The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
Get the app

Genesis 26:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And he digged again other wells, which the servants of his father, Abraham, had digged, and which, after his death, the Philistines had of old stopped up: and he called them by the same names, by which his father before had called them.

Douay-Rheims

וַיָּ֨שָׁב יִצְחָ֜ק וַיַּחְפֹּ֣ר ׀ אֶת־בְּאֵרֹ֣ת הַמַּ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר חָֽפְרוּ֙ בִּימֵי֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם אָבִ֔יו וַיְסַתְּמ֣וּם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֖י מ֣וֹת אַבְרָהָ֑ם וַיִּקְרָ֤א לָהֶן֙ שֵׁמ֔וֹת כַּשֵּׁמֹ֕ת אֲשֶׁר־קָרָ֥א לָהֶ֖ן אָבִֽיו׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

3 Church Fathers comment on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

Observe how, even in that situation, he acted with remarkable kindness, for his sufferings did not cease as a result. Yet, when he was present and sought to dig wells, the local people resisted him.

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

Isaac excavated wells, many of which had originally been dug by his father; however, after Abraham's passing, they had been filled in by others. Among the wells he discovered were those in the valley of Gerar, where he found a source of living water. The shepherds from Gerar contended with Isaac's shepherds, asserting their claim to the water of this well. Isaac named it 'injustice' (See Gen. 26:20 (LXX)). He then dug another well, which led to further disputes, and he called it 'enmity' (See Gen. 26:21 (LXX)). A third well he excavated, where there was no conflict, and he named it 'expanse' (See Gen. 26:22). Finally, he dug a well that yielded no water, which he designated as 'oaths' (See Gen. 26:32-33).

Read more (134 words)

One might wonder, upon reading about these events, whether they represent merely earthly endeavors rather than spiritual ones. Abraham and Isaac are indeed great patriarchs, and even Jacob is noted in the Gospel (See John 4:6, 12), as if they were sources of humanity’s reverence and faith. The well of living water (Gen. 26:19) signifies the profound depths of inexhaustible doctrine. This is why Hagar encountered the angel at the well (see Genesis 21:14), Jacob met Rachel at the well (see Genesis 29:2, 9-10), and Moses began preparing for his future marriage at the well (see Exodus 2:15-22). Through the well of vision (Gen. 25:11 (LXX)), Isaac understood where to dig wells, so that the water from this well might purify and nourish the discerning eye of the soul, enhancing its clarity of vision.

Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)

19th centuryChurch Father

Isaac re-dug the wells of water, among other efforts. He restored the ancient wells, both for practical reasons and to honor his father, in alignment with his rightful inheritance.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.