Focused Passage

Genesis 15:1-6

The LORD Assures Abram, Credits Him with Righteousness, and Ratifies the Covenant by Oath

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

2 But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

3 Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

4 Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

5 And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

6 Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Romans 4 BSB references Hebrews 11:8 BSB references Isaiah 41:10 Classic cross-references Hebrews 13:6 Classic cross-references Romans 8:31 Classic cross-references Psalms 3:3 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:114 Classic cross-references

Original words

After אַחַ֣ר׀ H310 Adverb these הָאֵ֗לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural events הַדְּבָרִ֣ים H1697 Article | Noun - masculine plural the word דְבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular came הָיָ֤ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Abram אַבְרָ֔ם H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular in a vision בַּֽמַּחֲזֶ֖ה H4236 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb be afraid תִּירָ֣א H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Abram אַבְרָ֗ם H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular I [am] אָנֹכִי֙ H595 Pronoun - first person common singular your לָ֔ךְ Preposition | second person feminine singular shield מָגֵ֣ן H4043 Noun - common singular your very מְאֹֽד׃ H3966 Adverb great הַרְבֵּ֥ה H7235 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute reward שְׂכָרְךָ֖ H7939 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Genesis 25:21 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 4:14 Classic cross-references Genesis 16:1 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 4:8 Classic cross-references Genesis 24:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

But Abram אַבְרָ֗ם H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular replied וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular O Lord אֲדֹנָ֤י H136 Noun - proper - masculine singular GOD יֱהוִה֙ H3069 Noun - proper - masculine singular what מַה־ H4100 Interrogative can You give תִּתֶּן־ H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular me לִ֔י Preposition | first person common singular since I וְאָנֹכִ֖י H595 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular remain הוֹלֵ֣ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular childless עֲרִירִ֑י H6185 Adjective - masculine singular and the heir וּבֶן־ H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . מֶ֣שֶׁק H4943 Noun - masculine singular construct of my house בֵּיתִ֔י H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular . . . ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is Eliezer אֱלִיעֶֽזֶר׃ H461 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Damascus דַּמֶּ֥שֶׂק H1834 Noun - proper - feminine singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

Genesis 14:14 Classic cross-references Proverbs 29:21 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 2:7 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 2:14 Classic cross-references

Original words

Abram אַבְרָ֔ם H87 Noun - proper - masculine singular continued וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Behold הֵ֣ן H2005 Interjection You have given נָתַ֖תָּה H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular me לִ֔י Preposition | first person common singular no לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle offspring זָ֑רַע H2233 Noun - masculine singular so וְהִנֵּ֥ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection a servant בֶן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct in my household בֵּיתִ֖י H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular will be my heir יוֹרֵ֥שׁ H3423 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular - אֹתִֽי׃ H853 Direct object marker | first person common singular

Verse 4

Cross-references

Psalms 127:3 Classic cross-references Genesis 17:16 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 7:12 Classic cross-references Galatians 4:28 Classic cross-references Genesis 21:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

Then וְהִנֵּ֨ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection the word דְבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular came to [Abram] אֵלָיו֙ H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular saying לֵאמֹ֔ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct This זֶ֑ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular one will not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be your heir יִֽירָשְׁךָ֖ H3423 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular but כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction . . . אִם֙ H518 Conjunction one ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular who אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative comes from יֵצֵ֣א H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular your own body מִמֵּעֶ֔יךָ H4578 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular will be your heir יִֽירָשֶֽׁךָ׃ H3423 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

Genesis 12:2 Classic cross-references Hebrews 11:12 Classic cross-references Genesis 22:17 Classic cross-references Romans 4:18 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 1:10 Classic cross-references

Original words

And [the LORD] took וַיּוֹצֵ֨א H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular him אֹת֜וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular outside הַח֗וּצָה H2351 Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular and said וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Now נָ֣א H4994 Interjection look הַבֶּט־ H5027 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular to the heavens הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural | third person feminine singular and count וּסְפֹר֙ H5608 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular the stars הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים H3556 Article | Noun - masculine plural if you אִם־ H518 Conjunction are able תּוּכַ֖ל H3201 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . לִסְפֹּ֣ר H5608 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֹתָ֑ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural Then He told וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular him ל֔וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular So {shall} כֹּ֥ה H3541 Adverb your offspring זַרְעֶֽךָ׃ H2233 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular be יִהְיֶ֖ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

Cited in Romans 4:18

Verse 6

Cross-references

James 2:23 Classic cross-references Galatians 3:6 Classic cross-references Romans 4:9 Classic cross-references Romans 4:20 Classic cross-references Romans 4:3 Classic cross-references

Original words

Abram believed וְהֶאֱמִ֖ן H539 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the LORD בַּֽיהוָ֑ה H3068 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular and it was credited וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ H2803 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular to him לּ֖וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular as righteousness צְדָקָֽה׃ H6666 Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

Cited in Romans 4:3, Romans 4:22, Galatians 3:6, and James 2:23

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