Genesis 15:8

8 But Abram said, "LORD God, how do I know that I will actually possess it?"

Genesis 15:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 15:8

And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall
inherit it?
] Not as questioning or doubting whether he should or not; but this he asked for the further confirmation of his faith in the promise, and for the sake of his posterity, that they might more easily and strongly believe that they should inherit the land given and promised to them; nor is it culpable to ask a sign of God with such a view; good men have done it, as Gideon, ( Judges 6:36-40 ) , and Hezekiah, ( 2 Kings 20:8-11 ) , without being blamed for it; yea, Ahaz is blamed for not asking one, ( Isaiah 7:10-13 ) .

Genesis 15:8 In-Context

6 Abram trusted the LORD, and the LORD recognized Abram's high moral character.

7 He said to Abram, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession."

8 But Abram said, "LORD God, how do I know that I will actually possess it?"

9 He said, "Bring me a three-year-old female calf, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a dove, and a young pigeon."

10 He took all of these animals, split them in half, and laid the halves facing each other, but he didn't split the birds.