Genesis 22:17-18

17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,

18 and through your offspring^[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,^[b] because you have obeyed me.”

Genesis 22:17-18 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. S Genesis 12:2
• 2. Hebrews 6:14*
• 3. S Genesis 15:5; Exodus 32:13; Deuteronomy 7:7; Deuteronomy 28:62
• 4. S Genesis 12:2; S Genesis 26:24; Genesis 32:12; Hosea 1:10; Romans 9:27; Hebrews 11:12
• 5. Genesis 24:60; Esther 9:2
• 6. S Genesis 12:2,3; Acts 3:25*; Galatians 3:8*
• 7. S ver 10; Genesis 17:2,9; Psalms 105:9

Footnotes

• [a] Or "seed"
• [b] Or "and all nations on earth will use the name of your offspring in blessings" (see 48:20)