Genesis 22:17

17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly 1multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as 2the sand which is on the seashore *; and 3your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.

Genesis 22:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 22:17

That in blessing I will bless thee
With temporal and spiritual blessings; with the Spirit and all his graces; with Christ and redemption, justification, and salvation by him; and with eternal life, as the gift of God, through him: and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the
heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore:
both his natural seed, descending from him in the line of Isaac, and his spiritual seed, both among Jews and Gentiles, that tread in his steps; see ( Genesis 13:15 Genesis 13:16 ) ( 15:5 ) : and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies:
"gate" for "gates", where courts of judicature were held, and which are the security of cities and put for them, and which also include the whole country round about: so that this phrase is expressive of an entire jurisdiction and dominion over them; and was literally fulfilled in the times of Joshua, David, and Solomon; and spiritually in Christ, Abraham's principal seed, when he destroyed Satan and his principalities and powers; overcame the world; made an end of sin and abolished death; and delivered his people out the hands of all their enemies; and in all Abraham's spiritual seed, who are made more than conquerors over them, through Christ that has loved them.

Genesis 22:17 In-Context

15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,
16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD , because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore ; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Genesis 15:5; Genesis 26:4; Jeremiah 33:22; Hebrews 11:12
  • 2. Genesis 32:12
  • 3. Genesis 24:60

Footnotes 3

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