Old Testament · Law

Genesis 13

Abram and Lot Part Ways

Two men, too much wealth for one land. Lot chooses what looks good. Abram trusts what God promises.

King James Version BSB KJV

Tap any verse number for what that verse means.

1And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

3And 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 Hai;

4Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

8And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

14And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18Then 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.

Understand This

Genesis 13, explained

What Genesis 13 is saying

Abram and Lot return from Egypt wealthy but find their herdsmen in conflict due to the land's inability to support both flocks. Abram generously offers Lot first choice of territory. Lot chooses the well-watered Jordan plain near Sodom, while God reaffirms His promise to Abram of the entire land and innumerable descendants.

The background behind it

The separation of Abram and Lot reflects real pastoral economics in the ancient Near East, where grazing land determined wealth and movement. Lot's choice of the Jordan plain, described in Edenic language, sets up the Sodom narrative and contrasts human calculation with divine allocation.

Themes running underneath

Abram's deference to Lot demonstrates that faith frees one from grasping, trusting that God's provision does not depend on human maneuvering. Lot's choice based on appearance rather than character foreshadows the consequences of valuing prosperity over righteousness.

Why it still matters

Generosity in conflict reveals confidence in God's sufficiency. The contrast between Abram's open-handed trust and Lot's calculated self-interest challenges how we make decisions when resources are at stake.

This is one chapter. BibleKey does all 1,189.

Tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and follow every cross-reference without losing your place.

Get BibleKey

All 50 chapters of Genesis · Every book of the Bible · Browse by topic

Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.