Genesis 26:1-5·~1 min

God’s Promise to Isaac

A new famine brings Isaac to Gerar, where the Lord appears and tells him to stay. The promise of land, offspring, and blessing is restated there in connection with Abraham’s obedience.

N¹ow 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. ²The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Settle in the land where I tell you. ³Stay 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. ⁴I 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, ⁵because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Section summaryIn a time of famine, the Lord tells Isaac to remain in the land rather than go to Egypt. He repeats the oath made to Abraham: land, descendants, and blessing for the nations will come through Isaac’s line.

Role in the chapterThis opening section anchors the chapter in divine promise before any conflict begins. It shows Isaac’s story as a direct continuation of Abraham’s, with the covenant carrying forward into a new generation.