עֵ֫שֶׂק (e.seq)
e.seq
Esek
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun eseq, appearing only once in the Bible at Genesis 26:20, means "contention" or "strife." It serves as the name for a well dug by Isaac’s herdsmen in the valley of Gerar after they encountered rivals who claimed the water source.
The name itself is descriptive rather than prophetic; it records the immediate conflict that arose over this specific location. By naming the site Esek, the narrative highlights the tension between Isaac’s servants and the local Philistines, marking a moment of dispute before they moved on to dig another well named Nahash.
This single occurrence provides a concrete example of how place names in Genesis often memorialize the events or struggles associated with them. The word captures the friction inherent in settling new lands, where access to water became a flashpoint for community conflict.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word esek appears only once in Scripture, recorded in Genesis 26:20. It describes a well dug by Isaac’s servants that sparked an argument with local herdsmen. The name itself means "contention," marking the spot where conflict over water broke out.
This brief mention reminds us that even faithful people face friction when settling into new places. Access to resources like water often becomes a flashpoint for tension. Isaac did not fight to keep the well but moved on, showing that peace is sometimes more valuable than winning an argument.
When you encounter strife in your own life, remember that conflict does not mean God has abandoned you. It can simply be part of the process of finding your place. Moving forward with grace, rather than engaging in every dispute, reflects a trust in God’s provision and timing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Esek1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֵ֔שֶׂק1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 26:20
The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.
This verse explicitly links the name Esek to the act of contention, showing how the well's identity was defined by the conflict over it.