given them.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:18Homilies on Numbers 12.1 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 26:18Homilies on Numbers 12.2 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 26:18Commentary on the Song of Songs 0.78 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Gen 26:18Against Celsus 4.44 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 248
Gen 26:18Explanation of Twelve Psalms 45.5.1 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-397
Gen 26:18–22Commentary on Jeremiah 3.27 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidenceca. 414-419

Genesis 26:19

Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of fresh water there.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:19Fragments on Genesis, column 121 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254

Genesis 26:22

He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth and said, “At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:22Fragments on Genesis, column 121 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 26:22Fragments on Genesis, column 123 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 26:22Homilies on Numbers 9.7 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Gen 26:22–33Genesis, lines 849–873 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Genesis 26:23

From there Isaac went up to Beersheba,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:23–25Apostolic Constitutions 7.37.2 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 380

Genesis 26:24

and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:24Fragments on Genesis, column 123 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 26:24Oration III Against the Arians 54 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 339–346
Gen 26:24City of God 16.36 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426

Genesis 26:25

So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there. His servants also dug a well there.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:25Commentary on the Song of Songs 0.78 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Gen 26:25Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 30.18.7 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, low confidence374-377

Genesis 26:26

Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:26–31Demonstration 4.4 · Aphrahatallusion, low confidence337-345
Gen 26:26–31Demonstration 9.13 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
Gen 26:26Homilies on the Psalms 33.1 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-378

Genesis 26:28

“We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:28On the Destruction of Jerusalem 5.16 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 370

Genesis 26:31

And they got up early the next morning and swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:31Letter 46.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430
Gen 26:31Letter 47.2 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430

Genesis 26:33

So he called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the city is Beersheba.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:33Formulae of Spiritual Understanding 8 · Eucherius of Lyonallusion, medium confidenceca. 420-430

Genesis 26:34

When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 26:34–35Demonstration 3.13 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345