Genesis 13:18 · Bible study
Genesis 13:18 Commentary: Abram’s Altar at Mamre
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Abram settles by the oaks of Mamre and builds an altar.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Abram settles by the oaks of Mamre and builds an altar to Yahweh, marking his faith in God's renewed land promise.
- Key words: וַיֶּאֱהַל (he tented/pitched tent), מִזְבֵּחַ (altar), לַיהוָה (to Yahweh).
- Main debate: Whether Mamre primarily refers to a chieftain's name or the grove of sacred trees; most see both aspects.
- Theological theme: Faith expressed through worship and claiming God's promises by visible action.
- Best use: Preaching on active faith, gratitude, and establishing worship in response to God's word.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.
KJV King James Version 1769
Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built there an altar unto Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Abram tenteth, and cometh, and dwelleth among the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and buildeth there an altar to Jehovah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Then Abram moved [his] tents, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron. And he built there an altar to Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
So Abram removing his tent, came, and dwelt by the vale of Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he built there an altar to the Lord.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Abram, pues, removiendo su tienda, vino y moró en el alcornocal de Mamre, que es en Hebrón, y edificó allí altar á Jehová.
Abrão, pois, removendo sua tenda, veio e morou nos carvalhos de Manre, que é em Hebrom, e edificou ali altar ao SENHOR.
Abram leva ses tentes, et vint habiter parmi les chênes de Mamré, qui sont près d’ Hébron. Et il bâtit là un autel à l’ Éternel.
Also erhob Abram sein Hütte, kam und wohnte im Hain Mamre, der zu Hebron ist, und baute daselbst dem HERRN einen Altar.
En Abram sloeg tenten op, en kwam en woonde aan de eikenbossen van Mamre, die bij Hebron zijn; en hij bouwde aldaar den HEERE een altaar.
Allora Abramo levò le sue tende, e venne ad abitare alle querce di Mamre, che sono a Hebron; e quivi edificò un altare all’Eterno.
Ruszywszy się tedy z namiotem Abram, przyszedł i mieszkał w równinach Mamre, które są w Hebron i zbudował tam ołtarz Panu.
И двинул Аврам шатер, и пошел, и поселился у дубравы Мамре, что в Хевроне; и создал там жертвенник Господу.
亞伯蘭 就搬了帳棚，來 到希伯崙 幔利 的橡樹 那裡 居住，在那裡 為耶和華 築 了一座壇。
And Abram, moving his tent, came and made his living-place by the holy tree of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and made an altar there to the Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 13:18
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Abram's altar at Mamre is a direct response to God's renewed promise of the land in verses 14, 17. After Lot's departure and God's reassurance, Abram moves to Hebron and builds an altar. Calvin describes this as a public profession of worship to the true God in a land filled with Canaanite altars. Matthew Henry sees it as an act of thankfulness for God's confirming the promise. Keil and Delitzsch note that Abram made Mamre his central point of settlement and erected an altar to Jehovah. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown say the renewal of the promise was 'acknowledged by Abram by a fresh tribute of devout gratitude.' The altar marks both a geographical anchor for Abram's journey and a spiritual anchor of his faith in God's word.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Abram built an altar to Yahweh in response to God's renewed promise of the land, signaling his faith and worship.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of Mamre | Mamre is a location near Hebron associated with an Amorite chieftain (Genesis 14:13). | Some see Mamre primarily as the personal name of the chieftain (Clarke, Calvin); others as a place name derived from the grove of oaks (Cambridge Bible, Gill). Both views are present in the commentaries. |
| Meaning of 'dwelt' (וַיֵּשֶׁב) | Abram established a settled residence at Mamre for an extended period. | Wesley emphasizes that Abram 'removed his tent' showing he remained unsettled. Keil and Delitzsch say he made Mamre his central point. The tension is between permanent settlement and ongoing pilgrim status. |
| Purpose of the altar | The altar was an act of worship and devotion to Yahweh. | Matthew Henry and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown see it as thanksgiving for the promise; Calvin sees it as a public profession of faith in a pagan land. The differences are complementary. |
| Significance of 'oaks of Mamre' | It was a known landmark, likely a grove of terebinths. | Cambridge Bible suggests the oaks may have been a Canaanite sacred site that Abram rededicated. Gill denies any superstitious regard, seeing them as simple shade trees. The debate affects how we interpret Abram's claim on the land. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The location Mamre is tied to an Amorite chieftain named Mamre, later an ally of Abram (Genesis 14:13). The Cambridge Bible notes that the 'oaks of Mamre' were likely terebinths, sacred trees of a Canaanite sanctuary. Abram's decision to settle there placed him in the midst of Canaanite worship sites. Hebron, meaning 'confederacy' or 'connection,' was an ancient city; Numbers 13:22 notes that it was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt. Gill mentions that a turpentine tree said to date from Abraham's time was shown at Hebron as late as Josephus. Abram's altar thus claims the land for Yahweh in a region associated with other gods.
The rare verb וַיֶּאֱהַל ('he tented,' from H0167) emphasizes Abram's nomadic life. He pitched his tent by the oaks rather than building a house. Then 'he came and dwelt' (וַיֵּשֶׁב, H3427), a verb that can indicate settling for a season. Keil and Delitzsch explain that Abram made Mamre the central point of his stay in Canaan, and from this base he would later receive the Lord's visit (Genesis 18:1) and purchase a burial cave (Genesis 23). The move follows God's command in verse 17 to walk the land and claim it by faith.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is consistent across manuscripts.
Reception History
The oak of Mamre became a pilgrimage site in early Christian and Jewish tradition. Josephus mentions a terebinth tree near Hebron believed to date from Abraham. Sozomen reports an annual festival at the site attended by Jews, Christians, and pagans. Reformation commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry emphasized the altar as a symbol of Abram’s personal faith and public witness. In modern scholarship, the verse is read as a concrete expression of trust in God’s promise, where worship anchors the patriarch’s journey.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Moving Tent: Faith as Pilgrimage. Abram relocates, trusting God's direction even without a permanent address.
- Dwelling at Mamre: Faith as Settlement. He establishes a base, claiming the promise by his presence in the land.
- Building Altar: Faith as Worship. His response is active devotion, not passive waiting.
Five-point outline
- The Context of Promise. God reaffirms the land grant after Lot's departure (vv.14-17).
- The Call to Walk. Verse 17: 'Arise, walk through the land.'
- The Act of Moving. Abram tents and comes (v.18a).
- The Choice of Location. Mamre in Hebron: a site of future theophany and family burial.
- The Altar of Response. Building an altar to Yahweh seals his trust.
Illustration hooks
- A family relocates for a promised job. Before unpacking, they set up a cross or Bible verse in their new home to dedicate the move to God.
- A church plant rents a storefront. The first service is a prayer of consecration, even with folding chairs and no sign.
- An entrepreneur begins a business based on a clear promise. The first day of operation includes a team prayer rather than a sales pitch.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did Abram keep building altars? What made that act so important in his story?
- Does the specific place, Mamre, Hebron, carry any special meaning for us today?
- What practical step can I take to show I trust a promise from God, even before I see it fulfilled?
Leading a Discussion
After the separation from Lot and God's reaffirmation of the covenant, Abram makes a physical move that expresses his faith. He pitches his tent at Mamre near Hebron and builds an altar. This small group guide explores what this action reveals about trusting God's promises even when they are not yet fully in hand.
Discussion questions
- What events lead up to this verse? Read Genesis 13:1, 18 as a whole.
- Why do you think Abram chose to 'dwell' at Mamre rather than continue traveling?
- What does building an altar signify in Abram's relationship with God, especially after receiving the promise again?
- How does Abram's example challenge you to make a visible, concrete response to God's promises in your own life?
- In what ways do we 'pitch our tents' and 'build altars' today, what are the equivalents of these actions?
- Why is it important that the altar was built 'to Yahweh' specifically, in a land with many other gods?
- How can this group help one another act on God's promises even when the fulfillment is not yet visible?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 8:20 | Noah built an altar to Yahweh, and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. |
| Genesis 12:7 | Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” He built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him. |
| Genesis 12:8 | He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on Yahweh’s name. |
| Genesis 13:4 | to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Yahweh’s name. |
| Genesis 14:13 | One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner. They were allies of Abram. |
| Genesis 18:1 | Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. |
| Genesis 23:2 | Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. |
| Genesis 35:27 | Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke warns that earthly possessions cannot produce true happiness, which must be spiritual. He observes that Abram’s and Lot’s large holdings nearly destroyed their family peace, forcing separation. Lot chose fertile land for worldly advantage, sacrificing family bonds, but the outcome showed that pleasant prospects may not benefit even secular affairs.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Abram raised his altar not from impulse but as a deliberate act consecrated by God's word. The public worship was a bold profession of the true God in a land crowded with profane altars built by the Canaanites.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary clarifies that the trees at Mamre are better understood as terebinths, not oaks, and were likely sacred trees at an older Canaanite sanctuary. It also notes that the traditional oak of Abraham near Hebron was shattered by a storm in the winter of 1888-89.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible highlights Abram’s deliberate choice to settle near the oak groves of Mamre rather than remaining in Sodom. This move signifies a clean break from worldly corruption and a return to a life defined by worship. By building an altar there, Abram establishes a permanent place of devotion that marks his separation from the sinful culture he left behind.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Mamre refers to a grove of oaks where Abram settled, choosing the shady spot for practical comfort rather than superstitious reverence for trees. He observes that such pagan tree worship arose later, including Druid practices, and that this very site was later venerated superstitiously.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Abram's altar at Mamre was not merely a routine act of worship but a deliberate response to God's renewed promise. He built it as a fresh tribute of devout gratitude, acknowledging the reaffirmation of the covenant.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stress that the land promise "forever" does not apply to Abraham's physical descendants but to the true spiritual seed who hold the promise in faith. They argue this promise neither precludes the expulsion of unbelieving Israel nor guarantees Jews a return to earthly Palestine, because through Christ the whole earth becomes Canaan.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange contrasts Lot's selfish choice, driven by greed and worldly attraction, with Abram's self-denying trust that yields the best land. He sees the renewed promise of the whole land and countless descendants as God's direct reward for Abram's peaceful renunciation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry sees deep meaning in the timing of God's visit: it came just after Lot left Abram, not before. The separation removed an obstacle, tested Abram's humility, and left him alone, yet precisely then God drew near to confirm the promise, proving that divine fellowship more than compensates for human loss.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees Abram's removal of his tent as deliberate obedience to God's command to remain unsettled, never fixing permanently in the land but living as a pilgrim heading toward a better Canaan. The altar he built was a visible token of thankfulness for God's personal visit and promise.