Genesis – Chapter 13

Old Testament18 Verses

Chapter Summary

Genesis 13 opens with the words: "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south." The chapter centers on Lot and Abraham. Across its 18 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and family and covenant relationships. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south.

2And he was very rich in possession of gold and silver.

3And he returned by the way, that he came, from the south to Bethel, to the place where before he had pitched his tent between Bethel and Hai,

4In the place of the altar which he had made before, and there he called upon the name of the Lord.

5But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and herds of beasts, and tents.

6Neither was the land able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, and they could not dwell together.

7Whereupon also there arose a strife between the herdsmen of Abram and of Lot. And at that time the Chanaanite and the Pherezite dwelled in that country.

8Abram therefore said to Lot: Let there be no quarrel, I beseech thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen: for we are brethren.

9Behold the whole land is before thee: depart from me, I pray thee: if thou wilt go to the left hand, I will take the right: if thou choose the right hand, I will pass to the left.

10And Lot lifting up his eyes, saw all the country about the Jordan, which was watered throughout, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, as the paradise of the Lord, and like Egypt as one comes to Segor.

11And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the other.

12Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan: and Lot abode in the towns, that were about the Jordan, and dwelt in Sodom.

13And the men of Sodom were very wicked, and sinners before the face of the Lord beyond measure.

14And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him: Lift up thy eyes, and look from the place wherein thou now art, to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west.

15All the land which thou seest, I will give to thee, and to thy seed for ever.

16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: if any man be able to number the dust of the earth, he shall be able to number thy seed also.

17Arise and walk through the land in the length, and the breadth thereof: for I will give it to thee.

18So Abram removing his tent, came, and dwelt by the vale of Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he built there an altar to the Lord.

Important Verses in Genesis 13

And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south.

Genesis 13:1

In the place of the altar which he had made before, and there he called upon the name of the Lord.

Genesis 13:4

And Lot lifting up his eyes, saw all the country about the Jordan, which was watered throughout, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, as the paradise of the Lord, and like Egypt as one comes to Segor.

Genesis 13:10

So Abram removing his tent, came, and dwelt by the vale of Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he built there an altar to the Lord.

Genesis 13:18

Historical Context

Genesis belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the people of Israel, to root their identity in God's creation and the covenant with the patriarchs. Chapter 13 of 50 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 18 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Lot and Abraham, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. It opens with the line: "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south." The chapter ends with: "So Abram removing his tent, came, and dwelt by the vale of Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he built there an altar to…" Read against its original backdrop, Genesis was composed to give Israel its foundational identity: one God created all things good, sin entered through human choice, and God responded with a plan of salvation beginning with Abraham. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions

When It Was Written

Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Genesis 13 presents a concrete episode in the history of creation, covenant, and the patriarchs. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south." The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 2466). Here, the Catechism teaches that Genesis reveals God's plan of salvation from the beginning (CIC 54-64). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize worship and praise as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God's faithful covenant love. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Genesis 13 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • God invites His people to approach Him confidently in prayer, trusting that He hears and answers.

People in This Chapter

Lot8 mentionsAbraham7 mentions

Reflection for Today

Genesis Chapter 13 presents Abraham's generous resolution of conflict with his nephew Lot, which Catholic moral theology holds up as a model of peacemaking and detachment from material goods. The Catechism teaches that the beatitude "Blessed are the peacemakers" calls us to prefer reconciliation over our own rights (CIC 2305). Abraham's willingness to let Lot choose first demonstrates the freedom that comes from trusting God's providence.

Lot's choice of the well-watered Jordan valley, which "was like the garden of the Lord," reveals the danger of choosing based on appearances alone. His movement toward Sodom foreshadows the spiritual danger of worldly prosperity. The Church Fathers saw in this narrative a warning against allowing material considerations to guide our most important decisions.

After Lot's departure, God renews His promise to Abraham, inviting him to survey the land that will belong to his descendants. The Catechism emphasizes that God's promises to Abraham are unconditional—they depend on God's faithfulness, not human merit (CIC 60). Abraham's response is to build an altar and worship, establishing a pattern of grateful response to divine grace. This chapter teaches us that generosity and trust in God's providence lead to blessing, while grasping after worldly advantage leads to spiritual peril.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Genesis Chapter 13 about?

Genesis 13 contains 18 verses. It opens with "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south." and closes with "So Abram removing his tent, came, and dwelt by the vale of Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he built there an altar to…". The book as a whole is narrative with genealogies and covenant accounts.

What is a key verse in Genesis 13?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Genesis Chapter 13?

This chapter mentions Lot, Abraham.

Who wrote Genesis and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses; Catholic scholarship recognizes the work of inspired editors drawing on ancient oral and written traditions. Traditions reaching back to the 2nd millennium BC, compiled in final form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

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