Genesis 15:1-4

God’s Covenant with Abram

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ¹“Fear not, Abram, I am ²your shield; your reward shall be very great. ”

2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue^[a] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? ”

3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and ³a member of my household will be my heir. ”

4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; ⁴your very own son^[b] shall be your heir. ”

Genesis 15:1-4 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.

Cross References

• 1. 15:1 ch. 26:24; Dan. 10:12; Luke 1:13, 30
• 2. 15:1 Ps. 3:3; 18:2; 84:11; 119:114
• 3. 15:3 ch. 14:14
• 4. 15:4 ch. 17:16

Footnotes

• [a] 15:2 Or 'I shall die'
• [b] 15:4 Hebrew 'what will come out of your own loins'