Genesis 22:15-18

15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,

16 and said, "¹By 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 ²multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as ³the sand which is on the seashore *; and ⁴your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.

18 "⁵In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because * you have ⁶obeyed My voice."

Genesis 22:15-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 22

In this chapter we have an account of an order given by God to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ge 22:1,2; of his readiness to obey the will of God, he immediately preparing everything for that purpose, Ge 22:3-10, of the order being reversed, and another sacrifice substituted in its room, which occasioned the giving a new name to the place where it was done, Ge 22:11-14; upon which the promise of special blessings, of a numerous offspring, and of the seed in whom all nations should be blessed, is renewed, Ge 22:15-18; after this Abraham returns to Beersheba, where he is informed of the increase of his brother Nahor's family, Ge 22:19-24.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 105:9; Luke 1:73; Hebrews 6:13, 14
• 2. Genesis 15:5; Genesis 26:4; Jeremiah 33:22; Hebrews 11:12
• 3. Genesis 32:12
• 4. Genesis 24:60
• 5. Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8, 16
• 6. Genesis 18:19; Genesis 22:3, 10; Genesis 26:5

Footnotes

• [a] Or "descendants"
• [b] Or "descendants"
• [c] Lit "his"
• [d] Or "descendants"
• [e] Or "bless themselves"