Genesis 15:8

8 And he said, Master Lord, how shall I know that I shall inherit 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 And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

7 And he said to him, I am God that brought thee out of the land of the Chaldeans, so as to give thee this land to inherit.

8 And he said, Master Lord, how shall I know that I shall inherit it?

9 And he said to him, Take for me an heifer in her third year, and a she-goat in her third year, and a ram in his third year, and a dove and a pigeon.

10 So he took to him all these, and divided them in the midst, and set them opposite to each other, but the birds he did not divide.