Devine Scripture

Genesis 12:9

What does Genesis 12:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 12:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 12:9 means

Abram continued his journey, consistently moving "on still toward the South." This ongoing movement indicates that he was not settling in one fixed location but was continually migrating within the land of Canaan. This progressive journey south ultimately leads him towards the arid region of the Negeb, suggesting a movement dictated by necessity or perhaps by a continued sense of divine leading. It highlights his life as a pilgrim, never fully rooted but always moving according to God's unspoken guidance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he went on, journeying still to the South.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Abram journeyeth, going on and journeying towards the south.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Abram went forward, going and proceeding on to the south.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Abram moved onward, going on still toward the south.

Context

This verse describes Abram's continued southward journey within Canaan, following his established pattern of movement and worship illustrated in verses 6-8. This ongoing migration sets the immediate geographical context for what happens next in the narrative. His persistence in journeying, even as he moves into areas that may become less fertile, foreshadows the upcoming challenge to his faith and dependence on God due to the lack of resources in the land.

v.8And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah.

v.9This passage

v.10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Genesis 24:62

    And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South.

  • Genesis 13:1

    And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.

  • Psalms 105:13

    And they went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.

  • Genesis 13:3

    And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai,

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