Genesis 15:1-10

The Abrahamic Covenant

1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.

2 But Abram said, "Lord God , what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"^[a]

3 Abram continued, "Look, You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in^[b] my house will be my heir."

4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: "This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body^[c] will be your heir."

5 He took him outside and said, "Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then He said to him, "Your offspring will be that [numerous]."

6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.^[d]

7 He also said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess."^[e]

8 But he said, "Lord God , how can I know that I will possess it?"

9 He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

10 So he brought all these to Him, split them down the middle, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut up the birds.

Genesis 15:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 15

This chapter informs us of a gracious appearance of God to Abram, and of a kind promise made unto him, Ge 15:1; of Abram's request for an heir, Ge 15:2,3; of an answer to it, that he should have one, and even a numberless seed, Ge 15:4,5; which he gave credit to, Ge 15:6; upon which he has a fresh promise of the land of Canaan, Ge 15:7; of his inheriting of which he desires a sign, and this was given him, Ge 15:8-12; and at the same time it was predicted to him how long his posterity should be afflicted in a land not theirs, and afterwards come out with great substance, Ge 15:13-16; and the grant of the land of Canaan to his seed is renewed, Ge 15:17-21.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hb obscure
• [b]. Lit a son of
• [c]. Lit loins
• [d]. Rm 4:3; Gl 3:6; Jms 2:23
• [e]. Neh 9:7