Genesis 13:8-9
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Abram's appeal to Lot, "for we are kinsmen," is more than just a plea for peace based on family ties. It's a subtle reminder that their shared faith in the same God, as evidenced by their worship, should bind them even more strongly than blood relation, making discord especially inappropriate. This elevates the conflict from a mere property dispute to a matter of spiritual integrity.
Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Abram and Lot's growing herds have become too much for the land to support, leading to friction between their shepherds. To avoid conflict and maintain their family ties, Abram offers Lot the first choice of any land. Lot, seeing the fertile plain of the Jordan, chooses it for himself and moves his tents towards the wicked city of Sodom, separating from Abram.
When herdsmen clashed, who should step in to make peace? Abram, the elder and wealthier, took the first step, showing that true strength lies in humility.
The friction between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen escalated, threatening the peace between the two families. While the conflict was between their employees, Abram recognized that it would inevitably spill over to them.
Instead of waiting for Lot to address the issue or asserting his own seniority, Abram initiated the conversation. His opening words, 'Let there be no strife between you and me,' reveal a heart that prioritizes peace over pride. This wasn't a sign of weakness, but a demonstration of spiritual maturity and a deep understanding of family bonds. He understood that maintaining unity was more valuable than winning an argument or asserting his rights.
More than just living near each other, Abram and Lot were bound by deeper ties. What did these 'brother' connections mean in practice?
Abram's appeal, 'for we are kinsmen,' goes beyond mere biological relation. It encompasses a shared history, a common faith, and a mutual future.
A Shared Heritage: Lot was Abram's nephew, a direct descendant from Abram's brother. This wasn't just a casual acquaintance; it was a deeply rooted familial tie.
A Common Faith: Both Abram and Lot were followers of the one true God. This shared spiritual journey meant they had common values and a common ultimate hope, making strife particularly jarring.
Mutual Dependence: While Abram was clearly the senior and more established figure, their shared journey and the promises of God to Abram meant their futures were intertwined. Strife between them would not only damage their relationship but also potentially disrupt the divine plan unfolding.
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To resolve the dispute, Abram offered Lot the choice of the entire land. What does this radical generosity teach us about conflict resolution?
Abram's offer to Lot was extraordinary. He essentially said, 'You choose where we go; I'll adapt.' This wasn't just about avoiding a fight; it was about actively choosing peace through selfless generosity.
Sacrificing Right for Relationship: Abram willingly set aside his own claim and right to choose the best territory. The land was promised to him and his descendants, yet he gave Lot the first pick. This demonstrated that preserving their relationship was more important than securing the most advantageous land for himself at that moment.
Modeling God's Grace: This act mirrors the grace God shows us. We often don't deserve His blessings, yet He freely offers them. Abram’s generosity, though a human act, reflected a divine principle of giving freely to maintain unity and well-being.
Preventing Future Conflict: By yielding the choice, Abram removed the immediate cause of contention. While Lot’s subsequent choice of the well-watered plain near Sodom had its own challenges, Abram’s initial act of generosity was key to preventing a destructive quarrel within the family.
Understand the original words
'ach · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting brotherhood, family connection, or close kinship, serving as the basis for moral obligation, peace, and mutual care between individuals.
Abram's wise and generous proposal, rooted in kinship and a desire for peace, resolves a growing tension caused by their shared prosperity, preventing a rift that could have jeopardized God's unfolding plan.
c. 2000 BC
Abram and Lot migrate from Ur
Abram, his nephew Lot, and their families leave their ancestral home in Ur of the Chaldeans, following God's call to a new land.
c. 1990 BC
Famine in Canaan
A severe famine strikes the land of Canaan, forcing Abram and his large household, including Lot, to sojourn in Egypt.
c. 1989 BC
Return to Bethel and Prosperity
Abram and Lot return from Egypt to Canaan, now greatly increased in wealth with abundant flocks and herds, leading to overcrowding.
c. 1989 BC— this verse
Strife between Shepherds
The growing herds of Abram and Lot require more pasture and water, leading to quarrels between their servants over resources.
c. 1989 BC
Abram proposes separation
To maintain peace, Abram, though older and superior, generously offers Lot the first choice of land, leading to their separation.
c. 1989 BC
Lot settles near Sodom
Lot chooses the fertile plain of the Jordan and settles near the wicked city of Sodom, while Abram remains in Canaan.
c. 1989 BC
God reaffirms promise to Abram
After Lot's departure, God speaks to Abram, promising him and his descendants the land of Canaan and making immense future blessings clear.
This verse echoes Abram's selfless attitude, urging believers to consider others better than themselves and not to be motivated by selfish ambition or conceit.
Proverbs 15:1Abram's plea for no strife aligns with this proverb, highlighting that a gentle answer can turn away wrath, a principle Abram applied to de-escalate the situation with Lot.
1 Corinthians 6:7The potential for strife between Abram and Lot, and the need to avoid it, brings to mind this passage about lawsuits among believers, suggesting that suffering loss is preferable to engaging in contentious disputes.
Romans 12:10Abram's immediate offer to Lot reflects the spirit of 'outdo one another in showing honor,' demonstrating a commitment to humility and respect within family and community ties.
gillGenesis 13:8: "And 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."
And Abram said unto Lot,.... Being either an ear witness himself of the contentions of their servants, or having it reported to him by credible persons, he applied himself to Lot, in order to make peace, being a wise and good man; and though he was senior in years, and superior in substance, and higher in the class of relation, and upon a…
calvinGenesis 13:1-20: "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south."
Is 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.
Numquid non omnis terra est coram to? separa to nunc ame: si ieris ad sinistram, dextram tenebo: et si ad dextram ieris, sinistram tenebo.
And Lot lifted up his…
Abram's appeal to Lot, "for we are kinsmen," is more than just a plea for peace based on family ties. It's a subtle reminder that their shared faith in the same God, as evidenced by their worship, should bind them even more strongly than blood relation, making discord especially inappropriate. This elevates the conflict from a mere property dispute to a matter of spiritual integrity.
Abram and Lot's growing herds have become too much for the land to support, leading to friction between their shepherds. To avoid conflict and maintain their family ties, Abram offers Lot the first choice of any land. Lot, seeing the fertile plain of the Jordan, chooses it for himself and moves his tents towards the wicked city of Sodom, separating from Abram.
Abram and Lot's growing herds have become too much for the land to support, leading to friction between their shepherds. To avoid conflict and maintain their family ties, Abram offers Lot the first choice of any land. Lot, seeing the fertile plain of the Jordan, chooses it for himself and moves his tents towards the wicked city of Sodom, separating from Abram.
"Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to th…" — Abram's appeal to Lot, "for we are kinsmen," is more than just a plea for peace based on family ties. It's a subtle reminder that their shared faith in the same God, as evidenced by their worship, sh…
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Last reviewed October 2026
