Genesis 12:3

3 And I wyll blesse the that blesse the ad curse the that curse the. And in the shall be blessed all the generations of the erth.

Genesis 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 12:3

And I will bless them that bless thee
Not the priests only that should bless his children, the children of Israel, as the Targum of Jonathan, but all men of all nations, and of every age, that speak well of him, commend him for his faith and holiness, and tread in his steps, these are blessed with faithful Abraham, ( Galatians 3:7 Galatians 3:9 ) .

And curse him that curseth thee;
here is a change of numbers, before the plural, here the singular, denoting, it may be, that many would bless him, and but few curse him, and that every individual person that did curse him should be cursed himself: the Targum of Jonathan wrongly restrains this to Balaam's cursing Abraham's children, and was cursed by God; Maimonides ^F25 thinks, there is no doubt to be made of it, that the Zabaeans, the idolatrous people Abram was brought up with, when he contradicted them, loaded him with curses and reproaches; and, because he bore them all patiently for the glory of God, as became him, therefore these words are said; but they, without question, respect future as well as present times, and regard all such, in every age and of every nation, that disapproves of, or rejects and reproaches Abram's God, his faith, his religion, and his people.

And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed;
that is, in his seed, as in ( Genesis 22:18 ) and which is interpreted of Christ, ( Acts 3:25 ) ( Galatians 3:8 Galatians 3:16 ) meaning not every individual of all the families or nations of the earth; but that as many as believe in Christ, of all nations, are blessed in him; and that whoever of them are blessed, they are blessed and only blessed in him, and that they are blessed for his sake with all spiritual blessings; see ( Ephesians 1:3 ) such as redemption, justification, remission of sins, sanctification, adoption, and eternal life.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 More Nevochim, ut supra. (par. 3. c. 29. p. 421.)

Genesis 12:3 In-Context

1 Then the LORde sayd vnto Abra Gett the out of thy contre and from thy kynred and out of thy fathers house into a londe which I wyll shewe the.

2 And I wyll make of the a myghtie people and wyll blesse the and make thy name grete that thou mayst be a blessinge.

3 And I wyll blesse the that blesse the ad curse the that curse the. And in the shall be blessed all the generations of the erth.

4 And Abram wet as the LORde badd hym and Lot went wyth him. Abram was .lxxv. yere olde when he went out of Haran.

5 And Abram toke Sarai his wyfe ad Lot his brothers sonne wyth all their goodes which they had goten and soulles which they had begoten in Haran. And they departed to goo in to the lade of Chanaan. And when they were come in to the lande of Chanaan