So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While it seems like Abram is simply settling down, the text highlights that he "came and settled" by the oaks of Mamre after God renewed His promise to him. This wasn't just finding a nice place to camp; it was Abraham's immediate, faithful response to God's word, marking his territory with worship before claiming it.
So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a contentious dispute over grazing land, Abram generously gives his nephew Lot the choice of territory. Following Lot's departure to the fertile Jordan plain, God immediately reaffirms His covenant promise to Abram, assuring him that the entire land will belong to him and his descendants forever. In response to this renewed promise, Abram relocates to the oaks of Mamre and builds an altar, signifying his trust and gratitude to the Lord.
Abram finally finds a place to 'settle.' But does this mean he's no longer a wanderer? What does it mean to be 'at home' when God's promises are still future?
After the separation from Lot, Abram finds a place to dwell. He moves his tent to the oaks of Mamre, near Hebron.
A Pilgrim's Dwelling
Though he 'settles' here, it's important to remember Abram is still a pilgrim in the land of Canaan. God has promised him this land, but he doesn't yet possess it. His dwelling in Mamre isn't a final destination but a significant, albeit temporary, resting place.
The Significance of Mamre
Mamre was an Amorite, and Abram formed a treaty or alliance with him. This suggests Abram was establishing relationships and a presence in the land, not just passing through. The 'oaks of Mamre' likely refers to a significant grove, perhaps a place of covenant and trust.
Why build an altar right after such a significant (and potentially difficult) separation? What does this act reveal about Abram's heart?
Immediately after settling in Mamre, Abram builds an altar to the LORD.
A Response to God's Faithfulness
This act of worship is a direct response to God's continued faithfulness. Just prior to this, God had reaffirmed His promise to Abram that the land would belong to him and his descendants (Genesis 13:14-17). The building of an altar signifies:
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Worship as a Priority
For Abram, worship wasn't an afterthought; it was foundational. Wherever he went, he established a place to honor God. This demonstrates a deep-seated devotion and a constant reliance on the divine presence and guidance.
Understand the original words
mizbēaḥ · Hebrew Noun
A structure constructed for the purpose of sacrifice, worship, or commemorating a significant encounter with God. It serves as a place where the human meets the divine and where covenantal dedication is formalized.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, revealing Him as the self-existent, faithful One who enters into a relational and redemptive bond with His people.
c. 2091 BC
Abram leaves Ur
God calls Abram from his homeland to go to a land He will show him, marking the beginning of Abram's faith journey.
c. 2080 BC
Abram in Canaan, famine forces move to Egypt
Abram sojourns in Canaan but a famine leads him to Egypt, where he compromises the truth about Sarah.
c. 2080 BC— this verse
Abram's return to Canaan and separation from Lot
After returning from Egypt, Abram and his nephew Lot, whose possessions had grown large, separated due to strife between their herdsmen.
c. 2080 BC
Abram settles at Mamre
Abram moves his tent to the oaks of Mamre near Hebron, a region associated with an Amorite leader named Mamre, and builds an altar to the Lord.
c. 2080 BC
Battle of the Kings
Abram leads a coalition of forces to rescue Lot after he is captured in a conflict involving several Mesopotamian kings.
c. 2079 BC
God renews the covenant promise
Following the Battle of the Kings, God speaks to Abram, reaffirming His promise of land and countless descendants.
This passage shows Abram's consistent practice of building altars to the Lord wherever he encountered God, establishing a pattern of worship and acknowledgment of God's presence as he journeyed.
Exodus 20:24This verse highlights God's instruction to build altars for worship, showing that Abram's act of building an altar at Mamre was in line with divine practice and a way to honor God.
Joshua 14:15This verse identifies Hebron as 'the city of Arba,' linking the place where Abram settled to its ancient patriarchal history and underscoring its significance as a long-established dwelling place.
Romans 4:12This New Testament passage references Abraham's faith and his status as the father of all who believe, connecting his earthly journeys and acts of worship to his spiritual legacy for all believers.
gillGenesis 13:18: "Then 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."
Then Abram removed his tent,.... From the mountain between Bethel and Hai, Genesis 13:3 , and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, or "in the oaks of Mamre" (e); in a grove of oaks there, as being shady and pleasant to dwell among or under, and not through any superstitious regard to such trees and places where they grew; which has obtained since a…
clarkeGenesis 13:18: "Then 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."
Abram removed his tent - Continued to travel and pitch in different places, till at last he fixed his tent in the plain, or by the oak, of Mamre, see Genesis 12:6 , which is in Hebron; i.e., the district in which Mamre was situated was called Hebron. Mamre was an Amorite then living, with whom Abram made a league, Genesis 14:13 ; and the oak probabl…
While it seems like Abram is simply settling down, the text highlights that he "came and settled" by the oaks of Mamre after God renewed His promise to him. This wasn't just finding a nice place to camp; it was Abraham's immediate, faithful response to God's word, marking his territory with worship before claiming it.
After a contentious dispute over grazing land, Abram generously gives his nephew Lot the choice of territory. Following Lot's departure to the fertile Jordan plain, God immediately reaffirms His covenant promise to Abram, assuring him that the entire land will belong to him and his descendants forever. In response to this renewed promise, Abram relocates to the oaks of Mamre and builds an altar, signifying his trust and gratitude to the Lord.
After a contentious dispute over grazing land, Abram generously gives his nephew Lot the choice of territory. Following Lot's departure to the fertile Jordan plain, God immediately reaffirms His covenant promise to Abram, assuring him that the entire land will belong to him and his descendants forever. In response to this renewed promise, Abram relocates to the oaks of Mamre and builds an altar, signifying his trust and gratitude to the Lord.
"So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD." — While it seems like Abram is simply settling down, the text highlights that he "came and settled" by the oaks of Mamre after God renewed His promise to him. This wasn't just finding a nice place to…
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Last reviewed October 2026