King James Version

What Does Genesis 14:22 Mean?

Genesis 14:22 in the King James Version says “And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven ...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,”

Genesis 14:22 · KJV

Context

20

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

21

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. persons: Heb. souls

22

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23

That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet , and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

24

Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Read Genesis 14 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the ... This passage is part of the Abrahamic narratives which shift from universal human history to God's particular covenant people. The Abraham cycle (Genesis 12-25) demonstrates God's sovereign election, covenant faithfulness, and the development of faith through testing and promise fulfillment.

Central themes include God's unconditional covenant promises (land, descendants, blessing to nations), the call to faith and obedience, the testing of faith through delays and impossibilities, the contrast between divine promises and human schemes, and God's gracious persistence despite human failures. Abraham emerges as the father of faith whose trust in God's promises becomes the model for all believers (Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 11).

Theologically, these narratives establish: (1) salvation by grace through faith rather than works; (2) covenant as God's gracious initiative binding Himself to His people; (3) the necessity of patient trust when promises seem impossible; (4) the consequences of attempting to fulfill God's promises through human effort; (5) the pattern of divine testing producing mature faith. The Abraham cycle foreshadows Christ as the ultimate seed through whom blessing extends to all nations (Galatians 3:16).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. What theological truths about War of Kings emerge from this passage?
  2. What obstacles prevent us from living out the truths presented in this verse?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר1 of 14

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אַבְרָ֖ם2 of 14

“And Abram”

H87

abram, the original name of abraham

אֶל3 of 14
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מֶ֣לֶךְ4 of 14

“to the king”

H4428

a king

סְדֹ֑ם5 of 14

“of Sodom”

H5467

sedom, a place near the dead sea

הֲרִמֹ֨תִי6 of 14

“I have lift up”

H7311

to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)

יָדִ֤י7 of 14

“mine hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

אֶל8 of 14
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָה֙9 of 14

“unto the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֵ֣ל10 of 14

“God”

H410

strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)

עֶלְי֔וֹן11 of 14

“the most high”

H5945

an elevation, i.e., (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the supreme

קֹנֵ֖ה12 of 14

“the possessor”

H7069

to erect, i.e., create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own

שָׁמַ֥יִם13 of 14

“of heaven”

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וָאָֽרֶץ׃14 of 14

“and earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 14:22 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 14:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 12:7Revelation 10:5-6Psalms 24:1Daniel 4:34Judges 11:35Psalms 83:18

Places in This Verse

SodomSettlement · Modern: south of the Lisan · 31.21°N, 35.45°E50 verses across 15 books
View all places in Genesis 14 →

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 14 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Genesis 14 with CommentaryAll Genesis ChaptersComplete Genesis QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes