Genesis 26:22 – Meaning, Explanation, and Related Bible Verses

Verse: Genesis 26:22
Theme: Divine Expansion, Peace after Strife, and the Reward of Persistence

And he removed from thence and digged another well and for that they strove not and he called the name of it Rehoboth and he said For now the Lord hath made room for us and we shall be fruitful in the land
— Genesis 26:22, King James Version (KJV)

He moved on from there and dug another well and no one quarreled over it He named it Rehoboth saying Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land
— Genesis 26:22, New International Version (NIV)

And he moved away from there and dug another well and they did not argue over it so he named it Rehoboth saying For now the Lord has made room for us and we shall be prosperous in the land
— Genesis 26:22, Amplified Bible (AMP)

Meaning of Genesis 26:22

Genesis 26:22 marks a turning point in Isaac’s journey through opposition and resistance. After facing strife at the wells of Esek and Sitnah, Isaac finally digs a third well where there is no contention. He names this well Rehoboth, which means “broad places” or “open spaces,” a symbolic name reflecting God’s provision of room and peace.

Isaac’s response is not rooted in bitterness over past conflict but in praise for divine breakthrough. The declaration “For now the Lord hath made room for us” reflects recognition that the absence of conflict is not merely circumstantial but a gift from God. Rehoboth stands as a testimony that when we persist without retaliation, God eventually makes room for peace and prosperity.

This verse is a metaphor for spiritual endurance. Isaac kept digging despite being wronged. Instead of fighting back, he moved forward. The peace at Rehoboth is the kind that follows patience, not passivity. It teaches us that some victories are not won in battles but in endurance.

Popular Words of Wisdom from Genesis 26:22

If you stop digging because of opposition you will never reach the well called Rehoboth
— Dr. Myles Munroe, Leadership Mentor and Founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries

Sometimes God allows closed doors not to stop you but to redirect you toward peace
— Lisa Bevere, Author and Co-founder of Messenger International

Peace is not the absence of enemies It is the presence of God’s hand making room for you
— T.D. Jakes, Bishop and Founder of The Potter’s House

God does not reward retaliation He rewards resilience
— Tim Keller, Theologian and Author of The Reason for God

When you refuse to fight for what God did not promise you He leads you to what He did
— Jackie Hill Perry, Christian Poet and Apologist

The faithful do not need to strive for space because God has already made room
— Christine Caine, Evangelist and Founder of A21 Campaign

Rehoboth is the land of peace that follows the decisions you make in integrity
— Francis Chan, Pastor and Author of Crazy Love

The reward for not quitting is not just survival It is fruitfulness
— Dr. Tony Evans, Pastor and President of The Urban Alternative

Strife is a test Rehoboth is the reward
— Priscilla Shirer, Bible Teacher and Author of Discerning the Voice of God

You may dig through rejection but you will harvest in rest
— Dr. Charles Stanley, Founder of In Touch Ministries

Explaining the Context of Genesis 26:22

Genesis 26 records a season of Isaac’s life during a famine. He is told by God not to go to Egypt but to dwell in the land of Gerar, where God would bless him. Isaac obeys, and true to the promise, he begins to prosper. However, with prosperity comes persecution. The Philistines envy him, and Abimelech, the king, tells him to leave.

Isaac reopens the wells his father Abraham had once dug, only to find strife with the herdsmen of Gerar over water rights. The first well is named Esek, meaning “contention.” The second is Sitnah, meaning “hostility” or “opposition.” Rather than argue or retaliate, Isaac moves forward each time.

Finally, at the third well, there is no argument. He names it Rehoboth, recognizing that God has made room for him. This marks a shift from conflict to peace, from resistance to rest. God rewards Isaac’s perseverance and his commitment to peace over pride.

Explaining the Key Parts of Genesis 26:22

He Removed from Thence

Isaac chose to move rather than fight. This decision reflects wisdom and maturity. Not every battle needs to be fought. Sometimes the higher road leads to greater reward.

And Digged Another Well

Despite past opposition, Isaac does not stop working. He digs again. This shows persistence and faith in God’s provision, regardless of temporary setbacks.

And for That They Strove Not

The absence of strife is not coincidental. It is a marker of God’s favor and a confirmation of right timing and right location. God gives peace when the environment aligns with His will.

He Called the Name of It Rehoboth

Names matter in Scripture. Rehoboth means “broad place.” Isaac names the well not after conflict but after God’s goodness. He chooses to memorialize peace, not pain.

The Lord Hath Made Room for Us

Isaac does not credit luck or timing. He honors God as the one who opened the space. This acknowledgment is key. All fruitfulness comes from divine permission.

We Shall Be Fruitful in the Land

Fruitfulness follows faithfulness. After obedience and endurance, God positions Isaac for abundance. The land is now not only peaceful but also productive.

Lessons to Learn from Genesis 26:22

1. Not Every Fight Is Worth Engaging

Isaac walked away from conflict multiple times. He did not settle where there was strife. Wisdom often looks like surrendering your right to be right for the sake of peace.

2. God Honors Peace-Makers

The absence of strife at Rehoboth was not random. God blesses those who choose peace. The fruitful land follows the peacemaking spirit.

3. Faith Requires Persistence

Isaac kept digging. Every refusal became a redirection. Every disappointment became a doorway. He did not stop because he was resisted. He pressed forward.

4. Delay Is Not Denial

Two rejected wells did not mean God’s blessing had ended. The third well was waiting. God sometimes delays peace to grow our faith.

5. Give God the Credit

Isaac could have taken credit for his tenacity. Instead, he acknowledged God. The room, the rest, the fruit—it all came from above.

6. Prosperity Can Follow Patience

Rehoboth came after resistance. God may test your willingness to walk away before He gives you what is truly yours.

7. Your Response to Rejection Reveals Readiness

Isaac did not retaliate when rejected. He moved with humility. Your posture in rejection prepares you for divine reward.

Related Bible Verses

Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith than a house full of sacrifices with strife
— Proverbs 17:1, King James Version (KJV)

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God
— Matthew 5:9, King James Version (KJV)

Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not
— Galatians 6:9, King James Version (KJV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy without holiness no one will see the Lord
— Hebrews 12:14, New International Version (NIV)

And the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever
— Isaiah 32:17, King James Version (KJV)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes If possible as far as it depends on you live at peace with everyone
— Romans 12:17-18, Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way
— 2 Thessalonians 3:16, New Living Translation (NLT)

Though you have made me see troubles many and bitter you will restore my life again
— Psalm 71:20, New International Version (NIV)

How This Verse Points to Christ

Jesus Christ is the ultimate Rehoboth. Through Him, God has made room for all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—to experience peace with God. On the cross, He endured hostility so we could enjoy rest. He is the Prince of Peace, and through His resurrection, He opened a wide space for fruitfulness, freedom, and life eternal.

Where Isaac dug through the earth, Christ dug through death. Where Isaac sought room from men, Christ made room for all who believe. The well Isaac found was temporal, but the living water Christ gives is eternal.

Rehoboth is not just a location. In Christ, it is a way of life. A place of security, spiritual fruitfulness, and grace that does not depend on striving but on surrender.

Closing Reflection

Genesis 26:22 is not about wells. It is about the God who gives peace after pain and space after pressure. It is about what happens when you stop fighting for your place and start trusting God to give it.

Rehoboth is where you arrive after you have outlasted opposition. It is a testimony that God rewards the quiet faith of those who keep digging. When God makes room, no one can push you out. When God gives peace, strife ceases.

You do not need to fight for what is already yours in Christ. Keep digging. Keep moving. Rehoboth is ahead.

Say This Prayer

Lord God

Thank You for being the one who makes room for me. Help me not to fear rejection or conflict. Teach me to move forward in faith and peace.

Give me the patience to dig again. Strengthen me when I feel discouraged. Show me that what You have prepared for me will not require strife to obtain.

I trust You to lead me to Rehoboth. I trust You to give me rest. I declare that I will be fruitful in the land You have made for me.

In Jesus’ name, I pray
Amen.