Good News Translation and others begin a new paragraph with verse 19. Verse 19 is the first of two brief episodes that lead to quarreling between the people of Gerar and Isaac’s people. In some languages it will be appropriate to begin this episode with an introductory time expression, as do Bible en français courant and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy: “One day.” Other translations are “One time” and “Later.” One translation groups the events of verses 19-22 together by beginning “Then Isaac’s workers dug three new wells. They dug the first one in the valley and found water….”

Dug in the valley can mean they dug in the actual stream bed or somewhere in the valley where the stream bed lies. Found means they discovered, located water. Well of springing water is literally “well of living water.” This expression is used to refer to a spring of “running water” in Lev 14.5, 6, 50, 51, 52; Zech 14.8. It is water that flows out continually from beneath the surface of the ground.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .