Genesis15

American Standard Version · Public Domain

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¹After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

²And Abram said, O Lord Jehovah, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?

³And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

⁴And, behold, the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

⁵And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

⁶And he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.

⁷And he said unto him, I am Jehovah that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

⁸And he said, O Lord Jehovah, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

⁹And he said unto him, Take me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.

¹⁰And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other: but the birds divided he not.

¹¹And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

¹²And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.

¹³And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

¹⁴and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

¹⁵But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

¹⁶And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.

¹⁷And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.

¹⁸In that day Jehovah made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

¹⁹the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite,

²⁰and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,

²¹and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 15.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: God encourages Abram. (1). The Divine promise, Abraham is justified by faith. (2–6). God promises Canaan to Abraham for an inheritance. (7–11). The promise confirmed in a vision. (12–16). The promise confirmed by a sign. (17–21).

v1

God assured Abram of safety and happiness; that he should for ever be safe. I am thy shield; or, I am a shield to thee, present with thee, actually caring for thee. The consideration that God himself is, and will be a shield to his people, to secure them from all evils, a shield ready to them, and a shield round about them, should silence all perplexing, tormenting fears.

vv2-6

Though we must never complain of God, yet we have leave to complain to him; and to state all our grievances. It is ease to a burdened spirit, to open its case to a faithful and compassionate friend. Abram's complaint is, that he had no child; that he was never likely to have any; that the want of a son was so great a trouble to him, that it took away all his comfort. If we suppose that Abram looked no further than outward comfort, this complaint was to be blamed. But if we suppose that Abram herein had reference to the promised Seed, his desire was very commendable. Till we have evidence of our interest in Christ, we should not rest satisfied; what will all avail me, if I go Christless? If we continue instant in prayer, yet pray with humble submission to the Divine will, we shall not seek in vain. God gave Abram an express promise of a son. Christians may believe in God with respect to the common concerns of this life; but the faith by which they are justified, always has respect to the person and work of Christ. Abram believed in God as promising Christ; they believe in him as having raised him from the dead, Ro 4:24. Through faith in his blood they obtain forgiveness of sins.

vv7-11

Assurance was given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. God never promises more than he is able to perform, as men often do. Abram did as God commanded him. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in confirming covenants, Jer 34:18, 19. Having prepared according to God's appointment, he set himself to wait for the sign God might give him. A watch must be kept upon our spiritual sacrifices. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come down upon our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and seek to attend on God without distraction.

Key Words

AfterH310Hebrew

אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

thingsH1697Hebrew

דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

AbramH87Hebrew

אַבְרָם: Abram, the original name of Abraham

visionH4236Hebrew

מַחֲזֶה: a vision

FearH3372Hebrew

יָרֵא: to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten

notH3808Hebrew

לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

shieldH4043Hebrew

מָגֵן: a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile

rewardH7939Hebrew

שָׂכָר: payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit

veryH3966Hebrew

מְאֹד: properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated)

greatH7235Hebrew

רָבָה: to increase (in whatever respect)