Genesis 15:7-11

7 He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”

8 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”

9 So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”

10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half.

11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

Genesis 15:7-11 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. Genesis 12:1; Exodus 20:2; Acts 7:3; Hebrews 11:8
• 2. S Genesis 11:28; Acts 7:4
• 3. S Genesis 13:17; Genesis 17:8; Genesis 28:4; Genesis 35:12; Genesis 48:4; Exodus 6:8; Deuteronomy 9:5
• 4. S ver 2
• 5. Luke 1:18
• 6. Deuteronomy 12:20; Deuteronomy 19:8
• 7. Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3; Hosea 4:16; Amos 4:1
• 8. 1 Samuel 1:24
• 9. Leviticus 1:14; Leviticus 5:7,11; Leviticus 12:8
• 10. ver 17; Jeremiah 34:18
• 11. Leviticus 1:17; Leviticus 5:8
• 12. Deuteronomy 28:26; Jeremiah 7:33