Genesis 15:8

8 And Abram said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall wield 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 believed to God, and it was reckoned to him to rightwiseness. (And Abram believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.)

7 And God said to him, I am the Lord, that led thee out of Ur of Chaldees, (so) that I should give this land to thee, and (that) thou shouldest have it in possession.

8 And Abram said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall wield it?

9 And the Lord answered, and said, Take thou to me a cow of three years, and a goat of three years, and a ram of three years, and a turtle, and a culver. (And the Lord answered, Bring thou to me a cow of three years, and a goat of three years, and a ram of three years, and a turtledove, and a pigeon.)

10 Which took all these things, and parted those by the midst (And he brought him all these things, and divided them in half), and setted ever either part each against (the) other; but he parted not the birds.