Genesis 14:9
Genesis 14:9 in Multiple Translations
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
Against Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim, and Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king of Ellasar: four kings against the five.
They fought Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, Tidal, king of Goiim, Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king of Ellasar—four kings on one side against five on the other.
To wit, with Chedor-laomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: foure Kings against fiue.
with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goyim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with the five.
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
To wit, against Chodorlahomor king of the Elamites, and Thadal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Sennaar, and Arioch king of Pontus: four kings against five.
They fought against the armies of Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, Tidal the king of Goiim, Amraphel the king of Shinar, and Arioch the king of Ellasar. The armies of four kings were fighting against the armies of five kings.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 14:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 14:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֵ֣ת
כְּדָרְלָעֹ֜מֶר
מֶ֣לֶךְ
עֵילָ֗ם
וְ/תִדְעָל֙
מֶ֣לֶךְ
גּוֹיִ֔ם
וְ/אַמְרָפֶל֙
מֶ֣לֶךְ
שִׁנְעָ֔ר
וְ/אַרְי֖וֹךְ
מֶ֣לֶךְ
אֶלָּסָ֑ר
אַרְבָּעָ֥ה
מְלָכִ֖ים
אֶת
הַ/חֲמִשָּֽׁה
אֵ֣ת
ʼêth
H854
with
Prep
כְּדָרְלָעֹ֜מֶר
Kᵉdorlâʻômer
H3540
Chedorlaomer
N-proper
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
עֵילָ֗ם
ʻÊylâm
H5867
Elam
N-proper
וְ/תִדְעָל֙
Tidʻâl
H8413
Tidal
Conj | N-proper
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
גּוֹיִ֔ם
gôwy
H1471
Gentile
N-proper
וְ/אַמְרָפֶל֙
ʼAmrâphel
H569
Amraphel
Conj | N-proper
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
שִׁנְעָ֔ר
Shinʻâr
H8152
Shinar
N-proper
וְ/אַרְי֖וֹךְ
ʼĂryôwk
H746
Arioch
Conj | N-proper
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
אֶלָּסָ֑ר
ʼEllâçâr
H495
Ellasar
N-proper
אַרְבָּעָ֥ה
ʼarbaʻ
H702
four
Adj
מְלָכִ֖ים
melek
H4428
King's
N-mp
אֶת
ʼêth
H854
with
Prep
הַ/חֲמִשָּֽׁה
châmêsh
H2568
five
Art | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 14:9
אֵ֣ת
ʼêth
H854
"with"
Prep
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Definition: 1) with, near, together with 1a) with, together with 1b) with (of relationship) 1c) near (of place) 1d) with (poss.) 1e) from...with, from (with other prep)
Usage: Occurs in 787 OT verses. KJV: against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix. See also: Genesis 4:1; Genesis 42:32; Numbers 1:5.
כְּדָרְלָעֹ֜מֶר
Kᵉdorlâʻômer
H3540
"Chedorlaomer"
N-proper
Chedorlaomer was an early king of Elam who was defeated by Abraham, as told in Genesis 14. His name means handful of sheaves.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.14.1 § Chedorlaomer = "handful of sheaves" the king of Elam defeated by Abraham
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: Chedorlaomer. See also: Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:5; Genesis 14:17.
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
עֵילָ֗ם
ʻÊylâm
H5867
"Elam"
N-proper
Elam refers to a son of Shem and his descendants, as well as a region, first mentioned in Genesis 10:22. The name means eternity. Elam is also the name of several Israelites, including one mentioned in Nehemiah 12:42.
Definition: § Elam = "eternity" a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: Elam. See also: Genesis 10:22; Nehemiah 10:15; Isaiah 11:11.
וְ/תִדְעָל֙
Tidʻâl
H8413
"Tidal"
Conj | N-proper
Tidal was a Canaanite leader who lived during the time of the Patriarchs and is first mentioned in Genesis 14. His name means great son.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.14.1 § Tidal = "great son" chief of various nomadic tribes and an ally of Chedorlaomer
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Tidal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:9.
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
גּוֹיִ֔ם
gôwy
H1471
"Gentile"
N-proper
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Definition: 1) nation, people 1a) nation, people 1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people 1a2) of descendants of Abraham 1a3) of Israel 1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) 1c) Goyim? = "nations" Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: Gentile, heathen, nation, people. See also: Genesis 10:5; Judges 4:16; Psalms 2:1.
וְ/אַמְרָפֶל֙
ʼAmrâphel
H569
"Amraphel"
Conj | N-proper
Amraphel was a king of Shinar, a region in ancient Babylon, who lived around the time of Abraham. He is mentioned in Genesis 14:1 as one of the kings who went to war against Sodom and Gomorrah.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.14.1 § Amraphel = "sayer of darkness: fall of the sayer" the king of Shinar (Babylon) (perhaps Hammurabi c 2100 BC)
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Amraphel. See also: Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:9.
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
שִׁנְעָ֔ר
Shinʻâr
H8152
"Shinar"
N-proper
Shinar is an ancient name for Babylonia, a region in the Bible where the tower of Babel was built. It is mentioned in Genesis 10:10 and 11:2. Shinar is also known as the country of two rivers.
Definition: § Shinar = "country of two rivers" the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: Shinar. See also: Genesis 10:10; Joshua 7:21; Isaiah 11:11.
וְ/אַרְי֖וֹךְ
ʼĂryôwk
H746
"Arioch"
Conj | N-proper
Arioch was a Babylonian official who worked for King Nebuchadnezzar during the Exile. His name means lion-like and he is mentioned in Daniel 2:14. He was in charge of the executioners.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.14.1 § Arioch = "lion-like" the ancient king of Ellasar, ally of Chedorlaomer
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: Arioch. See also: Genesis 14:1; Daniel 2:15; Daniel 2:25.
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
אֶלָּסָ֑ר
ʼEllâçâr
H495
"Ellasar"
N-proper
Ellasar was an ancient country in Asia, mentioned in Genesis 14, where it was one of the kingdoms that joined forces to fight against Sodom and Gomorrah.
Definition: § Ellasar = "God is chastener" a town in Babylonia, c. 28 miles (50 km) E of Ur
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Ellasar. See also: Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:9.
אַרְבָּעָ֥ה
ʼarbaʻ
H702
"four"
Adj
The number four is a simple counting number in Hebrew, used to describe quantities of things, such as people, objects, or groups.
Definition: four
Usage: Occurs in 277 OT verses. KJV: four. See also: Genesis 2:10; Judges 20:47; Esther 9:21.
מְלָכִ֖ים
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-mp
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
אֶת
ʼêth
H854
"with"
Prep
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Definition: 1) with, near, together with 1a) with, together with 1b) with (of relationship) 1c) near (of place) 1d) with (poss.) 1e) from...with, from (with other prep)
Usage: Occurs in 787 OT verses. KJV: against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix. See also: Genesis 4:1; Genesis 42:32; Numbers 1:5.
הַ/חֲמִשָּֽׁה
châmêsh
H2568
"five"
Art | Adj
This Hebrew word simply means the number five. It is used throughout the Bible to describe quantities of five, such as five loaves of bread in Matthew 14:17. It can also mean a multiple of five.
Definition: 1) five 1a) five (cardinal number) 1b) a multiple of five (with another number) 1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Usage: Occurs in 272 OT verses. KJV: fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece). See also: Genesis 5:6; Numbers 31:45; Ezra 2:66.
Study Notes — Genesis 14:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The War of the Kings
7Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim
9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country. 11The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way.Genesis 14:9 Summary
[Genesis 14:9 tells us about a big battle between two groups of kings, with the four kings of Elam, Goiim, Shinar, and Ellasar fighting against the five kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela. This battle was part of a larger conflict that showed God's power and control over the world, as seen in Psalm 24:1. The outcome of the battle would have significant consequences for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, as seen in Genesis 19:1-29.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the four kings that the king of Sodom and his allies fought against in Genesis 14:9?
The four kings were Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, as mentioned in Genesis 14:9. This coalition of kings is also referenced in Genesis 14:1.
What can we learn about the world's political landscape from Genesis 14:9?
Genesis 14:9 shows that even in ancient times, there were complex alliances and rivalries between different kingdoms and cities, similar to what we see in the world today, as also mentioned in Daniel 7:23-24.
How does the battle in Genesis 14:9 relate to the rest of the Bible?
The battle in Genesis 14:9 is part of a larger narrative that sets the stage for the rest of the biblical story, including the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 15:1-21 and the eventual conquest of Canaan by the Israelites in the book of Joshua.
What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Genesis 14:9?
Genesis 14:9 shows that God is sovereign over the affairs of nations and kingdoms, as also seen in Isaiah 46:10, and that He can use even pagan kings to accomplish His purposes, as seen in Isaiah 45:1-7.
Reflection Questions
- How do you think the king of Sodom and his allies felt when they saw the four kings approaching, and what can we learn from their response?
- What does this verse reveal about the character of God and His involvement in human history?
- How can we apply the lessons of Genesis 14:9 to our own lives and circumstances, especially in terms of trusting in God's sovereignty?
- What does the fact that the four kings were able to defeat the five kings say about the spiritual state of the kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 14:9
With Chedorlaomer king of Elam,.... Who is here mentioned first, being the principal in the war, and against whom the kings of Sodom, c.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 14:9
With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 14:9
Genesis 14:9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.Ver. 9. Four kings with five.] These five were but free princes of cities, petty kings, such as we had here of old in this island; which is therefore said, by Jerome, to be tyrannorum fertilis , fertile of tyrants.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 14:9
9. four kings against the five] After Genesis 14:8 we should expect the “five kings against the four.” Notice the impressive repetition of the names of the kings, and the variation in the order of the names or the eastern kings, Chedorlaomer coming first, as the over-lord against whom the rebellion had been made. The description of the battle itself has most unfortunately not been preserved.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 14:9
9. Four kings with five — And the four, flushed with many victories and grown fierce by war, conquered the five. What were the weapons and what the modes of warfare used by these ancient kings we have no means of knowing.