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What the Bible Says About Wells

Overview

The Bible addresses wells across 53 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, Numbers and John. Closely related themes include Servants, Afflictions and Adversities, Jacob and Woman. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Abraham, Isaac, David and Moses.

Key Bible verses about wells

Old Testament

Genesis

Genesis 16:14

Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. Beerlahairoi: that is, The well of him that liveth and seeth me

Genesis 21:19

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

Genesis 21:25

And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

Genesis 21:30

And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

Genesis 21:31

Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them. Beersheba: that is, The well of the oath

Genesis 24:11

And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. that: Heb. that women who draw water go forth

Genesis 24:13

Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

Genesis 24:14

And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

Genesis 24:16

And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. very: Heb. good of countenance

Genesis 24:19

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

Genesis 24:20

And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

Genesis 24:42

And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

Genesis 26:15

For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

Genesis 26:18

And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

Genesis 26:20

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. Esek: that is, Contention

Genesis 26:21

And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. Sitnah: that is, Hatred

Genesis 26:22

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. Rehoboth: that is Room

Genesis 29:2

And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

Genesis 29:3

And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.

Genesis 29:4

And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

Genesis 49:22

Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: branches: Heb. daughters

Numbers

Numbers 20:17

Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

Numbers 20:19

And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.

Numbers 21:16

And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.

Numbers 21:17

Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: Spring: Heb. Ascend sing: or, answer

Numbers 21:18

The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:

People in the Bible and wells

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying wells for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 16:14, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Genesis, Numbers and John each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Abraham, Isaac and David and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Servants, Afflictions and Adversities, Jacob and Woman.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about wells?

The Bible addresses wells across 53 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, Numbers and John. Closely related themes include Servants, Afflictions and Adversities, Jacob and Woman. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Abraham, Isaac, David and Moses.

How many Bible verses are about wells?

The Bible references wells in 53 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention wells?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 16:14: “Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. Beerlahairoi: that is, The well of him that liveth and seeth me”

Which people in the Bible are associated with wells?

Abraham, Isaac, David, Moses and Jesus.

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