He called it Shibah: Speiser points out that the consonantal text of the Hebrew can be interpreted to mean “plenty” and is understood in this way by Syriac, Vulgate, Aquila, and Symmachus. It may also be understood to mean “seven,” but unlike the context in 21.31, here there is no mention of the number seven. Therefore the most relevant sense in the context is “oath,” also followed by Septuagint. Note that in 21.31 the word “seven” and the word “oath” are both given as the reason for the well’s name.

Translations handle the explanation of Shibah in different ways. For example, Revised Standard Version says Shibah and gives no footnote. Good News Translation translates Shibah as “vow” and gives the alternative meaning “seven” in the footnote. The Biblia Dios Habla Hoy footnote says “Sheba and the words which mean ‘oath’ and ‘abundance’ have a similar sound.” Good News Translation‘s footnote is preferred.

Therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba to this day: therefore translates an expression that may also be rendered “this is why,” “this is the reason.” See Good News Translation. To this day refers to the time, much later, when the story was put in written form. We may translate, for example, “the name of the city has remained Beersheba ever since” or “from that time until today, the city has been called Beersheba.”

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 .